Fat Transfer is one of the popular facial defect correction techniques that has been used for a long time. It involves transferring fat from other parts of the body to the face to add dimension and correct various imperfections that affect our confidence, such as a flat forehead, sunken eye sockets, hollow temples, sunken cheeks, or to correct wrinkles, etc.
Procedure for Fat Transfer
- Fat Transfer uses fat from our own body to fill the desired areas, for example, liposuction from the abdomen to fill the temple area to make the temples look fuller and more dimensional as desired.
- The fat taken from other areas must be cleaned and relies on the blood supply in the injected area to nourish the fat so it can survive, similar to tissue transplantation.
- After the fat is injected, it takes about 2 weeks to observe the results.
What are the advantages of Fat Transfer?
- The fat injected into the face is our own fat, so it is not harmful to the body. However, the effectiveness depends on the doctor’s expertise, the injection process, and the location where the fat is injected.
- It is cheaper than synthetic filler injections.
What are the disadvantages of Fat Transfer?
Because it is unknown whether the fat from the area we liposuctioned is firmer than the fat on the face, the uncertainty of the results becomes a disadvantage of this method. If the fat from the liposuctioned area is firmer, it can cause the following effects:
- Uncertain results, such as injecting both temples or cheeks may not be symmetrical, depending on the blood supply; one side may survive while the other may atrophy.
- Firm fat lumps may form, which can become lipomas on the face.
- Due to the weight of the injected fat being more than the fat naturally on the face, it can cause the face to sag due to gravity.
- Care must be taken to avoid inflammation after injection.
Who is suitable for Fat Transfer?
It is suitable for people who have issues with filling grooves or want a more defined facial shape. It can be done for both men and women. Candidates must not be too thin and must have enough fat in areas that can be liposuctioned for use.
Duration of the procedure
Typically, Fat Transfer takes about 1-2 hours, including the time to liposuction fat from the body and the injection process into the face. Since fat does not survive long once removed, the doctor must work quickly to achieve the best results. Storing the fat for too long reduces its effectiveness and increases the risk of inflammation.
Post-injection care
After the fat injection, avoid facial massages or any strong impact on the face to prevent inflammation. Usually, it takes about 2 weeks to observe how effective the injected fat is. If the injection is unsuccessful, the doctor does not recommend repeating the injection due to a higher risk of inflammation.
Dr. Tawisak Larpchitrkusol
Plastic Surgeon
Beauty Center, Phyathai 2 Hospital
