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Facial Fat Transfer

In Austin & Dallas

Facial Fat Transfer

An organic solution to facial volume depletion

Over recent years, dermal fillers have boomed in popularity to solve aging-related skin conditions in the face, such as volume depletion, skin laxity, and fine lines and wrinkles. While these artificial fillers effectively treat these conditions, they require substantial maintenance and carry risks such as allergic reactions to ingredients.

Facial Fat Transfer to Restore Lost Volume at Saxon MD

Dallas or Austin facial fat transfer gives patients the ability to permanently restore volume in their face with no risk of allergic or adverse reactions to ingredients. Dr. Sarah Saxon at Saxon MD is a premier provider of fat grafting for facial rejuvenation in Austin and Dallas, TX.

What is Facial Fat Transfer?

Facial fat transfer — also known as fat grafting, autologous fat transfer, or facial fat injections — is a cosmetic treatment that involves moving fat from one area of the body to the face to restore volume and rejuvenate the appearance.

This procedure utilizes the patient's own fat cells, minimizing the risk of allergic reactions and providing enduring outcomes. The process involves extracting extra fat through gentle liposuction, purifying it, and injecting it into particular facial regions to create personalized and natural-looking contouring. Compared to temporary dermal fillers, facial fat transfer offers several advantages. It utilizes living tissue that integrates with existing facial structures, providing a natural look and feel.

The procedure's results are long-lasting, as a significant portion of the transferred fat survives and establishes a blood supply, resulting in permanent volume restoration. This makes facial fat transfer Dallas and Austin individuals' preferred choice for seeking durable and personalized facial rejuvenation by combining fat removal and facial contour enhancement.

Dallas or Austin fat transfer to the face, smiling model

Facial Fat Transfer vs. Dermal Fillers

Facial fat transfer and dermal fillers are cosmetic treatments used to enhance facial volume and address signs of aging. Our Austin or Dallas Facial fat transfer treatments involve using the patient's own fat cells, providing long-lasting results as the transferred fat integrates with the facial structures and establishes a blood supply. This makes it a durable option that can deliver results lasting several years. Furthermore, since the fat cells come from the patient's own body, there is a reduced risk of allergic reactions or adverse effects.

In contrast, dermal fillers are injectable treatments that use synthetic substances to restore volume and reduce wrinkles and hollow areas. While they provide immediate results, the longevity varies depending on the specific filler used, typically lasting several months to a year. Regular maintenance treatments are necessary to sustain the desired effects. Although considered safe when administered by qualified professionals, there is a potential risk of allergic reactions or injection-related complications.

Facial Fat Transfer Candidates

The face loses volume with age that can be replaced with a multitude of materials to create a more youthful appearance. A growing trend in both facial and body cosmetic surgery is in using your own fat to replace what was lost.

Many like this option simply because they do not like foreign materials in their body. Other advantages include that it is permanent and there has been some evidence to support the presence of stem cells within the harvested fat to improve the appearance of the skin. An optimal result using the fat transfer technique usually involves repeating the procedure an average of three times since some of the cells do not survive with each treatment. The good thing is that once this is done it is absolutely permanent.

The fat cells are harvested using a small liposuction cannula and taken from the abdomen, thighs, or buttocks. For facial injection only a small amount is harvested, about 3 tablespoons, so no change in contour of the donor areas is seen. Ideal fat transfer to the face candidates are men and women who have experienced a loss of volume in the face and would like to resolve this issue without synthetic fillers or major surgery.

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Facial Fat Grafting Procedure

Dallas or Austin fat transfer to the face woman with scarf

What can I expect during my Facial Fat Transfer procedure?

Facial fat grafting involves the administration of local anesthesia to both the donor and recipient areas.

Once the treatment sites are numb, Dr. Saxon will make a small incision in the donor area and insert a blunt cannula that she will use to suction the fat. After purifying the extracted fat, Dr. Saxon will gradually inject it into the target area one small drop at a time. Dr. Saxon also includes exosome injections during the fat transfer to the face procedure to improve blood supply to the fat cells and minimize resorption.

The entire process takes approximately 45 minutes. However, the length of your procedure may vary depending on the volume of fat involved and the location of the recipient area or areas.

What areas of the face can facial fat grafting treat?

Autologous fat grafting can restore or enhance volume in any area of the face in which dermal fillers may be used, including:

  • the cheeks
  • the area around the eyes
  • marionette lines
  • nasolabial folds
  • tear troughs
  • temples
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What are the benefits of Facial Fat Transfer in Austin and Dallas, TX?

Fat transfer to the face is a safe and effective alternative to dermal filler injections.

This minimally invasive treatment effectively restores volume in areas of the face presenting signs of aging such as hollowness. Facial fat grafting can reverse these signs of aging by returning volume to areas in which it's been depleted. Facial fat grafting can also improve the appearance of scars and the skin’s overall texture.

One of the most attractive benefits of facial fat transfer for many patients is that this procedure utilizes fat from your own body rather than a chemical solution or synthetic materials, eliminating the risk of allergic or adverse reactions to foreign materials. Austin & Dallas fat transfer to the face patients also love that this procedure produces long-term results.

In contrast to dermal filler injections that typically dissolve within six months to two years, autologous fat transferred from another area of the body can restore volume indefinitely. While facial fat grafting does reduce fat in the donor area, this reduction is minimal and not likely to be noticeable.

Versus other fat grafting procedures that require removing larger volumes of fat, facial fat grafting only involves removing approximately three tablespoons of fat from the donor area. Dallas & Austin fat transfer to the face at Saxon MD produces immediate and natural-looking results, with minimal recovery and no sutures.

What is recovery like after Facial Fat Grafting?

The small incisions are closed with dissolving sutures and a special glue. There is very little down time after this procedure. Mild swelling and bruising may be seen, but this is minimal since blunt cannulas are used instead of sharp instruments. After a week, the glue can be rubbed off by using any ointment like Vaseline, and routine skin care may resume. No pain medication beyond Tylenol or ibuprofen is needed since this procedure is very well-tolerated.

Can I combine my facial fat grafting with other procedures?

While fat grafting can accompany surgical procedures such as a facelift, highly regenerative injectable treatments that stimulate collagen production can enhance your facial fat grafting results and their longevity.

Austin exosome therapy is a highly regenerative injectable treatment that produces a 600-percent increase in collagen production and a 300-percent increase in elastin in treated areas. Other minimally invasive regenerative treatments such as traditional microneedling, Morpheus8 fractional laser resurfacing, and the injection of neuromodulators like Botox may also be ideal complementary Saxon MD treatments to fat transfer to the face in Austin.

These non-surgical treatments stimulate your body’s natural collagen production to improve your skin’s tone, texture, and elasticity. When combined with facial fat grafting, you can achieve a fuller, smoother, brighter, tighter, and overall more youthful appearance.

Dallas or Austin fat transfer to the face model smiling

What are the risks and side effects of fat transfer to the face?

Because fat transfer to the face in Dallas and Austin at Saxon MD only uses fat from your own body, there is no risk of adverse or allergic reaction. However, as with any surgical procedure, there is some level of risk and side effect occurrence.

The most common side effects of facial fat grafting are temporary bruising, swelling, and numbness in treated areas. Infection and bleeding are possible, though these complications rarely occur. Risks of fat transfer to the face include minor asymmetry and the unintentional injection of fat into a blood vessel. Sometimes, asymmetry can occur from uneven resorption of fat. A second treatment to fine-tune results or add additional volume may be needed if this occurs.

While asymmetry is an entirely cosmetic concern, an intravascular injection can cause severe conditions such as stroke, blindness, embolism, and skin necrosis. You can minimize the risks of your facial fat grafting procedure by receiving your treatment from a highly skilled, experienced, and board-certified Facial Plastic Surgeon like Dr. Sarah Saxon at Saxon MD.

Dr. Saxon Facial Plastic Surgeon Austin & Dallas

facial surgical specialist Dr. Sarah Saxon

Schedule your Facial Fat Transfer consultation with facial surgical specialist Dr. Sarah Saxon

Your face is your primary identifier to the world around you.

While facial fat grafting carries minimal risks, Dr. Sarah Saxon possesses the expertise to safely provide you with stunning, supple, natural-looking results while highlighting the features that make you look like you. Sarah Saxon strives to deliver the best fat transfer to the face Dallas or Austin has to offer and is a leading specialist in facial contouring procedures, with patients who travel to Saxon MD in Austin and Dallas, TX, from throughout the United States.

FAQs

Yes, Dallas and Austin facial fat transfer has gained popularity in recent years as a preferred cosmetic procedure for facial rejuvenation due to its ability to provide natural-looking and long-lasting results.

Facial fat grafting is generally well-tolerated by patients. Discomfort during the procedure is typically managed with local anesthesia or sedation, ensuring a comfortable experience.

Facial fat grafting offers long-lasting results. While some initial absorption of the transferred fat may occur, a significant portion typically survives and establishes a blood supply, resulting in permanent volume restoration.

Facial fat grafting involves the removal of excess fat from one area of the body through liposuction. However, the amount of fat removed is usually minimal and does not contribute significantly to weight loss.

The use of compression garments after liposuction is commonly recommended to minimize swelling, improve healing, and optimize the results. Your surgeon will provide specific instructions based on your individual case.

With facial fat transfer Dallas & Austin patients may have a varied timeline with which to apply makeup or lotion, based on their individual healing progression and the surgeon's instructions. Typically, it is advisable to wait at least a few days to a week before applying makeup or lotion to allow the treated areas to heal properly.

The cost of facial fat transfer can vary depending on various factors, such as the extent of the procedure, the surgeon's expertise, geographic location, and additional fees associated with the facility or anesthesia. It is best to consult with a qualified surgeon to discuss the specific details and obtain an accurate cost estimate.

Make your tomorrow beautiful. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Saxon about facial plastic surgery in Texas. Dr. Saxon will answer all your questions in a caring manner and help you create a plan to bring your ideal looks to life!

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