Pairing Fat Grafts with Facelifts for More Youthful Results

by April Maguire

Typically, people seek facelifts to tighten their skin and gain a more youthful appearance. In the past, different surgical procedures have been used to accomplish this goal, such as removing excess flabby skin or tightening the underlying facial tissues. But recently, a new trend has started to emerge among plastic surgeons wherein fat grafts are routinely implanted as part of a facelift procedure.

Where Does the Fat Come From?

In order to inject fat into a patient during a facelift, plastic surgeons have to harvest fat from somewhere else. Typically, surgeons will perform a small amount of liposuction in order to obtain a sufficient amount of fat cells to use during the facelift. Although doctors may collect these fat cells from a number of areas on the body, typically fat is taken from either the patient’s thighs or their abdomen.

How Is Fat Used in a Facelift?

During the facelift procedure, this fat is injected strategically around the patient’s face, and it doesn't take much to get the job done. According to experts, only a few teaspoons’ worth of fat are needed, usually between 10 and 25ccs, which is then injected in very small amounts.

Most often, this fat is injected into the patient’s cheek area, which helps to give a fuller, more youthful appearance. Moreover, injecting a small amount of fat into the cheeks helps to counteract the natural loss of facial fat that occurs with age. And according to numerous plastic surgeons, it’s a great way to give the patient’s face a more pleasing shape overall.

In addition to the cheeks, surgeons have also reported injecting fat into facial folds between the corners of the mouth and the nose, as well as in the skin beneath the eyes. Injections at these sites help to further accentuate the patient’s youthful appearance following a facelift.

As with any kind of fat transfer, this injected fat will gradually be reabsorbed into the body, but both doctors and patients agree that fat grafts lead to a more successful, natural-looking facelift.

Although the idea of implementing a fat graft as part of a facelift was virtually unheard of 20 years ago, it was recently reported that this method is preferred by over 85% of plastic surgeons. The growing popularity of this technique highlights the ever-evolving nature of cosmetic surgery and the need for surgeons to adopt new methodologies into their practice.

If you or someone you know would like to learn more about plastic surgery, please feel free to schedule a consultation or contact one of our representatives today!

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