Introduction
Introduction to Facial Fat Grafting
Facial volume is important because it provides support and structure for the skin, keeping it tight around the cheeks, eyes, and mouth. As volume loss progresses, the skin becomes less taut, and wrinkles, creases, and furrows develop. Therefore, correcting volume loss by merely removing or pulling excess and sagging skin is insufficient and can sometimes lead to an unnaturally stretched appearance. This is where the technique of facial fat transfer comes in.
Double board-certified facial plastic surgeons Dr. Bryan Brandon and Dr. Richard A. Gangnes offer facial fat transfer to San Clemente, Aliso Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, and the greater Orange County area at Facial Aesthetic Concepts. Please read below for more information.
What is Facial Fat Grafting?
Fat transfer involves taking fat cells from one area of your body, preparing them so that they will continue to be viable after reinjection, and then placing the cells in an area of the face with depleted volume. The procedure is sometimes called autologous fat transfer because it uses a patient’s fat cells. Fat is generally harvested from the thighs and redistributed into the facial areas discussed during your consultation.
To understand the fat transfer concept, consider the face a three-dimensional structure that loses volume with aging. The loss of volume in the face is similar to a balloon that loses air or volume. As air is removed, the balloon becomes lax, then wrinkles, and eventually sags or falls. Similarly, the face loses underlying volume over time, mainly in structures and components in the subcutaneous layer just underneath the skin. Our methods are based on a micro-droplet technique that achieves smooth, long-lasting contours with minimal downtime.
Fat transfer procedures in Orange County can last longer than any other injectable fillers available today. At Facial Aesthetic Concepts, we see a significant percentage of transferred fat cells surviving for years as they continue to produce soft, youthful contours.
What Are the Benefits of Facial Fat Grafting?
Our patients who have received a facial fat transfer in Orange County and the surrounding areas have enjoyed long-lasting results and a restoration of their skin’s support structure. Other common benefits are listed below.
- Reduction in fine lines and wrinkles
- Restoration of the skin’s support structure
- Filling up hollow-looking eyes
- Creation of higher cheekbones
- Repair of scars
Who Are the Best Candidates For Facial Fat Grafting?
Fat removed from other areas of the body and specially prepared can be reinjected in several areas of the face to improve overall definition and volume. Typically, people want to improve one or more areas of their face. The newer techniques that we use at Facial Aesthetic Concepts seek to restore youthful contours by replacing what the aging process has removed.
The best candidates for a facial fat transfer in Orange County will have some of the following characteristics:
- Close to ideal weight
- Harvestable areas in hips and thighs
- Hollow-looking eyes
- Maintain realistic expectations
- No underlying medical conditions
- Non-smokers
- Sunken cheeks
- Thin or ‘bird’ lips
- Want subtle, natural-looking results
Facial Fat Transfer first step
What’s the First Step?
Would facial fat transfer be able to give you the look you want? Your next step is to schedule a consultation at Facial Aesthetic Concepts in Orange County. At the consultation, you’ll be able to discuss your personal goals and what ‘bothers you’ as well as learn more about the procedure, and we will advise if you are a good candidate for fat grafting. Based on your cosmetic concerns, we may recommend fat grafting in addition to several other facial procedures to help you achieve a more complete refresh.
If we decide fat transfer will provide you with the best result together, you’ll be given additional information, including detailed pricing for your procedure, pre-op instructions, and general office policies. You’ll never be pressured into booking a procedure on the day of your consultation. We want you to be able to take your time and make the best decision.
If you decide to move forward, our coordinator will help you find a convenient date. You’ll be given specifics, including where the procedure will take place, how to prepare, post-op instructions, and much more.
Some steps you can take to prepare are listed below:
- Provide a list of all medications you take and your complete health history.
- Complete any lab tests or additional medical evaluations.
If you are a smoker, you should quit smoking weeks before your plastic surgery. Smoking can cause complications with anesthesia and impede the healing process, so always be honest about your smoking habits. If you continue to smoke, your surgery may be postponed. Your safety is our highest priority. - Follow all of our detailed pre-procedure instructions.
- These instructions will cover items such as which medicines/supplements to avoid, limiting alcohol and caffeine intake, and what to wear to your procedure.
- Arrange for someone to transport you to your procedure and bring you home afterward. You should not need them to stay with you for long after you get home, but you won’t be permitted to drive home by yourself.
What to Expect on the Day of Facial Fat Grafting Surgery
In most cases, a fat transfer procedure only requires local anesthesia, possibly with mild sedation. However, if you are having fat transfer in addition to other facial plastic surgery procedures, we may recommend general anesthesia.
Fat cells can be extracted from almost any area of the body. Typically, your surgeon will remove cells from the hip or thigh area. A relatively small amount of cells will be needed, so don’t expect to see a substantial change in the donor area unless you have a separate liposuction procedure to improve the appearance there.
After being removed from the donor site, your fat cells are processed and prepared for reinjection. Your surgeon uses a microinjection technique, which involves injecting the cells into the target areas of the face using a series of small syringes. The injections do not require stitches but will be covered with bandages after the procedure to minimize the risk of infection and promote healing.
The length of fat transfer surgery depends on the type of procedure being undertaken. Fat transfer to localized parts of the face may take no more than 45 minutes.
Facial Fat Grafting Recovery
Autologous facial fat transfer procedures will require approximately 5 to 7 days of recovery. Some mild swelling and bruising can be expected during the first few days following the procedure. Cool compresses can help to minimize these effects, but you should avoid placing anything frozen on the donor or recipient areas of the fat transfer. An antibiotic and an antiviral (for injections around the mouth) will be prescribed. The small sutures are taken out 3 to 5 days after healing.
Patients are usually able to apply makeup and shower the following day. Activities such as jogging, swimming, and gym exercises should be avoided for about three weeks. Overall, you should be back to your usual routine very soon.
You will be provided with a detailed set of instructions after your procedure. If you ever have questions or concerns during your recovery period, we are available to answer them and schedule any necessary follow-up visits.
Some of the standard aftercare instructions include:
- Take medication as prescribed/indicated to minimize discomfort and reduce the risk of infection.
- Apply cool compresses as needed to the donor site and/or on your face where you are experiencing bruising or swelling.
- Keep your head elevated as much as possible to minimize swelling where the fat cells are injected. Sleep on your back with your head elevated for at least the first week after the procedure.
- Avoid putting pressure on the face or any activities that would cause strain in the areas where the fat cells were injected. This includes bending down, lifting more than 5 pounds, and exercising. You’ll be told when it’s safe to resume all your usual activities.
- Avoid sun exposure as much as possible for at least 6 weeks after the procedure. Apply sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher whenever going outdoors.
- If you smoke, you will need to quit at least 4 weeks before your surgery and wait to be cleared to start smoking again.
- Keep in mind that smoking and chewing tobacco inhibit your circulation and can negatively affect your surgical outcome.
- Contact us if you are experiencing significant discomfort after the procedure and the pain is getting worse.
Transparent Pricing
How Much Does Facial Fat Grafting Cost in Orange County, CA?
The cost of Facial Fat Transfer in San Clemente, Aliso Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, and the greater Orange County area will depend on multiple factors, including but not limited to the target area on your face, the surgeon’s fees, and the anesthetist’s fees.
- Facial Fat Grafting Surgery can cost anywhere from $3,700 to $5,000.
The most efficient way to arrive at a cost is to schedule your in-person consultation at Facia Aesthetic Concepts so that your surgeon can draft a plan that can be priced out for you.
Why Choose Facial Aesthetic Concepts?
At Facial Aesthetic Concepts in Orange County, our team of expert surgeons strives to provide a comfortable and collaborative experience for every individual patient. They combine personal, attentive care with flawless results. Their meticulous approach to plastic surgery delivers their patients a natural and balanced result while achieving everyone’s unique aesthetic goals.
Dr. Richard A. Gangnes has over 30 years of experience in facial plastic surgery. As a dual board-certified facial plastic surgeon with both the American Board of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery (ABO-HNS) and the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS), and as a Fellow with the American College of Surgeons (FACS), Dr. Gangnes welcomes both new and returning patients interested in discussing their medical and surgical treatment options, as well as new technologies that currently exist and those at the forefront of aesthetic medicine.
Dr. Bryan Brandon continues to be actively involved in aesthetic and reconstructive surgery research, co-authoring several journal publications and book chapters. He is an active member of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and is double board certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS) and the American Board of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery (ABO-HNS). He is also affiliated with the American Society for Lasers in Medicine and Surgery (ASLMS).
Facial Fat Grafting FAQ
Schedule A
Consultation
When deciding to have any plastic surgery procedure, you want to find the best, most qualified plastic surgeon and surgical team in Southern California. Facial Aesthetic Concepts uses state-of-the-art technology combined with the latest medical training and techniques to give you the best results possible. We’ll provide you with a complete skin analysis and will develop a specific treatment plan to address your concerns. Contact us online to schedule your complimentary consultation or to find out more about which face-refreshing options are right for you.