- « Follow Us
-
Phone 512.401.2500 | Fax 512.401.2501
2745 Bee Caves Road, Suite 101
Austin,
Texas
78746
| Map It
Question:
Do you ever use fat transfer during blepharoplasty? I have hollow circles under my eyes and think that a little bit of fat injected in that area might help. If this is done, how long do the effects last?
Answer:
We perform fat transfer over 95% of the time during our lower eyelid blepharoplasties. On occasion we will use the lower eyelid fat and reposition it into the hollow circles but in most cases there is not enough available to do this. In most cases of lower eyelid blepharoplasty, we do not perform the removal of the lower eyelids at all but rather only a fat transfer. The fat transfer is performed by harvesting fat from the trunk or lower extremity area with a small quarter inch incision. Once the fat has been processed with a special filtration bag it is inserted into the face using a very small blunt cannula. There is some variability from patient to patient in the survival of transferred fat however overall the results are excellent and the fat that survives will last for many years.
Posted by Dr. Buckingham
Question:
I’d like to have a fat transfer to the area under my eyes. How long is the fat supposed to last? Is this something that needs to be repeated regularly like injectable fillers?
Answer:
Fat transfer requires that the grafted cells become vascularized to the new location; in this case the under eye area. Because some of the grafted cells will not survive, you have to over-fill the area to some extent during the procedure. The cells that do become vascularized and therefore graft to the new location will be there for years. They do not behave like other injectable fillers such as Juvederm, Restylane,which last anywhere from 9-12 months or Sculptra which lasts 3-5 years.
Posted by Dr. Buckingham
Question:
I’ve heard that smokers are not good candidates for fat injection because the fat doesn’t take when transplanted. Is this true?
Answer:
I wholly believe that this is true and I will not perform a fat transfer on a current smoker. The best facial rejuvenation procedure a patient can perform on themselves is smoking cessation. To spend money, time, and risk on a surgical procedure, but to continue to cause aging by smoking are incompatible in my opinion. We are happy to help our patients quit smoking prior to their procedures.
Posted by Dr. Buckingham
Question:
What are the pros and cons of fat transfer vs. injectable fillers?
Answer:
The pro of injectable fillers is the precise nature of the filling obtained. The con is that they are all temporary and need to be repeated. Also, if large areas need to be filled the cost can get excessive. The pro of fat transfer is that the result lasts 10 years or longer and that it is your own cells. It is most useful for replacing overall facial volume loss. The con is that there is some variability in the percentage of fat transferred that will survive and be maintained. Therefore more than one transfer may be necessary. Also, fat transfer is not very reliable in the lip and perioral area. This area has such high mobility that fat has a difficult time becoming vascularized and surviving.
Posted by Dr. Buckingham
Question:
I’ve been a smoker for the past 50 years of my life. I’d like a facelift to get rid of my deep wrinkles. Would it be possible to really eliminate their appearance?
Answer:
Assuming that you did not start smoking at birth I am estimating your age to be in the sixth decade. Usually individuals in that age group require multiple procedures to achieve the desired result. This usually entails some sort of skin resurfacing with either a laser or chemical, volume replacement with either fat transfer or filler and a lower facelift. None of these procedures however will eradicate the appearance of wrinkles. Each of them will provide an improvement and combining multiple procedures will provide the best result. However, if you are a current smoker, smoking cessation will be necessary prior to proceeding.
Question:
Is fat transfer good for plumping up the look of thin, aging hands?
Answer:
Fat transfer can absolutely be used to plump aging hands. It has a varying amount of survival however and is not as reliable as fat transfer to the face. We do however perform this procedure and have generally satisfied patients.
Question:
I would like to get a facelift for my 50th birthday! Can I get my whole face done at one time, or does the rhytidectomy just correct one or two areas at a time, like chin and cheeks or eyes and forehead?
Answer:
Rhytidectomy and facelift are both generic terms used to describe surgery to lift the face. People today are even quoting “liquid facelift” to describe using Sculptra, BOTOX and other fillers to lift the face. You can certainly have one or more areas of your face addressed at one time. It really depends on what your concerns are. If the forehead is low then usually a brow lift will be done with an upper eyelid blepharoplasty. The midface or cheek region is usually treated with a fat transfer to restore lost volume and perhaps a lower eyelid blepharoplasty. The jawline and neck are treated with a lower facelift. Those procedures may all be done concurrently or them may be done one area at a time. It is your choice.
Question:
Is fat injection effective for enlarging the lips?
Answer:
Fat is effective for enlarging the lips, but the effects are likely temporary. For patients who are undergoing fat injections for the parts of the face where the results are permanent such as the cheeks and lower eyelid area, if desired we will place fat in the lips and perioral area as well with the understanding that in these areas the fat will likely resorb. The reason for this is likely that the constant movement of the lip and perioral area prevents adequate vascularity to in-grow into the fledgling fat cells. In some patients we do see some long term results with lip injection, but predicting those patients that will have a long term result is difficult.
Posted by Dr. Buckingham
Question:
I am a 63-year-old female and I hate the creases I have developed all over my face. Would a facial fat transfer help fill in some of these lines, or would a facelift benefit me more?
Answer:
It is impossible to tell what exactly you need as a 63 year old, however in general, most 63 year olds exhibit both volume loss and descent of tissue and would therefore benefit from both a fat transfer and a facelift. These procedures are often combined and will result in a natural and significant improvement in most patient’s appearance. Our photo gallery will provide you with examples of post-operative results that you can compare your appearance to.
Posted by Dr. Buckingham
Question:
Where is the fat harvested from for use in a facial fat transfer? Is the procedure invasive?
Answer:
Fat is harvested for transfer from the lower body usually. The abdomen is the most common location, but in thin patients the inner, outer thigh or waste roll may also be used. The area which is most resistant to weight loss is usually chosen. The fat is harvested with a 1/3 inch incision and a small suction cannula. The procedure is technically invasive, but there are no sutures involved except one that is absorbed from the harvesting site.
Posted by Dr. Buckingham
