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New York, NY

Facial Fat Transfer

Introduction

Introduction to Facial Fat Transfer

If you look at pictures of a baby, you may notice that they have chubby cheeks, and if you look at pictures of yourself from when you were younger, you may notice that your face was fuller and that your features were softer. As we age, we lose facial fat, which can make our faces appear less vibrant and energetic. The contours can lose some of their femininity or natural beauty. Our double board-certified facial plastic surgeon at LM Medical NYC, Dr. Lesley Rabach, can perform facial fat grafting to reshape and restore face volume without using dermal fillers. Please continue reading below if you are interested in transferring facial fat in New York City.

What is a Facial Fat Transfer?

Facial fat loss is common with aging and happens at the same time we lose collagen and elastin, contributing to the overall aged or sagging appearance of the face. The combination of these aging factors can result in loose skin, a sunken appearance around the eyes or cheeks, and jowling. While facial filler injections can offer a temporary volume increase in the skin, they dissipate over time, have their limitations (they are best used in moderation), and do not replace lost fatty tissue. Facial fat grafting can offer a permanent solution to replace lost fat to reshape and soften the face. Plus, because fat (adipose) cells also carry stem cells with them, they have the additional benefit of boosting the tissue around them, giving the skin above where they are transplanted a healthy, glowing appearance.

A close-up portrait of a woman with wavy hair, resting her face on her hands, conveying a thoughtful expression. - Facial Fat Transfer in New York, NY

What Are the Benefits of a Facial Fat Transfer?

Facial fat transfers, or grafting, use fat harvested from your own body to replenish lost fat in the face. Fat cells are commonly removed from the thighs, abdomen, or other areas, processed, and injected into the desired areas. Facial fat grafting has many benefits over facial fillers and other types of anti-aging treatments. These include:

  • Restored facial anatomy
  • Stem cells have a rejuvenating effect
  • Facial volume boost
  • Long-lasting
  • Safe and natural
  • Reduced wrinkles and skin laxity

Who Are the Best Candidates For Facial Fat Transfer?

The best candidates for a facial fat transfer in New York City have some of the following characteristics:

  • Harvestable areas include the abdomen, hip,s or thighs
  • Hollow under eyes
  • Ability to maintain realistic expectations
  • In good overall health
  • Non-smokers
  • Stable weight
  • Sunken, hollow, or flat cheeks
  • Want natural-looking results

What’s the first step?

The first step in getting a facial fat transfer is to schedule a consultation with double board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Lesley Rabach. Dr. Rabach will discuss your medical history, aesthetic goals, concerns, and expectations during the consultation. You must be honest with Dr. Rabach about your health status, as liposuction is also part of the fat-harvesting procedure, and patients with chronic conditions like hypertension or diabetes may not be suitable for liposuction.

Dr. Rabach will also examine your facial anatomy, identifying the target incision sites and treatment areas. During the appointment, you will also discuss the best harvest sites for getting the treatment fat. Dr. Rabach will remind you that 40-50% of the fat transferred will not survive after the graft. She will also outline the procedure, its risks, benefits, and associated recovery timeline.

Once you both decide to proceed, Dr. Rabach will draft your surgical plan, which you can then take to our patient concierge for scheduling and pricing and to receive any pre-operative instructions.

What to Expect on the Day of Facial Fat Transfer Surgery

On the day of your facial fat transfer in New York City, Dr. Rabach and her staff will welcome you and settle you in the procedure room. They will review your surgical plan once more to ensure you have no further questions or concerns. Once you are comfortable proceeding, a board-certified anesthesiologist will administer anesthesia to keep you pain-free throughout the procedure.

Fat cells can be extracted from almost any area of the body. Dr. Rabach usually extracts them from the hip or thigh area. Given that the facial volume is minimal, the amount of fat extracted will be minimal. Patients should not expect to see a volume difference in the donor area.

After they are removed from the donor site, your fat cells are processed and prepared for reinjection. Dr. Rabach will then use a microinjection technique, which involves injecting the cells into the target areas of the face using a series of small syringes. The injections do not require stitches but will be covered with bandages after the procedure to minimize the risk of infection and promote healing.

The length of fat transfer surgery depends on the amount of volume being transferred, but on average, and without complications, it should take no more than forty-five minutes.

Facial Fat Transfer Recovery

Patients should expect mild swelling and bruising during the first few days following the procedure. Cool compresses can help minimize these effects, but you should avoid placing anything frozen on the donor or recipient areas of the fat transfer. The small sutures are removed 3 to 5 days after healing.

Patients are told to avoid jogging, swimming, and gym exercises for about three weeks. Overall, you should be back to your usual routine very soon.

How Much Does Facial Fat Transfer Cost in New York City, NY?

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The cost of Facial Fat Transfer in New York City will depend on multiple factors, including but not limited to the target area on your face, Dr. Rabach’s fees, and the anesthetist’s fees. The most efficient way to arrive at a cost is to schedule your in-person consultation so that Dr. Rabach can draft a surgical plan that can be evaluated for a price.

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The LM MEDICAL NYC Difference

Dr. Lesley Rabach is an expert facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon, board-certified in both Facial Plastic Surgery and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Her surgical training included a fellowship sponsored by the American Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery and a residency and internship in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Yale New Haven Hospital. She received her Medical Degree from Drexel University College of Medicine and her undergraduate degree from Brown University.

Dr. Lesley is internationally recognized for her natural but lasting results with minimal downtime. Her meticulous attention to detail, natural and elegant aesthetic, and surgical focus on advanced, technical facial procedures should make you feel comfortable trusting her for your facial fat transfer in New York City. Her signature procedures are deep plane face and neck lifts, lip lifts, and eyelid surgery. Dr. Rabach is a Clinical Assistant Professor at NYU/Bellevue, where she teaches the NYU facial plastics fellow and NYU Otolaryngology residents. Dr. Lesley Rabach has been ranked “#1 female plastic surgeon” in NYC by RateMDs, featured as a “Superdoctors Rising Star” plastic surgeon in New York Times Magazine, awarded “10 Best Plastic Surgeons” by the American Institute of Plastic Surgeons, and granted “Top Doctor” designation by RealSelf.

Facial Fat Transfer FAQ’S

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Schedule a Consultation

Facial fat grafting could restore youthful softness and contours if you have lost volume in your cheeks or face due to aging. To learn more about fat transfers, contact us at LM Medical NYC in Manhattan to schedule a private consultation.

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