The Benefits of Adding Fat Transfer to a Facelift

October 30, 2020

Cosmetic surgery never sleeps. As amazing and experienced as plastic surgeons are with their hands, we can’t forget that they’re also extremely dedicated teachers and researchers. They are constantly working on new, innovative, and safe practices and techniques that contribute to how we look, but more importantly to how these subtle and natural looking improvements to our features make us feel about ourselves both inside and out.

Fat grafting procedures are an amazing example of how plastic surgeons have revolutionized how cosmetic surgery is performed and have become increasingly popular because of the very natural but also stunning results that they achieve.

You’ve probably already heard of fat grafting procedures being used for breast augmentation and the Brazilian butt lift, but you may not have considered that a facelift can incorporate fat injections (or fat transfer) in order to improve on volume, skin imperfections, and facial contour.

What is a Facelift with Fat Transfer?

It may seem like a surprising strategy to inject fat into our face in order to make it appear more youthful and rejuvenated, but when it comes to our facial features, it can really work some magic. As we age we tend to lose a lot of volume and moisture, which can cause our faces to sag and look deflated, as well as produce deep creases in certain areas.

Dermal fillers and other injectables like beauty boosters are a temporary way in which you can supplement the loss of volume and moisture in your face, but if you’re looking for a more permanent solution you may want to consider a facelift with fat injection.

If you’re familiar with the facelift, you’ll know that it’s a procedure that can really take years off the face by tightening the facial muscles and redraping the skin. However, if you’re looking to fill out sunken areas, or smooth out laugh lines and other facial creases, or even correct skin imperfections such as acne scarring, combining a facelift with fat injection could really make a world of difference for your final result.

If you want to learn more about what this can achieve, check out our patient’s experience undergoing facelift with fat transfer.

How Does a Facelift with Fat Transfer Work?

A facelift with fat injection pretty much works the same way it would for a Brazilian butt lift or breast augmentation. Your surgeon will use liposuction to remove excess fat from areas such as your thighs or abdomen, harvest it, purify it, and then re-inject it into targeted areas of the face such as the cheeks, lips, or around the mouth, including areas between the nose and mouth.

Some people are not fans of putting things in their body that wouldn’t normally be found there, and that’s totally understandable. The great thing about any fat grafting procedure is that there is no foreign substance placed in the body, like an implant or even filler; it’s just your own fat.

If you are interested in a facelift with fat injection, you also ideally have some fat to spare in other areas of the body that can be harvested. This is the extra-added benefit to any fat grafting procedure, that you actually kind of get a two for one deal. Areas of the body in which you have unwanted fat are improved with fat removal and contouring, and the fat is then repurposed to areas where it’s needed and desired. It’s a win win!

Is a Facelift with Fat Transfer Permanent?

Short answer here is yes. There are however two things to keep in mind when considering a facelift with fat injection.

First, any facelift is considered to be a permanent procedure, but it’s not immune to the ageing process. So although your results will inevitably be long lasting, they will also change with time, just like the rest of your body. However, you will always look different than if you’d never had the procedure at all.

Second, fat grafting procedures are a little tricky in that a percentage of the fat that is harvested and re-injected into the face may get re-absorbed into your body. This is totally normal and our surgeons are aware of this and will plan and compensate for this loss, so you don’t have to be concerned about your final result looking anything but fabulous.

That said, your initial result post surgery won’t be your final result, so you’ll have to be patient and give it a few weeks before you see the new you. However, once achieved, it is truly amazing. Keep in mind that if you all of a sudden lose a lot of weight, your face will also be affected, which might modify your result, and the same is true if you were to gain significant weight. This is one reason why we recommend being at or near a goal weight that feels easy for you to maintain when considering any type of cosmetic surgery, so that we can help you achieve your goals as closely as possible.

We’re here if you want chat more about a facelift with fat injection. We can’t wait to meet you!