For many people who are seeking facial rejuvenation for wrinkles and volume loss, facial fat transfer often seems like the perfect solution. Who wouldn’t want to choose a treatment that removes fat from an area in which it is unwanted, and transfers it to an area that needs rejuvenation?
However, fat transfer isn’t that simple, and not everyone is a good candidate for the procedure. While you might think the treatment is a great idea for someone who wants to lose weight and look younger, the procedure is actually much moreideal for people at a stable weight. Why?
Fat Transfer Not for Weight Loss
Fat transfer is primarily a facial rejuvenation procedure. Reduction of fat in common “problem” areas might be an ancillary benefit of the treatment, but it is not a good method for weight loss. The amount of fat removed is not significant enough to qualify as true weight loss, and though the fat cells removed through the fat transfer process will not come back, it is still possible to gain weight again.
Sculpting Not Part of Treatment
While the fat harvesting process will not negatively affect the appearance of the area from which the fat is taken, the process does not include body sculpting and contouring. The goal of the process is to harvest high-quality fat cells that have the best chance of longevity, not to sculpt the stomach, hips, or thighs. If you are interested in this process, you may want to consider an additional liposuction procedure following the fat transfer surgery.
Living Fat Cells
One of the most exciting aspects of fat transfer is that many of the fat cells that are injected will survive in the face long-term, making the treatment a more permanent solution than Botox or dermal fillers. With this benefit, however, comes a fairly unlikely, but possible complication. Because the surviving fat cells are essentially normal fat cells, it is possible for them to expand during weight gain, which could become apparent in the face and interfere with the results. This is why weight stability is a good idea for potential fat transfer patients.
Assessing Your Candidacy
If you have facial volume loss and wrinkling, as well as isolated areas of body fat that do not respond to traditional methods of weight loss, then you may be an ideal candidate for fat transfer. Only a qualified plastic surgeon can make a reliable assessment of candidacy for individual patients, which is one of the reasons surgical consultations are so important and valuable. Speaking with prospective surgeons will allow you to see if fat transfer is a good option, or if another rejuvenation method may be better for you.
Schedule Your Consultations
If you’re interested in pursuing fat transfer and you think you might be a good candidate for the treatment, then it’s time to start researching prospective surgeons and scheduling your consultations to see which surgeon is right for you. Fat transfer is a fairly non-invasive procedure, but it does take a great deal of skill to properly perform the treatment for good results. Only a board certified facial plastic surgeon will have the expertise and experience to properly administer the procedure, like Dr. Edward Buckingham. Dr. Buckingham, of Buckingham Center in Austin, is an accomplished surgeon with both theoretical and practical accolades, and has helped many patients get excellent results with fat transfer surgery. If you’d like to meet with Dr. Buckingham, call 512-401-2500today to schedule your consultation.