Facial rejuvenation doesn’t always have to involve surgery to achieve an individual’s goals. The loss of volume in the face can produce a sunken, drawn appearance, contributing significantly to the appearance of aging, and “mini-facelifts” do not address this issue the way facial fat grafting can. Fat grafting is essentially taking fat from different parts of your body like your abs, hips, or buttocks and injecting them into the sections on your face that give off a hollowed-out appearance or other areas of the face with problems. We perform facial fat grafting treatments in Princeton, New Jersey, for patients looking to address facial volume loss.
What is Facial Fat Grafting?
Facial fat transfer is a minimally invasive procedure that uses the patient’s fat, harvested from the abdomen, hips, or buttocks, and transfers it to problem areas in a patient’s face. Because the injected fat does not move or shift as it becomes incorporated as living tissue, it is extremely long-lasting, if not permanent. This outpatient procedure usually requires only local anesthetic or IV sedation, and there are no dressings or drains.
Used in tandem with a facelift or eyelid surgery, for example, this fat transfer helps add volume to the areas around the eyes, cheeks, and mouth, providing not only a younger, refreshed look but also ensures your facelift results last longer.
This facial fat grafting procedure allows us to sculpt and restore the face to its natural beauty.
Procedure Before and After Photos
* Each patient is unique and individual results may vary.
Benefits of Facial Fat Transfer
Facial fat transfer offers some of the most natural-looking and longer-lasting results than some other non-surgical procedures and injectables would, and addresses concerns that some surgical techniques won’t.
Among the many benefits of this method, most patients prefer having fat harvested from other parts of their body for the overall natural aspect of it.
Rarely, some patients don’t respond well to other forms of injectables or dermal fillers, with risks and side-effects increasing gradually as a result. However, when compared to these types of injections, fat grafting consists of a smaller rejection rate than their filler counterpart since the fat cells are the patient’s own.
This also removes unwanted fat from the harvest areas, which can be ideal for some candidates, with several patients describing it as a more natural feel than injections consisting of gel and other substances.
It is also widely considered to be one of the more cost-effective injectable methods since it requires fewer sessions than a normal dermal filler would.
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Preparing for a Facial Fat Transfer
Patient’s should be in good health and have realistic expectations for the results of their procedure. Dr. Robert Glasgold or Dr. Mark Glasgold will spend time discussing these expectations with you at your consultation so you are clear about what can be achieved.
Our doctors require that patients have a physical within 6 months before the procedure. Please ensure you have had a blood test within 6 weeks before the procedure and are also tested for Hepatitis B, C, & HIV.
No blood-thinning medications should be taken within 2 weeks of the surgery as these can increase hand and face swelling and may make bruising more visible.
During an initial facial fat transfer consultation, our doctors will provide an overview of what to expect during and after your injections, including how to care for the target area of skin post-treatment.
How Facial Fat Grafting is Performed?
First, Dr. Robert Glasgold or Dr. Mark Glasgold will harvest your natural fat from locations such as the abdomen, hips, or buttocks. Once harvested, this fat will be processed and purified before injection into the face to restore volume lost over time due to aging or disease.
We perform facial fat grafting surgery in our office setting using a local anesthetic or IV sedation. Because fat cells are living tissue, there is no need for sutures to close the incisions.
The procedure takes 1-3 hours depending on the number of areas treated and how much fat is needed to achieve the desired results. Dr. Robert Glasgold or Dr. Mark Glasgold will discuss these details and recovery with you at your consultation.
The facial fat grafting procedure, all in all, takes around two to three hours to complete, depending on the severity of a patient’s case and how many areas are to be treated.
Facial Fat Transfer: What to Expect After / Recovery
Downtime is relatively easy and wouldn’t require much time off from work, though our doctors recommend a week to let some of the side effects post-treatment wear off.
We recommend our patients avoid any sort of strenuous or physical activity that may knock the injected sites off-balance, such as gym visits and exercise. There may be some redness or swelling as a side-effect, as with any injectable treatment, but this occurrence is temporary and can be covered up with light make-up for appearance purposes.
Risks or Side Effects of Facial Fat Transfer
Overall, our patients have reported minimal to no side effects afterward. The most common side effect is temporary bruising, but this is not considered a serious risk since it wears off within days.
Nothing specific has been noted as a direct risk from fat injections, however, receiving treatments such as Botox or dermal fillers alongside them may increase chances of having adverse allergic reactions if they remain on one’s skin for long periods. If you are concerned about the risks, talk to your doctor before undergoing any treatment.
Facial Fat Grafting Vs. Fillers
Before facial fat grafting was first introduced, fillers were the only “fat” options. Now that another method was created to help patients achieve a refreshed look, we have noticed an increase in the number of inquiries regarding which procedure is better for them.
We want to let our readers know that there is no definite answer when it comes to choosing one over the other; both come with their pros and cons, but each has its strengths depending on the individual case.
Since facial fat grafting has been around longer than filler injections, more studies have taken place concerning this topic. The results show that fat injections tend to last longer since it is natural, which is why it may be a better choice for those who are trying to achieve more of a permanent result.
Fat injections also have a smaller chance of rejection than any other type of injection since these cells are the patient’s own-induced fat cells rather than being artificially grown or injected into the skin.
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“Volume loss in the face is an important and often underappreciated factor in assessing the aging face by both patients and surgeons,” Dr. Glasgold says.
“Facial fat grafting works best when it complements the other procedures I perform. It is the key to producing truly youthful and natural results,” says Dr. Mark Glasgold.
Why Choose the Glasgold Group?
We treat various patients from Princeton and surrounding areas for facial fat grafting amongst other non-surgical procedures. The New Jersey plastic surgeons at Glasgold Group are internationally renowned experts in facial fat transfer procedures. Dr. Mark Glasgold and Dr. Robert Glasgold authored a medical textbook on fat transfer and often instructs peers on the procedure. The Glasgold Group’s expertise in facial fat transfer reflects our unique approach to evaluating and correcting the signs of aging. At Glasgold Group, our surgeons have decades of experience while patients and peers alike respect them for the beautiful, natural-looking results they produce consistently.
By choosing Glasgold Group in Princeton, New Jersey for your procedure, you can expect results of the highest caliber and the knowledge that your safety and satisfaction are top priorities.
- Dr. Robert Glasgold has an American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Certification.
- Dr. Robert Glasgold is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
- Dr. Robert Glasgold is a co-director of the Facial Plastic Surgery Fellowship Program of AAFPRS.
- Dr. Robert Glasgold has an American Board of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Certification.
- Dr. Mark Glasgold is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
- Dr. Mark Glasgold is a co-director of the Facial Plastic Surgery Fellowship Program of AAFPRS.
- Dr. Mark Glasgold has an American Board of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Certification.
- Dr. Mark Glasgold has an American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Certification.
Facial Fat Transfer FAQs
Facial fat grafts can last from 18-24 months. Because it is a treatment plan of multiple sessions, it is difficult to say how many times you would need to have it done for your desired results.
This is a difficult question to answer and one that varies between individuals. Because of this, we recommend our prospective patients schedule an appointment for a consultation with one of our surgeons so you can explain their goals and receive a final quote.
The amount of fat needed for facial grafting is not as big of a concern as some may think. The fat we have in our bodies is constantly being replaced, so the intake of food and water generally dictates how much fat can be used for any procedure like this.
Swelling is normal, and it should go down by itself over time. However, if you notice that your swelling becomes worse after the first three days, contact us right away to avoid any complications.
If you live near Princeton, NJ, The Glasgold Group offers facial fat grafting among its services and is conveniently located at 4390 US-1 #100, Princeton, NJ 08540.
Our experts are some of NJ’s top doctors and specialize in a range of facial procedures, such as facelift, eyebrow lift, facial fat injections/ fat grafting, skin care, and more. If you or a loved one are interested in regaining facial volume and want to schedule your facial fat transfer in Princeton, New Jersey, call us at (732) 846-6540. Schedule a consultation today!
ADDRESS:
4390 US-1 #100
Princeton, NJ 08540
PHONE:
732-846-6540
HOURS OF OPERATION:
Mon-Thurs: 09:00 AM – 5:00 PM EST
Friday: 09:00 AM – 1:00 PM EST
Sat-Sun: Closed
PROCEDURES
Our high level of training and experience allows us to provide each patient with results that look natural and rapid recovery in the safest environment.
INJECTABLES
Get rejuvenating results without going through surgery. Injectables and dermal fillers are a great way to keep yourself looking younger and vibrant with little to no recovery time.
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