Procedures - Autologous Fat Grafting

Fat Grafting

IN WETHERSFIELD, CT

Reviving youthful facial contours requires not only lifting sagging areas, but also restoring lost volume. Autologous fat grafting is a simple procedure which uses your own fat to replace lost volume in the face. Unlike typical fillers, autologous fat creates natural results that last years to come.

Why autologous fat grafting?

While many patients love the volumizing effects of dermal fillers like Juvederm and Restylane, most are annoyed with constantly having to repeat treatments every 6-12 months.
Autologous fat grafting allows the opportunity to create beautiful, natural appearing volume replacement with results that last many years.
Volume replacement with fat grafting is often done in conjunction with other procedures like lower blepharoplasty and the deep plane facelift to enhance surgical results. This treatment can also be done as a standalone procedure in the office for select areas.
Because we use your own fat for volume replacement, we minimize the risk of associated complications like allergic reaction, delayed onset nodule formation, and granuloma formation that can be seen with exogenous dermal fillers.

Understanding volume loss in facial aging

All of us have three broad categories of changes that happen to the face during the aging process; we get sagging, changes to the skin quality, and volume loss. All throughout the face there are fat pads, connective tissue, muscle, and bone and all of it reduces in volume to some degree. The most prominent volume loss tends to be in specific fat compartments, namely the cheeks, the area in front of the jowls, the marionette area, and the temples. Volume loss can worsen the appearance of sagging as well as the skin quality. Volume restoration helps bring back the fullness seen in youth and can enhance improvements in the other areas of aging.

Understanding volume loss in facial aging

All of us have three broad categories of changes that happen to the face during the aging process; we get sagging, changes to the skin quality, and volume loss. All throughout the face there are fat pads, connective tissue, muscle, and bone and all of it reduces in volume to some degree. The most prominent volume loss tends to be in specific fat compartments, namely the cheeks, the area in front of the jowls, the marionette area, and the temples. Volume loss can worsen the appearance of sagging as well as the skin quality. Volume restoration helps bring back the fullness seen in youth and can enhance improvements in the other areas of aging.

A simple procedure, but an advanced technique

Although autologous fat grafting is simple in concept, there have been considerable advances in the technique over time. We use the most minimally invasive harvesting methods and proven processing techniques to try and maximize the quality and uniformity of the fat we inject. Fat is typically harvested from the abdomen, flanks, or outer thighs using microcannulas through a 2mm incision. The fat is then processed through a closed system to remove impurities while avoiding any contact with the surrounding environment. This minimizes the risk of any contamination while maximizing the quality of the fat. The fat is then injected to the areas to be enhanced using microcannulas to enhance safety, improve retention, and minimize any damage to surrounding structures. This creates beautiful, natural contour enhancement which can last for many, many years.

A simple procedure, but an advanced technique

Although autologous fat grafting is simple in concept, there have been considerable advances in the technique over time. We use the most minimally invasive harvesting methods and proven processing techniques to try and maximize the quality and uniformity of the fat we inject. Fat is typically harvested from the abdomen, flanks, or outer thighs using microcannulas through a 2mm incision. The fat is then processed through a closed system to remove impurities while avoiding any contact with the surrounding environment. This minimizes the risk of any contamination while maximizing the quality of the fat. The fat is then injected to the areas to be enhanced using microcannulas to enhance safety, improve retention, and minimize any damage to surrounding structures. This creates beautiful, natural contour enhancement which can last for many, many years.

Know before you go

Autologous fat grafting can be done as a stand-alone procedure or in combination with other surgeries you may be having. We will always offer fat grafting when we think it will enhance your results of any other procedure. After inquiring with us you can expect.

A phone consultation with Erin, our patient care coordinator specialist. During this consultation she will learn more about you and your areas of concern. She will review your options in detail, including procedures, downtime, and costs. Together you will decide if we feel like a good fit, and assuming we do, she will schedule you for an in person consultation.
Your in person consultation will be a deep dive into facial aging and the role of volume augmentation. We will ensure you have a complete understanding of the autologous fat grafting procedure, any complementary procedures, and we will create a treatment plan tailored specifically to your needs.
We try to make scheduling your procedure a breeze. We encourage you to bring your calendar and potential dates that work well for you. A 20% fully refundable deposit is all that is needed to secure your ideal date.
We always meet one additional time before any procedure for a pre-operative visit. We go over the post-operative course again in detail. You will be given a post-operative care kit containing everything you will need for your post-surgical care. We will take pre-operative photographs and go through all the surgical consents. We utilize this time to make sure you are 100% prepared for your surgical journey.

Post surgical care

Autologous fat grafting, whether done as a stand-alone procedure or in conjunction with other surgeries, has very little downtime. You should expect:

The downtime is typically 5-7 days for most patients. During this time the treated area will be a bit more swollen than usual and could potentially be bruised. The area of fat harvest may be slightly bruised as well. This procedure does not add any additional downtime when used in conjunction with other surgeries.
There may be some mild soreness in the area of the fat harvest. Typically the treated area does not have any discomfort. Over-the-counter pain medication like Tylenol or ibuprofen is all you would need.
We closely follow all of our patients through their post-surgical course. For an isolated procedure, we would typically see you at 1 week, 1 month, 6 months, and 1 year after surgery. When done in conjunction with other procedures the follow-up is the same as for those respective procedures. During each of these visits we are carefully inspecting all aspects of the surgery and ensure the best possible results.

How does fat grafting compare to in-office dermal fillers?

Autologous fat grafting can be used in the same areas as dermal filler, but the effects are much longer lasting. While filler needs to be repeated every 6-12 months, fat grafting can last for many years.

Are there any incisions?

The only incision for autologous fat grafting is a 2mm incision at the fat donor site. The fat is placed into the face using micro cannulas. These are introduced through a needle poke, no incision is necessary.

Are there any risks with fat grafting?

The biggest risk with fat grafting is that the fat gets reabsorbed and does not "take". Despite using the most advanced techniques, about 20 percent of the time the fat does not stay. If this is the case dermal fillers can always be done in its place.

Can fat grafting be done in combination with other procedures?

Autologous fat grafting is very often done in combination with other procedures. We utilize fat grafting most often to enhance the deep plane facelift and lower blepharoplasty results.

Karter Advanced Facial Plastic Surgery

249 Main St
Wethersfield, CT 06109

Hours of Operation
Monday - Thursday 8:00am to 4:00pm
Friday 8:00am to 3:00pm

Contact Us
karterplasticsurgery@gmail.com
(860) 775-5595

Start your surgical journey

A free consultation with Erin, our Patient Care Coordinator, is the first step along your surgical journey. Appointments are available either online or in person; please note your preference when requesting an appointment. Appointment days and times will be confirmed via a phone call. If you cannot find a day or time that works for you, please reach out to our office directly at 860-775-5595. Consultations with Dr. Karter will be scheduled during this initial meeting.