An extremely thin face is considered undesirable by many, especially among women since it sometimes gives the woman the appearance of greater age, paleness, or lack of freshness. Facial fat grafting is a group of modern cosmetic procedures aimed at getting rid of a thin face and enjoying a fuller face that indicates a fresher, more feminine look.
What do you know about this procedure? How is it performed? What are its most prominent features? All this and more in the following lines are presented to you by Dr. Yasser Badi, the best plastic surgeon in Egypt and the Arab world.
What are the causes of a thin face?
Before talking about facial fat grafting, we will first discover some of the reasons that lead to facial thinness, the most important of which are:
The genetic factor
Genetics largely determines the shape of the face, whether it is thin or full.
Aging
Aging is one of the main factors that makes a face look thinner. As a person gets older, the fat in the facial area gradually disappears, and with a decrease in collagen production, the skin begins to sag and droop downward, making the face appear thinner.
Sudden weight loss
Sudden or massive weight loss is also one of the main factors for thinning the face and losing fat in this area.
What are the advantages of facial fat grafting?
Facial fat grafting has several advantages, the most important of which are:
- Filling the gaps in the face, and treating defects that occur as a result of a lack of facial fat, such as filling the sunken cheeks and filling the hollow under the eye, which occurs as a result of aging or weight loss.
- Endogenous fats add freshness and vitality, rejuvenate the skin, and increase collagen production.
- In addition to filling in the holes, autologous fat injection into the facial area eliminates wrinkles and fine expression lines found on both sides of the eyes and nose.
- Through facial fat grafting, it is also possible to treat the thin lip and enlarge its size.
What are the steps for facial fat grafting?
Facial fat grafting has three stages, where injecting fat into the face is the last stage. This procedure is very easy and safe and does not exceed two hours. And it’s steps are the following:
Fat extraction stage
At this stage, the doctor determines the area from which an appropriate amount of fat can be extracted. In most cases, this area is the abdomen or buttocks, as these areas are rich in excess local fat. After anesthetizing the area with local anesthesia, a very small surgical incision is made where a special needle is inserted into the Vaser device, which releases vibrations that liquefy fat. After dissolving a sufficient amount of fat another thin tube connected to a device designated for liposuction is passed, and through these tubes, the fat is pulled out of the body, and finally, the incision is closed with a bandage.
Fat processing stage
This is a very important stage, as the fat cannot be re-injected directly after being extracted from the body, because it contains some impurities, blood, etc. Hence, the process of treating the extracted fat is considered very necessary before re-injecting it again, and the treatment process is done by placing the extracted fat inside a centrifuge that separates the fat from any other substances, after this process the fat is pure and ready for injection.
Facial fat injection stage
It is the last stage of the facial fat grafting procedure and the easiest of all. At this stage, local anesthesia is used in the facial area, and sometimes the woman is given some types of sedatives to help her relax during the operation. The doctor uses a special pen to mark the areas and places where the injections are inserted, making sure they match on both sides of the face, then he uses special injections that are pre-filled with fat and injects them into the face quietly and in specific quantities until all areas are completed. Finally, the doctor sterilizes and covers the injection areas, and the woman can leave the hospital or clinic immediately.
What should I do after the operation?
There is a set of instructions you must adhere to after undergoing facial fat grafting, the most important of which are:
- Take antibiotics on time to avoid any infection or inflammation.
- Apply cold compresses to the facial area to reduce the effects of swelling and redness.
- Avoid using any facial cosmetics or creams containing chemicals or fragrances during the recovery period.
- Maintaining the integrity of the face by avoiding any trauma or bruise by avoiding violent activities.
- During this period, you must eat healthy foods, especially those that contain healthy fats such as fish, nuts, and natural oils such as olive oil.
Is facial fat grafting similar to filler injection?
Both procedures are different and the most important differences between them are the following:
- Filler injection is considered a simple session that takes place in the clinic under local anesthesia, while facial fat injection requires entering the operating room because the fat is melted and suctioned from the person first.
- Filler injection is easier to perform, while the results of facial fat injection are better.
- The results of autologous fat last longer than fillers.
- Endogenous fat is a natural substance that is extracted from the body itself. So it does not cause any allergies, unlike filler, which may sometimes lead to inflammation or swellings under the surface of the skin.
Are there complications or side effects of facial fat grafting?
There are no serious complications associated with facial fat grafting since the fat is extracted from the body itself and therefore does not cause any complications. However, like any cosmetic procedure, there are natural effects of the injection process, such as redness, swelling of the area, and a feeling of numbness or tingling, all these effects disappear within a few days. But if this procedure was carried out by an inexperienced doctor, this may lead to a disastrous result, as sometimes inexperienced doctors make a mistake in injecting the appropriate amount. This leads to the accumulation of fat and excessive swelling of the face, and sometimes one side of the face is injected with a larger amount than the other side, and thus the two sides of the face appear unsymmetric. Therefore, choosing a plastic surgeon carefully is the main factor in achieving the desired result.
Is facial fat grafting expensive?
The cost of this procedure depends on the amount of fat that will be withdrawn from the body and then re-injected into the face again. The required amount of fat varies from one case to another, and therefore the cost varies greatly and is difficult to determine accurately without examination and consulting a doctor first. However, in general, the operation is not considered expensive, especially if it is performed in one of the countries characterized by low costs, such as Egypt, which is the lowest in terms of cost in the entire Arab world.
For more information, you can obtain it by contacting Dr. Yasser Badi’s clinic and speaking to the doctor directly. The clinic is equipped with all techniques for facial fat grafting, and all other facial cosmetic procedures, so do not hesitate to contact us.
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Plastic surgery & body contouring specialist
Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery
Alexandria University Master of Plastic Surgery
Egyptian Fellowship for Plastic Surgery