If you have a lack of volume in your cheeks, lips, temples, or other areas of the face, a facial fat transfer can provide you with long-term results. This procedure can help you appear naturally younger, and more full of life. Dr. Mesa performs this highly effective procedure by removing healthy fat cells from another area of your body such as your abdomen or thighs, purifying the cells, and injecting it into needed areas to restore lost volume.
What areas can be treated with facial fat transfer?
Dr. Mesa is a nationally renowned cosmetic surgeon who can create dramatic, beautiful results through careful, artistic application of the facial fat transfer procedure. The most popular areas addressed with this procedure include:
- Sunken or hollow cheeks
- Sunken area beneath the eyes
- Lost volume around the temples
- Jawline
- Protruding eyes
- Scars
- Lines, wrinkles, and nasolabial folds
How is facial fat transfer performed?
The first step of a facial fat transfer is the selection of a donor site and the extraction of fat cells. Dr. Mesa will discuss with you which area of your body is best suited for fat removal through minimally invasive liposuction. Once the fat cells are harvested with gentle lipo, they are processed and purified to prepare them for use. Dr. Mesa will then use a specially designed metal tube called a cannula to inject the healthy fat cells into the targeted areas of your face. Once the injections are complete, you are free to return home for a quick recovery period.
The benefits of facial fat transfer
Facial fat transfer has gained considerable popularity over the last decade due to the excellent benefits that patients experience, including:
- Natural-looking results: The flexibility of this procedure allows Dr. Mesa to create natural-looking results that enhance — rather than dramatically alter — your facial features.
- Results that are long-lasting: The results from facial fat transfer can last for many years into the future, unlike more temporary solutions such as dermal fillers.
- Safety: Because Dr. Mesa will be using your body’s own fat cells, there is no risk of an allergic reaction. There is also a very low risk of complications.
- Short recovery time: The minimally invasive nature of this procedure means that recovery time is short, with most patients ready to resume regular activities within a matter of days.
- Improved overall skin quality: The fat used in this procedure contains stem cells, which provide growth factors and help with long-term skin regeneration for a younger look, long term.
Am I a candidate for facial fat transfer?
If you have a lack of volume in your face — whether it’s due to aging or genetics — you are a likely candidate for facial fat transfer. You must be in general good health, have reasonable expectations regarding the outcome of your procedure, and have no pre-existing medical conditions that may complicate your recovery. You will need to provide a comprehensive medical history and list any medication or supplements you’re currently taking during your consultation with Dr. Mesa.
Dr. Mesa
for facial fat transfer in NYC and New Jersey
Dr. Mesa is a board-certified and fellowship-trained plastic surgeon with an extensive record of success in his field. He has the training, experience, and professional practice needed to produce effective, natural results with a facial fat transfer. This cannot be said about every practitioner.
Dr. Mesa was educated at Harvard University and has garnered a reputation for excellence and patient satisfaction after decades of practice in the field of cosmetic surgery. His warm, caring, and patient-centered service will make you comfortable from the moment you walk in the door. With offices in New York City, New Jersey, and Miami, Dr. Mesa is only a call away from helping you achieve the appearance you want.
Facial Fat Transfer Frequently Asked Questions
Facial fat transfer, also known as fat grafting or lipofilling, is a cosmetic procedure that restores volume to areas of the face that have lost fullness due to aging or genetics. Dr. Mesa performs this procedure by removing healthy fat cells from areas like your abdomen or thighs through minimally invasive liposuction, purifying the cells, and then injecting them into targeted facial areas using a specially designed cannula. This natural approach provides long-lasting volume restoration.
Facial fat transfer can address multiple areas of volume loss, including sunken or hollow cheeks, the sunken area beneath the eyes, lost volume around the temples, jawline enhancement, protruding eyes, scars, and lines or wrinkles including nasolabial folds. Dr. Mesa's precise approach allows for comprehensive facial rejuvenation by strategically placing fat in areas that will create the most natural and harmonious results.
You may be an ideal candidate for facial fat transfer if you have volume loss in your face due to aging or genetics, are in good general health, have realistic expectations about the procedure's outcome, and have no pre-existing medical conditions that could complicate recovery. You'll also need sufficient donor fat available for harvesting. Dr. Mesa will evaluate your candidacy during a thorough consultation.
One of the major advantages of facial fat transfer is its longevity. Unlike temporary dermal fillers that last 6-18 months, facial fat transfer results can last for many years. The transferred fat cells that successfully integrate with your facial tissues become a permanent part of your body. However, some fat may be naturally absorbed during the healing process, which is why Dr. Mesa may slightly overfill areas to account for this natural absorption.
Facial fat transfer offers several advantages over dermal fillers, including natural-looking results using your body's own tissue, long-lasting effects that can persist for years, no risk of allergic reactions since it uses your own fat, improved overall skin quality due to stem cells in the fat, and cost-effectiveness over time since results are permanent rather than requiring regular touch-ups like fillers.
The fat used for facial fat transfer is harvested from areas of your body where you have excess fat deposits, commonly the abdomen, thighs, hips, or flanks. Dr. Mesa uses gentle liposuction techniques to collect the fat cells, which are then purified and prepared for injection. The donor site selection is discussed during your consultation based on your body type and available fat reserves.
Recovery from facial fat transfer is relatively quick due to its minimally invasive nature. Most patients can resume regular activities within a few days, though you may experience some swelling and bruising at both the donor and recipient sites. Initial swelling typically subsides within 1-2 weeks, and you'll begin to see your final results as the transferred fat settles and integrates, usually within 3-6 months.
The facial fat transfer procedure involves three main steps: first, Dr. Mesa performs gentle liposuction to harvest fat from your chosen donor site; second, the collected fat is processed and purified to prepare the healthiest cells for transfer; and third, the purified fat is carefully injected into targeted facial areas using a cannula. The entire procedure is typically performed as an outpatient surgery under local anesthesia.
The cost of facial fat transfer varies based on the number of areas being treated, the amount of fat being transferred, facility fees, and anesthesia costs. Since facial fat transfer provides long-lasting results compared to temporary fillers, many patients find it more cost-effective over time. Dr. Mesa will provide a detailed cost breakdown during your consultation, and financing options are available.
Yes, facial fat transfer can be effectively combined with other facial rejuvenation procedures such as facelifts, brow lifts, eyelid surgery, or non-surgical treatments like Botox. Combining procedures can provide comprehensive facial rejuvenation while minimizing overall recovery time. Dr. Mesa will discuss the best combination of treatments to achieve your aesthetic goals during your consultation.
Preparation for facial fat transfer includes following Dr. Mesa's pre-operative instructions, which may involve avoiding certain medications and supplements that can increase bleeding risk, stopping smoking if applicable, staying hydrated, and arranging for post-operative care. You'll receive detailed preparation guidelines during your consultation, including information about what to expect on the day of surgery.
Yes, one of the primary advantages of facial fat transfer is the natural-looking results it provides. Since the procedure uses your own fat cells, the results integrate seamlessly with your existing facial tissues. Dr. Mesa's artistic technique and understanding of facial proportions ensure that the volume restoration appears natural and enhances your features rather than creating an artificial appearance.
While you'll notice immediate volume improvement after facial fat transfer, your final results will develop gradually over 3-6 months as the transferred fat settles and integrates with your facial tissues. Some initial swelling will subside within the first few weeks, and the fat that successfully takes hold will provide permanent volume restoration. Dr. Mesa will monitor your progress during follow-up appointments to ensure optimal healing and results.
Dr. Mesa is a Harvard-trained, triple-fellowship and board-certified plastic surgeon with decades of experience in cosmetic surgery. His precise approach to facial fat transfer focuses on creating natural-looking results that enhance rather than dramatically alter your facial features. His expertise in facial anatomy and proportion ensures optimal fat placement for long-lasting, harmonious results.