Fat Grafting

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Facial Fat Grafting in Miami, Fl – Gables Plastic Surgery

As we age, our faces gradually lose the volume and shape we take for granted in our youth. While we are young, our cheekbones were high and full, the undereye area was smooth, and our jawlines were firm and tight. But over time, due to the loss of collagen and elastin, our temple area begins to thin, our under-eye area develops deep hollows, cheeks deflate, and the skin along our jawline begins to sag and look heavy.

Facial fat grafting—also known as lipoinjection, autologous fat transplantation, or facial fat transfer—has become a popular cosmetic procedure. Renowned Miami plastic surgeon Dr. Jorge de la Pedraja proudly offers this procedure to revitalize these features of your face using fat cells from other parts of your body.

Dr. de la Pedraja wholly dedicates his efforts to ensuring his patients are safe, have a premium experience, and receive outstanding results. Are you ready to enjoy the youth-restoring benefits of facial fat grafting?

Learn more about facial fat injections in Miami by calling (305) 441-9144 or contacting us online today.

What Is Facial Fat Grafting?

Facial fat grafting surgery can be performed stand-alone or combined with other reconstructive or cosmetic facial procedures to optimize your overall results. The procedure involves using liposuction to harvest fat from one part of your body and, after being purified, injecting it into areas of the face experiencing age-related volume and bone loss. The fat is usually extracted from the abdomen but may also be sourced from other areas, depending on the fat reserves’ suitability.

This fat can fill in sunken cheeks and the area beneath the eyes, reduce folds and scars, and even enhance lip size when injected beneath the facial skin.

Benefits of Facial Fat Grafting in Miami

Facial fat grafting is a highly versatile procedure that can simultaneously achieve multiple cosmetic goals, depending on the patient’s unique aesthetic concerns. An added benefit of this anti-aging treatment is that the body area from where the fat cells are harvested—typically the knees, thighs, hips, or abdomen—can be further contoured through liposuction in the same session as the fat grafting procedure. Fat grafting is typically utilized to improve:

Cheek volume
Lip volume
Fullness along the jawline
Volume to the temples
Areas under and around the eyes
Marionette lines extending from the nose to either side of the mouth
Facial folds, wrinkles, and shallow scarring in the face

Facial fat grafting can result in very natural-looking, long-lasting results made even better when combined with other enhancement procedures, such as a facelift or eyelid surgery for an even more comprehensive facial rejuvenation.

Your Facial Fat Graft Augmentation Consultation with Dr. de la Pedraja

During your consultation, Dr. de la Pedraja will examine your facial anatomy and suggest the rejuvenating procedure best suited to your needs. In the process, he will:

Review the facial rejuvenation process with fat grafting and additional procedures with you.
Carefully discuss the potential risks of each procedure.
In detail, outline how the surgery is performed and what you can expect before, during, and after the procedure.
Provide detailed cost and payment information.
Answer all your questions.

You will also be asked to provide:

Details about your medical history.
A list of all medications you currently are taking, including over-the-counter medications and supplements.
Information regarding your tobacco and alcohol use.

If you are a smoker, it is recommended that you quit 6-8 weeks before the procedure to optimize the success of your facial fat graft.

During your consultation, you will be able to discuss your goals with Dr. de la Pedraja, who will give you his honest opinion and help you understand your options. He will also thoroughly describe each technique to be used, along with its risks, benefits, and recovery times.

Board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery
Fellow of the American College of Surgeons
Member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons
Member of Miami Society of Plastic Surgeons
Committed to providing the highest quality of care to each and every patient

How Is a Facial Fat Transfer Performed?

The fat grafting process has two main components.

Fat Extraction

A very thin cannula gently extracts fat from a donor body area carrying a sufficient amount of excess fatty tissue. A 10 cc syringe is used in the process, allowing an optimal amount of control for extracting the fat cells.

Centrifuge

Excess oil and blood is removed, purifying the stem cells and fat before it is injected into the targeted regions of the face. The stem cells and accompanying fat cells are then used to smooth wrinkles, fill in facial depressions, and restore youthful volume to the treatment areas. Supplemental benefits of this treatment include skin rejuvenation properties from the stem cells of the fat graft, resulting in smoother skin with fewer fine lines, decreased pore size, and a reduction of pigment irregularities.

Who Is a Candidate for a Facial Fat Graft?

The results achieved by good candidates for facial fat grafting can last much longer than other popular anti-aging injectables and dermal filler treatments. Facial fat grafting is usually most successful for individuals who have the following aesthetic concerns:

A hollowed areas under and around the eyes
Sunken cheeks or temples
Pronounced jowls along the jawline
Smile lines or nasolabial folds and creases
Prominent facial folds or lines

Facial fat grafting is typically performed in Dr. de la Pedraja’s office under local anesthesia with minimal discomfort or downtime.

Look your best, feel your best

Dr. de la Pedraja is committed to providing the highest quality of care to each and every patient. His philosophy is to develop an individualized care plan to meet the needs of each patient with the utmost compassion and concern in a setting of comfort and confidentiality.

What Is Recovery Like for a Facial Fat Graft?

Depending on the specifics of your treatment, you should be able to make a full return to regular activity in 3-7 days. You can expect some mild swelling at the injection and donor sites, but this should dissipate within a few weeks of treatment.

While the cosmetic results of your facial fat grafting can be immediately visible, the final outcome generally improves as swelling continues to dissipate. Dr. de la Pedraja utilizes advanced surgical techniques when extracting and redistributing the fat into your facial areas, which can only result in a natural-looking and long-term aesthetic outcome.

Everyone’s recovery will be different, but here are some general guidelines for you to follow:

You should be able to return to work within two weeks of your surgery.
You can start driving as soon as you feel comfortable doing so, provided you are not on any narcotics.
You should be able to restart your physical exercise routine within 2-6 weeks of your procedure.
Most of the visible signs of your procedure, such as bruising and swelling, should fade within about three weeks.
Exposure to heat and sun should be avoided as much as possible for several months.
Any scars caused by the procedure should be protected from sunlight for at least a year following your procedure.

Partner with One of Miami’s Best Facial Surgeons

Getting the best facial fat grafting results to help restore your attractive, youthful look begins with selecting the right surgeon, Dr. de la Pedraja. Begin this journey by scheduling a consultation by calling (305) 441-9144 or contacting us online today. We proudly serve Miami, Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, Key Biscayne, Miami Beach, Pinecrest, and other areas of South Florida.

Look Your Best, Feel Your Best!

Frequently Asked Questions About Facial Fat Grafting

Am I a good candidate for facial fat grafting?

You may be a good candidate if:

You’re physically healthy.
You have realistic expectations.
You understand the risks associated with surgery.
You’re unhappy with the sagging areas of your face.

What are the risks of facial fat grafting?

As with any surgery, facial fat grafting carries some risks, including:

Complications from the anesthesia
Bleeding
Pain
Infection
Swelling
Numbness

How long will my results last?

While some patients report results that last a year or more, most patients find that the injected volume starts to disappear within 3-6 months, making it necessary to repeat the treatment.

Does insurance cover facial fat grafting?

When facial fat grafting has a reconstructive purpose, it is generally covered by insurance as necessary for facial reconstruction. However, if it is considered cosmetic and not covered by your insurance, it is for facial rejuvenation. Our staff will review all the financing options available to you and help with any payment questions you may have.