Fat grafting or fat transfer to the face has become one of the fastest growing segments of cosmetic procedures in America. Over the past decade the technique and technology has advanced so much that fat transfer to areas such as the lower eyelids and nose has achieved widespread acceptance. Fat grafting to the face can produce permanent, natural results. Dr. Roy David has been performing fat transfer in San Diego for over ten years, with consistently excellent outcomes.
WHY FAT TRANSFER?
As we age, we lose volume in the face. This leads to sagging, deflated skin, and concave sunken areas. Some common areas for fat loss include the cheeks, temples, lower eyelid “hollows,” jawline, lips, smile lines and premaxilla. For years these areas have been treated with synthetic injectable fillers — and continue to be with great success. The problem with these fillers is that they are not permanent (with few exceptions) and must be repeated at intervals leading to occasional swelling and bruising. Furthermore, these facial fillers are not our own natural tissue; we believe that injecting one’s own fat enhances the skin and facial contours by increasing blood supply and overall skin health.
Fat grafting is performed with blunt micro-cannulas. This makes the procedure very safe, as well as artistic and nuanced; the surgeon is able to “sculpt” the face in a natural way by gradually adding volume in diffuse increments. This is a different approach from most synthetic fillers — which are often placed in discrete aliquots.
Fat transfer in our San Diego practice is generally performed with a gentle “twilight” anesthesia in our AAAHC accredited surgical suite. Patients may also choose local anesthesia with oral sedation for this minimally invasive procedure. Following administration of tumescent anesthesia to the fat harvest site, the fat is gently harvested using micro cannulas. The fat is processed to remove impurities, and then carefully injected into the areas of concern. There is minimal to no pain after fat grafting, and a majority of swelling resolves within one week, allowing a return to activities.
San Diego facial plastic surgeon Dr. Roy David is a member of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and specializes in plastic surgery exclusively of the Face, Nose, Eyes, Neck, and Scalp. He has been in practice in San Diego for over ten years, helping thousands of patients to achieve their goals.
