FAT GRAFTING FACIAL FAT GRAFTING Before After When do we combine a fat transfer with a facelift? We can see that the left side of her face is thinner and has a crease along the cheek. Her right side would do well with a facelift but her left side might look distorted. Adding volume to her face and filling in her left crease maintains a natural appearance after her facelift. Before 2 Years After This patient’s jawline asymmetry was a result of an old infection. Two years after fat grafting her lower face has retained enough of the fat to look softer and smoother. The asymmetry has also been improved. Before 5 Years Later This patient came in thinking she might need a facelift. Looking carefully, her left face is fuller, longer, and softer in appearance. We decided to start with a fat transfer to her face. Fat was placed in her cheeks, around her eyes, and more on her right side. Five years later, we were both pleased with her improved symmetry and proportions. A facelift was not needed. Before 2 Years Later Someone who tends to be thin may have hollows under the cheekbones (sub-malar depressions). Fat grafting usually works well in this location. The difference is a softer, healthier look, as though he gained some weight (although he did not). This was two years after one fat transfer, and the result will be permanent from here. Before After I saw three patients who had all gone to the same facial “injection party.” They all looked good afterward, but six months later their lower cheeks all looked oddly hollowed out. Her nerves and muscles were all working normally, so replacing the lost fat in a single session using as much as each hollow could hold seemed to work well. Before 1 Year After A loss of fat in this area can also mimic health issues. She had become self-conscious about her appearance. She retained more of the fat after one office session than we expected, and was slightly overcorrected at one year. If desired, it is a simple procedure to remove a tiny bit by microliposuction under local anesthesia usually while just sitting in the treatment room. Before 6 Months After Some people have the full upper eyelids - “bedroom eyes” - and other have deep-set eyes with more lid showing. This patient felt her eyes looked too hollow. One office session transferring fat to her upper eyelids gave a softer appearance. Before 6 Months After It is common for the two eyes to look different. What is unusual is being very obviously different. So what should we do? We decided in this case that the right side was too heavy-lidded and the left side too hollow. A compromise between the two gave a pleasing and natural result. OTHER FAT GRAFTING APPLICATIONS HANDS Before As we lose the fat in our hands, the veins and tendons may become more visible. Fat grafting tends to work well here and softens that “bony” look, helping to camouflage the veins. After 5 Days Fortunately we can overcorrect in this location to get a better long term result. The skin also becomes thinner with age and the stem cells in the fat are helpful. After 4 Months At four months, the swelling is nearly gone and the hands are smoother. We will now wait a year or two to see if we need to repeat this for the final, permanent result. ACCIDENT RECOVERY Before 1 Year After This was the result after an auto accident and neurosurgery. The patient felt self-conscious about his appearance. He had two fat transfers totalling 24cc six months apart. When he visited for his third and final transfer, we both felt it was not necessary. BACK OF THE LEGS Before After 1 Year The usual creases and cellulite in the back of the legs are stubborn and difficult to correct. This deep one was the result of trauma, and we decided to give it a try. The result at one year after one session was an improvement in the overall contour. LIPS Before After 2 Years One of the earliest uses for fat was to the lips in those allergic to our original filler, collagen. The results are subtle and variable. The lips are moving constantly, and only a small percentage of the fat is permanent. This is the result after one fat transfer in the office, mostly to the upper lip. CHIN Before After 4 Months A receding chin is often corrected using a solid implant. More complex procedures require an oral surgeon. Here, the chin is merely a little flat and an implant was not desired. Several months after the fat transfer the chin looks more rounded. Although the result is very subtle, it was satisfactory. Home | Face & Neck | Nose | Ears | Eyelids | Fat Grafting | Microlipo-Neck | Microlipo-Body | Skin Resurfacing | Testimonials | Give Back | About Dr Churukian | About the Clinic | Patient Info | Contact