Facial Fat Injection
Purpose of the Procedure
Injection of fat into the face is generally used to correct contour deformities and to plump up and restore volume to aging faces. It can be helpful in treating facial lines and wrinkles. Fat can be injected into virtually any area of the face.
Description of the Procedure
This surgery can be performed under local or general anesthesia. All surgery is done at Dr. Payne’s MediCare and California State Certified Pueblo Nuevo Surgery Center located within his office.
Fat is harvested for injection from wherever the patient has some excess. Common donor sites are the tummy and thighs. The fat is gently collected and then processed prior to being injected into the treatment zone. The donor site not only provides the fat for the procedure but also benefits by having improved appearance and contours afterwards.
Tiny hidden incisions are used on the face to facilitate access for injection. Special instruments are used to carefully fill the contour abnormalities, lines and wrinkles. The fat may be placed from just under the skin all the way down to the underlying bone. Some over-correction is usually necessary as not all of the fat will survive after it has been placed into it’s new location.
Facial zones that may be filled with fat include the forehead, brow, orbits, hollows beneath the eye, cheeks, lips, along the jaw line and in the neck.
Fat may also be injected in other areas of the body including the buttocks. It can be used to fill any flat or indented zone. For example, as women age their hands become more skeletonized in appearance. Fat injected into dorsum of these excessively bony looking hands results in a more youthful and supple appearance.
Results
Although fat injection has the potential to create very nice results anyone undergoing this procedure needs to understand that they may need more than one operative treatment and that results can vary from person to person.
Most people lose fat volume in their face as they age and this impacts women more than men. As human beings age and lose facial fat their skin also tends to lose some of it’s elastic properties and the skin becomes looser and more prone to wrinkling and drooping. Sun damage causes skin to wrinkle and look splotchy and rough with uneven pigmentation. Muscles can shrink or sag. Even facial bones can atrophy and recede. By adding fat back into the face (or other body part) a more youthful countenance can be created. Facial skin and soft tissue often looks lifted as it is filled. Wrinkles are reduced and a more healthy and full faced look of youth can be created. Skeletonized faces look aged and faces with more fat in them look younger.
For maximum rejuvenation of aging faces usually multiple treatment modalities are needed. Surgical procedures include brow lifts, blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), face lifts, and other operations. Treatment aimed at improving skin appearance include the use of topical products such as retin A and other substances, lasers, fotofacial light therapy, and injectables such as botox, restylane, perlane, juvederm, collagen, and other agents.
Dr. Payne performs a comprehensive evaluation of each patient. He then discusses what each person’s potential treatment plan may include and discusses the pros and cons of all relevant corrective options both surgical and non-surgical. Each client is then free to choose those recommendations that appeal to them with the understanding that more options may be exercised in the future.
Recovery
Each patient is given detailed written postoperative instructions regarding surgery as well as appropriate medications. The postoperative experience is discussed in detail with each patient ahead of time so that the patient is prepared for the after-surgery experience. Dr. Payne usually call each patient the evening of surgery and again the morning after to review all instructions with the caregivers and make sure each patient is being managed appropriately. Dr. Payne or one of his staff members can be reached 24/7 by simply dialing his office phone number (209–524–9904) in case of questions or problems.
Most patients can go back to work within a few days of the treatment. Bruising and swelling usually last a few weeks and makeup will be needed initially to camouflage this as much as possible. By 4–6 weeks the majority of clients are back to normal in terms of appearance and activity. Patients are seen one to two times per week for the first few weeks until judged to be doing well. Dr. Payne follows all patients until they are fully healed and recovered. Patients may resume light exercise within a few days of treatment and then progress from there. Support garments are used on the fat donor sites for a minimum of three weeks after surgery.
Cost
Please contact our office for information regarding cost. You can get a ballpark non-binding quote over the phone for this surgical procedure. The cost of the consultation is $100 and will be applied to any surgical procedure that you have. Once you have had your consultation with Dr. Payne the final details of the operative game plan will be made. At that point you will be given a final fee quote. There are multiple options for each patient hence cost may vary from person to person.
Consultation/Scheduling
Please contact our office if you wish to make an appointment to see Dr. Payne for a consultation. Our office will be happy to talk to you in detail about this procedure. Feel free to ask lots of questions.
Your initial consultation will be with Dr. Payne. This generally will take about 1 hour. You may visit the office prior to this consultation to have preoperative digital photographs taken. If you would like you can view our Before and After album filled with multiple examples of this type of surgery and other facial cosmetic procedures. You will be given multiple brochures and other paperwork which will help to prepare you for your consultation. All your options will be discussed with you at the time you make your first appointment.
