Facial fat grafting in Dallas, TX, is a highly effective way to restore lost volume that occurs due to the natural aging process. The procedure can also reduce wrinkles, resolve deep creases, enhance sunken facial contours, and enhance complementary procedures like lip augmentation.
To decide if a fat transfer is right for you, the first step is to determine whether you can reap the rewards of this treatment or if you need to explore alternative options for your aesthetic needs.
With expert guidance from board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Yash Avashia, you can get the answers you need and make an informed decision regarding your options. To help shorten your learning curve, here is an overview on who is a good candidate for facial fat grafting.
What Is Facial Fat Grafting, and How Does It Work?
Volume and contour are integral to maintaining youthful, plump, and radiant skin. Once your facial fat pads start shifting downward due to age and gravity, it can result in issues such as sagging skin, sunken features, prominent wrinkles, and deep creases. In many cases, a natural lack of facial volume can also make you look gaunt or create hollows in various areas.
Facial fat grafting uses your fat cells to volumize, augment, and enhance your features. During the procedure, Dr. Yash harvests fat from donor areas such as your abdomen or thighs via liposuction, then injects the purified cells into areas like your cheeks, lips, and tear troughs. The injected fat can restore lost facial volume, reduce the appearance of wrinkles, fill facial creases, and add structure to your facial contours.
When performed by an experienced and board-certified plastic surgeon, facial fat grafting can provide you with natural-looking, long-lasting results, while significantly enhancing your appearance.
Before performing facial fat grafting in Dallas, TX, Dr. Yash will take time to understand your concerns and determine if this approach can successfully resolve them. Then, he’ll create a customized approach to deliver your desired outcome.
What Are the Ideal Characteristics of a Facial Fat Grafting Candidate?
You might be well-qualified for facial fat grafting if you possess the following characteristics.
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Areas on your face that look gaunt or hollow
- Thin or flat lips
- Sufficient donor fat to use for grafting
- Overall good health
- Realistic expectations
While these general characteristics outline the general profile of a good fat grafting candidate, you do not need to meet every criterion to benefit from the procedure. For instance, if you want an all-natural lip augmentation but aren’t worried about volume loss, you may still want to consider how this procedure can help you achieve your aesthetic goals.
A detailed consultation with Dr. Yash is your opportunity to ask questions, discuss your goals, and assess your eligibility for facial fat grafting in Dallas, TX.
Who Is Not Eligible for Facial Fat Grafting?
Some factors may disqualify you from getting facial fat grafting.
- Any underlying conditions that may impair healing
- A history of significant resorption of fat grafts
- A lack of sufficient donor fat
- A history of significant weight fluctuation
- Plans for major weight loss
During your initial consultation, Dr. Yash will determine if one or more of these factors might prevent you from getting a fat transfer. In that case, he can recommend alternative solutions for helping you achieve aesthetic goals. For example, dermal fillers can temporarily restore facial volume, reduce wrinkles, and augment your facial features.
What Is Involved in the Facial Fat Grafting Consultation?
A facial fat grafting consultation is an opportunity for you and Dr. Yash to sit down in a private consultation. Here, you can feel free to ask all your questions about this procedure to ensure you understand what it entails. Please come prepared to discuss your health history, including any surgeries or major illnesses you’ve had. Dr. Yash needs to understand if you have any risk factors that might make you more vulnerable to complications such as bleeding or infections.
To determine your candidacy for facial fat grafting, Dr. Yash will ask about your aesthetic concerns and overall expectations for this procedure. He will also take the following steps.
- Analyzing your facial anatomy and skin elasticity
- Reviewing your medical history, lifestyle, and current state of health
- Determining the results of any previous fat grafting procedures
- Learning if you plan to lose a dramatic amount of weight in the future
- Identifying the ideal donor sites to harvest fat cells
Once Dr. Yash determines your eligibility, he’ll suggest which donor area(s) might work well for your needs. Additionally, he will walk you through what to expect during treatment and recovery.
Dr. Yash has earned a reputation for his excellent listening skills. He’ll take time to address your concerns and answer any questions that you may have. He will also explain how long your facial fat grafting results can last.
If you are interested in comparing similar procedures, Dr. Yash will explain the pros and cons to help you make an informed decision about restoring and maintaining your facial volume.
What Happens During and After Facial Fat Grafting?
Dr. Yash will perform your facial fat grafting procedure at the Dallas Plastic Surgery Institute. This fully accredited surgery facility has state-of-the-art surgical equipment and a comfortable ambiance that contributes to your well-being.
Once you arrive at the surgery center, our medical team will help prepare you for the procedure, which includes administering anesthesia to ensure your comfort.
A facial fat graft consists of the following steps.
- Making tiny incisions in the liposuction donor site
- Harvesting fat cells with a cannula attached to a suction device
- Sculpting the donor site to appear sleek and toned
- Purifying the harvested fat cells for injection
- Using thin, fine syringes to strategically inject the harvested fat into the target areas
Once Dr. Yash completes these steps, you will move to a recovery room, where his surgical team will ensure you are comfortable and medically stable enough to return home. Before you leave, Dr. Yash will provide you with post-operative instructions and prescriptions for pain medication, which will help ensure a smooth healing process.
After the procedure, your recovery experience may include pain, swelling, and bruising. These are mild and should resolve on their own. You can minimize them by wearing compression garments in the donor area and applying ice packs to your face.
If your job is not physically demanding, you may feel well enough to return by approximately the one-week mark of your surgery. Don’t resume strenuous exercise until Dr. Yash clears you to.
How Does Facial Fat Grafting Compare to Other Facial Rejuvenation Options?
Facial fat grafting is an all-natural alternative to dermal fillers. When performed by an experienced provider, both approaches can deliver outstanding results. Your choice depends on your goals and lifestyle.
For instance, facial fat grafting delivers longer-lasting results, but requires downtime for recovery. Dermal fillers are quick, painless, and provide a nearly instantaneous improvement, but will eventually wear off, leading to the need for touch-up treatments.
To help you understand the potential pros and cons of each approach, here is a quick overview.
Facial Fat Grafting Advantages and Disadvantages
- Results can last for decades.
- No maintenance treatments are necessary.
- Using your body fat reduces any risk of allergic reactions.
On the other hand, facial fat grafting is minor surgery. It requires expertise to deliver optimal results and has a higher upfront cost.
Dermal Filler Advantages and Disadvantages
- Little to no downtime or activity restrictions
- Flexibility of maintaining results
- Quick, painless in-office treatment
However, dermal filler maintenance costs may add up in the long run, causing you to seek a more permanent solution to facial volume restoration.
To help you determine which option is a better fit for your goals, lifestyle, and budget, Dr. Yash will discuss your concerns and expectations during your initial consultation. His suggestions will help you choose the ideal path without compromising your aesthetic vision.
Facial Fat Grafting Results
Redistributing your body fat can deliver natural-looking and long-lasting results. It’s ideal for many patients seeking a practical anti-aging solution. Still, it’s essential to remember that not all the transferred fat cells will survive the treatment. Over the next six months or so, up to half of them will dissolve through your natural body processes. Once this initial period has passed, you can expect to see your facial fat grafting results settle. Your improved appearance will last until variables like weight fluctuations and aging start affecting it.
Being mindful of these factors, Dr. Yash uses his expertise to perform facial fat grafting for long-lasting results. He will strategically place your fat injections, using an optimal amount of fat to offset the eventual resorption.
Contact Dr. Yash for Your Facial Fat Grafting Consultation
Now that you understand facial fat grafting candidacy and what variables influence the treatment, continue exploring your options with an experienced, highly qualified plastic surgeon. By contacting Dr. Yash, you can benefit from the guidance of a board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive experience in facial rejuvenation procedures. To begin your facial fat grafting journey in Dallas, TX, schedule a consultation by calling (469) 249-9615 today.