Facial
wrinkles and creases are part of the ageing process.
They begin to appear as the underlying collagen and
elastic fibers break down and wear out. While this breakdown
is part of the natural ageing process, it can also result
from excessive squinting, frowning and smiling.
Fat
transfer, also called autologous fat transplantation
or micro-lipoinjection, plumps up facial features with
patients own fat, and is a popular alternative to other
wrinkle treatments. Fat transfer to the face is a safe,
natural, non-allergenic procedure, designed to recontour
your face, and can provide definition to your cheeks
and chin. It can also be used to correct facial deformities.
Since fat transfer uses your own fat cells, you can
never have an allergic reaction, because it's from your
own body.
With
fat transfer, it is possible to have fat liposuctioned
from your thighs for example, and then transferred to
any area of your body. Re injected fat lasts longer
in larger areas of non-movement, so it is very successful
for the correction of sunken cheeks, because this area
does not move as often. Fat transfer can also correct
atrophic ageing of the hands, and post-surgical and
post-traumatic defects. But not every area of the body
responds well to fat transfer.
How
is the procedure done?
Fat
transfer is performed in our office on an outpatient
basis.
Using
a small needle attached to a syringe, fat is removed
from a donor site, where the fat is most tightly packed,
such as the abdomen or the buttocks.
Once
removed, the fat is processed to remove excess fluids,
and then re-injected using another needle, which is
placed under the skin beneath the wrinkle. This process
may be repeated until the desired correction has been
achieved.
Harvesting
the fat cells for re-injection is often performed in
conjunction with other procedures, such as liposuction,
tummy tuck or cosmetic breast surgery. Fat harvested
can be stored in our "FAT BANK" for future
use.
