Facial Fat Grafting in Austin, Tx

There are several treatments out there that rejuvenate the contours and fullness of your face, but fat grafting to the face has tremendously increased in popularity due to its natural outcomes and lasting benefits. Loss of volume, often due to aging, tends to be more prominent around the eyes, jawlines, and cheeks. Fat grafting to the face can be used to decrease the most common signs of aging. Additionally, it rebuilds fullness by smoothing lines, wrinkles, and folds throughout your face with your own fat. By removing unwanted fat from your body, board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Andre Y. Levesque can skillfully apply the fat into the needed parts of your face for lasting, beautiful results. With fat grafting to the face, you can both receive a rejuvenated facial appearance and a general improvement to your body. To find out more about fat grafting to the face, contact Levesque Plastic Surgery in Austin, TX to schedule an appointment.

Facial fat grafting is good if you want to add natural-looking volume to specific areas of your face. A facial fat transfer can fill in wrinkles like laugh lines, Crow's feet, and smile lines. Grafted fat can also reduce the appearance of acne scars and pitted areas. You can also add volume to your lips and cheeks for a more youthful appearance. Similar to the results of a dermal filler, like Juvéderm or Restylane, a fat transfer is a good option if you want your results to last for much longer. To be a candidate for a fat grafting, you should have enough excess fat to meet your goals. Dr. Levesque routinely performs facial fat transfers for patients receiving a facelift surgery to restore lost volume.

Fat transfer is a two-part surgery that includes harvesting the fat and placement. Since a small amount of fat is needed, Dr. Levesque typically uses local anesthesia (or a general anesthetic if you are having this procedure along with a facelift). To begin, Dr. Levesque will perform liposuction to remove fat, which will probably come from your hips, flanks, or abdomen. When the fat is harvested, it will be purified and prepared for injection. Dr. Levesque will use various techniques and injection angles to ensure high immersion rates into your skin and to create evenness. Based on your plan, fat may be grafted to your cheeks, lips, and/or below your eyes to add volume as well as to improve fine lines, wrinkles, and facial scars.

After your facial fat transfer, your incisions will be sutured and cleaned before you are sent to a recovery area. Dr. Levesque or a member of his team will apply dressings, compression garments, and monitor you until you can be sent home with a friend or family member. Before your surgery, Dr. Levesque will tell you what to expect after surgery and how you can heal more comfortably. Follow-up appointments should be scheduled at Levesque Plastic Surgery so Dr. Levesque can assess your recovery and progress. Your healing will vary based on how much fat was removed and transferred, but you should plan to take a few weeks to rest and recover. At first, you may feel sore with bruising and swelling in the liposuction site(s) and the grafted area(s). You may notice some improvements right away in your face, but it will take several weeks before you'll be able to see your final results. A small amount of fat may be reabsorbed by your body, but with good care, your results should last for many years.

How much does facial fat grafting cost?
Costs for facial fat grafting will include fat removal and will vary based on how much volume is being added. After a thorough assessment, Dr. Levesque will determine how much fat is needed to create the desired volume and will prepare your customized treatment plan. From there, he can begin to estimate your costs, like facility and anesthesia fees. To ensure that your procedure is easier to afford, Levesque Plastic Surgery accepts many payment methods, including low-interest financing.

Should I get a dermal filler or fat transfer?
Either a facial fat transfer or a dermal filler (like Juvéderm and Restylane) can improve the appearance of lines and wrinkles, as well as add volume. While fillers can give you beautiful results, a facial fat transfer typically looks more natural, lasts longer, and can be more cost-effective in some cases. A fat transfer is a permanent transfer of fat cells, but some fat can still be reabsorbed by the body over time. To help you decide how much fat you want added and where, Dr. Levesque may suggest starting with dermal fillers. Once you have figured out what you want, Dr. Levesque can perform a fat transfer for results that last years instead of months.

Can facial fat grafting be combined with another procedure?
Facial fat grafting can be combined with a nonsurgical treatment such as BOTOX (a wrinkle relaxer), a surgical procedure (like a facelift), or a skin treatment (for example, a facial). A fat transfer can add volume to improve the balance of your face, which enhances the surgical results of a facelift, neck lift, or chin augmentation. Talk to Dr. Levesque during your consultation about your desires so he can create a plan with surgical and nonsurgical treatments that reach all of your goals.

How long does facial fat grafting take?
How long it takes to complete your fat transfer will vary depending on how much fat is being removed, as well as the volume needed to attain the desired result. When your individualized treatment plan is created during your consultation, Dr. Levesque can go over what you should expect (such as the time it will take for liposuction, fat preparation, and grafting). Dr. Levesque takes his time to carefully inject thin layers of fat with innovative techniques so your results look natural.

How long will the fat grafting or transfer last?
The fat cells that survive the process of injection will exist in its new location for a long time. However, it is important to note that the improved aesthetic appearance will dilute over time. This is due to the continued volume loss in the bone, muscle, fat, and skin that occurs with continued aging and gravity. Dr. Levesque estimates that the typical person might want to undergo another transfer in 3 – 5 years to maintain the result.

Which areas of the face can be improved with fat grafting?
Fat grafting can be used in a number of locations to add volume or decrease wrinkles. Fat grafting is ideal to augment the mid-face so that this area appears fuller and lifted without surgery. In addition, fat can also be used to add volume to your upper and/or lower lips. You may also get a fat transfer to fill the sunken or hollow areas under your eyes. Facial fat grafting can also correct scars, wrinkles (brow furrows, marionette lines). Dr. Levesque will create your personal treatment plan to address on your concerns and cosmetic goals.

How can you perform this under local anesthesia?
Dr. Levesque begins the procedure with topical anesthetics and then perform injections with dilute anesthetic. Every area to be worked on is carefully tested to ensure patients will not be uncomfortable prior to starting treatment. Facial nerve blocks are placed at precise positions to provide near complete anesthesia. The benefit of this methodology is that there is no groggy anesthesia to recover from. This procedure is exceptionally safe because you are awake. You can also drive yourself home if you wish. Additionally, the costs to the patient are significantly less as there is no extra anesthesia fee or facility fee.

Fat transfer procedures are an incredible way to increase volume, smooth out lines, and accentuate your beautiful profile. If you dream about a younger, radiant appearance with little downtime, we invite you to learn more about facial fat grafting at Levesque Plastic Surgery. See how this treatment can help you achieve your desired appearance. It is an exciting option for individuals wanting a natural improvement and lasting results. Call our Austin, TX office right away to schedule your consultation with Dr. Levesque for this increasingly sought-out procedure.