Fat Transfer (Fat Grafting)

What Is Fat Transfer (Fat Grafting)?

Fat transfer, also known as fat grafting or fat injection, is an ideal way to increase volume in the face to gain a younger, more rejuvenated appearance. The fat transfer process involves harvesting fat cells from one part of your body and transferring them into another, usually to restore volume in the mid-face, under the eyes, lips, chin, or the cheeks.

What are the Benefits of Fat Transfer over Other Facial Fillers?

Facial volume restoration has previously relied solely on artificial fillers that were grown and harvested in pharmaceutical labs. These types of fillers have a well-established place in helping to restore volume to facial structures however they have their disadvantages. They are often re-absorbed by the body over time necessitating frequent repeat injections. They are also expensive, often don’t feel natural to touch, and are sometimes visible through the skin.

The fat transfer technique has several benefits over artificial fillers:

• Longer lasting results than lab-grown fillers
• Results look and feel more natural
• Fat transfer is invisible underneath the skin
• Minimally invasive procedure

Stem Cells Make Fat Transfer the Ideal Filler

An additional benefit of fat transfer is that your body’s fatty tissue contains an abundance of powerful stem cells — naturally occurring cells that self-renew and have a special ability to transform themselves into specialized cell types to rejuvenate the skin. As part of your fat transfer procedure, you may elect to use your own stem cells – this is sometimes known as a “stem cell facelift;” however, it is not technically a facelift at all, just a more comprehensive “entire face” approach to facial rejuvenation. Read more about fat transfer using stem cells here.

Where is the Fat From?

The fat is taken from your own body’s fat stores – usually from the abdomen, thighs, or hips, via a liposuction method. If you have chose to have a stem cell fat transfer, the fat is then placed into a spinning centrifuge that is used to separate out your own body’s stem cells, which allows stem cells to be extracted and concentrated. The concentrated fat is then injected into the facial areas to be treated along with your own non-concentrated fat.

Am I a Good Candidate for Fat Transfer?

If you have moderate facial aging, or you have had a facelift previously and do not wish to undergo another surgical procedure, then fat transfer is an ideal form of non-surgical facial rejuvenation. The procedure will completely customized based on your own individual requirements. You may also require facial sculpting, or fat removal from specific areas to create a balanced contour depending on your desired result.