With weight loss and ageing, the face can lose a lot of volume which leads to a sunken undereye area, flat cheeks, deep nose to mouth lines, under projected chin, or deep lines and folds. All of these problems related to facial volume loss can be treated with the transfer of fat from unwanted fat deposits on the tummy or thighs, to the face. This operation is often combined with other facial surgeries such as Face & Neck Lift and Eyelid tucks. When done on its own, the operation can be done under local anaesthesia with sedation. The procedure is a well-established and safe operation.
The fat is harvested with thin liposuction tubes, then purified by decanting, centrifuging or washing and then injected into the areas of the face that are to be volumized.
An accurate estimate of the costs is only possible after an in-clinic consultation with Dr Prashant. We charge a £50 deposit to secure your consultation with Dr Prashant, this amount will be deducted from the costs of the treatment you go on to have at our clinic.
Disclaimer – Prices mentioned are just indicative of current average price ranges for the treatment. You will need an in-clinic consultation for a quote applicable to you. Also note that prices are subject to change, please contact a member of the team to confirm the current price range.
How long does the procedure take?
The surgery when done on its own, can take about an hour, it might last longer when combined with other procedures.
Do I need to be admitted for Fat Transfer to face?
Unless combined with other procedures, such as facelift, you are discharged on the same day after an appropriate period of observation.
What is the recovery time for Fat transfer to face?
You will be able to get back to light housework from the next day onwards but might want to take a week to 10 days off, before you go out and work. You should stock your kitchen for this period so that you don’t need to leave the house until the swelling has reduced.
What is the difference between Fat grafting face and fillers?
Fillers such as Dermal Fillers like Voluma®, Lyft®, Volift® can give you instant volumizing and line filling results. On the other hand, fat needs about 3 months to settle down to showcase the final result. At the end of this 3‑month period, you might need another treatment of fat transfer depending on how your body has accepted the transferred fat. Dermal fillers, however, have a limited life of 8 months to 2 years, once established the results of fat transfer will be lifelong.
How long do the fat injections last in the face?
It takes about 3 to 6 months to see a stable result of fat transfer. At this point, if there has been adequate volumisation, the effect will last for a lifetime, as long as your body weight stays more or less constant.
What are the side effects and how long does the swelling and bruising from Fat Transfer to Face last?
You can encounter bruising or swelling at the area from where the fat was harvested, the entry point might have a little discharge for a couple of days. In the treated area, you will experience a moderate degree of swelling, mild pain or tenderness that will subside over time.
The swelling can increase over the first 3 days after the surgery, at which point it starts diminishing slowly. This process can be helped with sleeping with extra pillows, staying upright and using cold packs in the initial stages. The swelling and bruising generally dissipate over a few weeks. You can start using makeup as early as the 4th postoperative day.
It will be around a week to 10 days before the swelling and bruising have settled to a level where you might feel comfortable with going out of the house.
Do fat injections in the face work?
Yes, it is a well-established, safe procedure, that can reliably volumise the face. Sometimes, 2–3 such procedures might be required to achieve the optimum result if the fat does not get established after the first operation. There is on average a 30–50% loss of transplanted cells because they can’t get enough oxygen supply in the early stages.
What precautions do I have to take after the procedure?
Other than the advice related to recovery, you need to keep a healthy lifestyle and avoid weight fluctuations to retain the result you have for the rest of your life. The transferred fat will behave just the same as elsewhere in your body, and therefore will increase or decrease with significant weight gain or loss.
Book a consultation for personalised cosmetic surgery or aesthetic treatment recommendations.
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