If deep creases and sunken facial planes are prematurely aging your appearance, fat grafting may be the perfect treatment to restore the youthful facial volume that is often lost to age, gravity, environmental stressors, and sun exposure. Fat grafting, or fat injections, is a cutting-edge rejuvenation treatment designed to repurpose a patient’s own tissue to fill pronounced lines and hollow areas of the face. As the treatment utilizes your body’s own excess fat cells, fat grafting generally doesn’t involve any risk of an allergic reaction and results can be exceptionally natural-looking. Our facial plastic surgeons offer fat grafting at our Kansas City practice for patients seeking to refresh their facial appearance for results that can last longer than injectables and dermal fillers.
What is Fat Grafting?
Fat grafting is a technique used to treat certain parts of the face where a volume deficit exists. Treatment involves a two-part process: the collection of the fat, and its subsequent redistribution into facial areas in need of volume restoration. First, fat cells are harvested from another region of the body abundant in excess fatty tissue through liposuction techniques. After the collected fat is purified and cleansed, it is meticulously injected into facial depressions to create youthful volume. Once treatment is complete, patients can enjoy more defined facial contours and smoother skin where creases once existed.
What Concerns Can Fat Grafting Treat?
In general, facial fat grafting can treat areas of the face where additional volume is desired. The lips, cheeks, jawline, and hollowed areas under the eyes can often benefit from additional facial fullness. Cheeks can achieve a more defined contour while thin lips can appear plumper. Deep wrinkles and facial creases, such as nasolabial folds, brow lines, and marionette lines, can also be improved for smoother skin. If you are unsure whether fat grafting is an effective skin care rejuvenation treatment for your concerns, Dr. Kriet or Dr. Humphrey can help you determine whether the procedure is well-suited to achieve your cosmetic goals.
How is Fat Grafting Performed?
Fat grafting is typically performed under a light anesthetic. Initially, an appropriate amount of fat is harvested from another part of your body— typically the abdomen, flanks, thighs, or buttocks. Because your own tissue is used for fat grafting, there is no need for allergy testing. The harvested fat is processed and purified. It can then be injected into the face through a fine needle, precisely enhancing volume in the desired area. Whether the patient desires more sensual lips, fuller cheeks, or improved skin texture, results are witnessed immediately. Fat injection can sometimes be combined with liposuction procedures, allowing for the utilization of removed fat cells that would otherwise be discarded.
What is Fat Grafting Recovery Like?
You can typically resume normal daily activities immediately after fat injection treatment. You may experience some swelling and inflammation in the grafted areas that dissipates within a few days. Fat injection performed by Dr. Kriet and Dr. Humphrey can produce durable, natural results that make patients look younger and more refreshed.
How Long Do Fat Injections Last?
The longevity of the outcome varies from patient to patient, but results from fat grafting can last for years. Fat injections are a very popular treatment due, in part, to the long-lasting outcome, which typically endures much longer than dermal fillers and other forms of non-surgical cosmetic enhancement.
How Much Does Fat Transfer to the Face Cost?
According to 2017 statistics from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), the average cost of facial fat grafting is approximately $2,310, excluding fees for anesthesia, the surgical facility, post-operative care, and other related expenses. However, it is important to note that the rates of cosmetic surgery typically vary across different geographic regions. While the figure listed is considered the national average price, your exact cost estimate will be calculated based on the details of your surgical plan.
Once your needs are assessed in a consultation, our office will provide you with a personalized quote detailing your procedural expenses. If you would rather pay for your treatment over a period of time, our office works with CommerceCare™ to make the cost of fat grafting more manageable. This premier healthcare lending company offers qualified applicants a broad range of payment plans with low- to no-interest rates that can be chosen to accommodate your unique budget. If you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to our practice.
To schedule a consultation for fat grafting (fat injection) at our Kansas City practice, please contact KU Facial Plastic Surgery today.