Fat Grafting - Facial Reshaping
Kyle S. Choe, MD Facial Plastic Surgeon, Virginia Beach, VA
By using your own body fat – and transferring it to another area of the body such as the face – Dr. Choe can correct or improve such conditions as acne and surgical scars, replace facial volume that’s been lost due to disease or reverse unwanted signs of aging by plumping up sunken cheeks and minimizing facial lines and grooves. Fat grafting is not reserved exclusively for the face – it can be effectively used to correct aging signs of the hands to replace tissue that’s been lost between the bones for example. Fat grafting is a very common procedure used today to “defy the aging process” by restoring to you the healthy, natural face and body you deserve.
Benefits of Fat Grafting:
- Fat grafting if safe, effective and requires no pre-testing
- Fat grafting uses your own body fat to improve/correct other areas
- Fat grafting is accepted readily by your body
- Fat grafting corrects, plumps, decreases and restores
- Fat grafting creates long lasting, natural results
- Fat grafting requires little to no downtime
Fat Grafting most commonly asked question: Am I a candidate for facial reshaping? If you have thin lips, gaunt face, long face, bottom-heavy face, asymmetrical face, chubby face, sunken eyes, mid-face retrusion and or neck laxity – fat grafting can be used to create or recreate high cheekbones and fuller lips – fill in those sunken areas and create balance and natural beauty that has been lost or was never there to begin with.
Fat Grafting Surgery Overview:
The harvest site will be prepared for fat removal by injecting local anesthetic into that area. A cannula syringe is used to extract the fat through a small incision. The fat is then purified and the fat cells are prepared for transfer. The area for graft is prepared and the transfer is made by injecting the cells into that area. The process is repeated until the desired correction has been achieved.
After your procedure you will experience a moderate amount of swelling and bruising– this is normal and disappears in about 2 weeks.
Pre-Surgery Instructions:
- You must avoid taking aspirin, aspirin containing products, ibuprofen and herbal medicines for 2 weeks prior to your surgery.
- You must not use nicotine or nicotine products for 4 weeks prior to your surgery and for 10 days after your surgery.
- You must not use alcohol for 1 week prior to your surgery.
- Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your surgery.
- You must have a responsible adult drive you to your surgery, drive you home and stay with you for 24 hours after your surgery.
- Sleep with head elevated using 2-3 pillows for 2-3 weeks after your surgery.
- Follow Dr. Choe’s instructions for wound care – daily.
- Rest for at least 1 full day following your surgery.
- Protect your face from the sun – using sunglasses and a hat for a while.
- You will be presentable to return to work within 10–14 days.
- Swelling, bruising and numbness are normal and will go away in a few days.
- Take your pain medication as directed – and follow the prescribed diet
When considering any facial plastic surgical procedure – remember that Board Certified surgeons are the most skilled and qualified. Dr. Choe is a board certified facial plastic surgeon, certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. |
