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Facial Fat Transfer
in Houston, TX
Facial Fat Transfer is one of the fastest-growing cosmetic procedures. A lack of fat, or volume, in the middle face leads to drooping, sagging, and wrinkling. Award-winning, facial plastic surgery expert, Dr. Sean Delaney can restore a more youthful and natural appearance by recreating volume in this area using your own fat with Facial Fat Transfer.
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What Is Facial Fat Transfer?
Facial Fat Transfer, also known as Facial Fat Grafting, is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure that uses your own fat from the body to restore volume and improve facial hollowing caused by aging, weight loss, or sagging skin. Because you are using your own tissue, your results look very natural.
When it comes to aesthetics, fat is a double-edged sword. Too much fat means bulges and rolls, but too little creates hollows and emptiness. This is especially true for facial appearance. A youthful face is dependent on fat, but as aging progresses, these fat deposits shift and change, creating many of the telltale signs of aging.
Facial Fat Transfer helps to reverse or reduce the natural effect that aging has on the face using the patient’s own fat. In effect, it can add fullness, reduce lines and improve facial contours.
Dr. Delaney uses purified fat, extracted from your own body fat, usually from the inner upper thigh or abdomen. Fat is harvested using a simple liposuction technique, and local anesthetic, on the day of treatment, shortly before it is injected in the treatment areas desired in the face. Roughly up to 50-60% of the initial volume of grafted fat survives and a touch-up procedure may be required. There are a few stitches at the donor site which are removed after several days.
The fat is permanent once the fat “takes,” meaning it is supplied with blood at the recipient site. This process takes about 6 months. Fat transfer to the face typically has a higher survival rate, especially in areas that don’t move. The aging process continues after the procedure, but patients enjoy a more youthful appearance for many years.
This procedure is performed in our beautiful AAAHC accredited surgical suite under IV Sedation.
Am I a good candidate for Facial Fat Transfer Surgery?
Most commonly, face contouring benefits people who are 30 years of age or older. The face, at this age, begins to lose baby fat, and as a result, fullness begins to fade. Fat transfer restores volume in the face, and it’s ideal for people who are looking for a near permanent alternative to dermal filler treatments. This is also an excellent option for patients who feel they have Ozempic or Filler Face.
Why should I select Dr. Delaney for my Facial Fat Transfer surgery?
What sets apart double-board certified, facial plastic surgeon Dr. Sean Delaney apart from other Houston plastic surgeons can be described in the superior combination of his unparalleled training, advanced surgical techniques, artistic perspective, and devotion to the highest level of patient care throughout your aesthetic journey. He has also published extensively on advanced facial plastic surgery techniques, including numerous scientific journal articles and textbook chapters with Dr. Russell Kridel. Dr. Delaney has been named a Texas Rising Star in plastic surgery.
When you get Facial Fat Transfer surgery with Dr. Delaney, you have the peace of mind of knowing that an experienced and well-respected facial plastic specialist is overseeing your care from start to finish.
What can I expect
from a Facial Fat Transfer Consultation at FPSA?
Our Facial Fat Transfer consultations are comprehensive, you can expect to be with us for an hour or so. When you first arrive, a Team FPSA member will take your photograph at multiple angles and will also review your medical history and patient information forms with you.
During your Facial Fat Transfer consultation, Dr. Delaney will ask you what bothers you about your lips and your overall facial features and what you would like to see changed. You will have the opportunity to share all your questions and concerns with Dr. Delaney during your consultation. In addition, one of our patient concierges will accompany you every step of the way as your guide throughout your consultation. Your concierge will review before and after photos, educational materials, provide you with an estimate for your individualized treatment plan, and answer questions you may have prior to booking your surgery.
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What can I expect right after Facial Fat Transfer Surgery?
Because about 50% – 60% of the fat injected survives, a larger amount of fat is initially injected. As a result, right after surgery your face will appear very full. Some of the facial fullness is also caused by swelling, which will subside after recovery. It can take 2-3 months to see the final results.
You will be seen the very next day in our office for your first post-operative visit. You should sleep on your back with your head slightly elevated for the first week after surgery. You will want to eat foods that are soft and require minimal chewing for a week.
Our patients often comment that the overall discomfort is far less than they expected. Most patients feel very little pain immediately after surgery but may experience some discomfort later in the evening or the next day or so. We have found that most patients can manage discomfort levels with Tylenol, but we can also prescribe medication for pain management.
Dr. Delaney will monitor the healing during your post-operative visits. Donor site sutures used during surgery will be removed at Day 5.
How long is the recovery time for Facial Fat Transfer Surgery?
Recovery time from Facial Fat Transfer surgery varies from patient to patient, but it can generally take 4–6 weeks for a full recovery. The initial phase of recovery, when the swelling is most noticeable, can last 1–2 weeks. During this time, you can expect bruising and swelling, and you should avoid massaging the injection sites.
You can usually resume most daily activities 1 week after surgery, but you should avoid strenuous exercise or vigorous exertion for the first three weeks. You should also avoid smoking or chewing tobacco, and you shouldn’t take aspirin or anti-inflammatory compounds.
Can I combine Facial Fat Transfer with other procedures?
Many patients like to take advantage of the opportunity to have just one recovery period and pair up both surgical and non-surgical procedures. Facial Fat Transfer is commonly combined with Facelift or Neck Lift procedures as well as non-surgical procedures such as FaceTite and Morpheus8. Patients can have the combined procedures performed in the same day.
Before Surgery
What do I need to do before surgery?
It is recommended that you stop using hyaluronic fillers at least one year prior to having Facial Fat Transfer surgery or have facial filler dissolved at least 3 weeks prior to surgery.
With any surgical procedure, it is necessary to avoid any medications or supplements that may thin the blood two weeks before and two weeks after your Facial Fat Transfer surgery. Our clinical staff will review instructions relating to medications and supplements at your pre-operative appointment.
We recommend that patients avoid alcohol for two weeks prior to and after your surgery. You should maintain a healthy diet and avoid salt, fatty foods and processed sugar. Some patients eat pineapple for the anti-inflammatory effect of its naturally occurring Bromelain. We recommend taking Arnica, Bromelain, and Vitamin C supplements 5 days before the surgery and 1 week following surgery. It is also very important to avoid significant sun exposure. Dr. Delaney does not operate on patients who smoke, chew tobacco, vape or take illicit drugs prior to or at the time of surgery, as these activities have a detrimental effect to the healing process.
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Day Of Surgery
What happens on the day of surgery?
Dr. Sean Delaney, Dr. Russell Kridel and the entire FPSA Team provide patients with an exceptional surgical experience in our beautiful practice environment. Our patients enjoy the comfort, ease and convenience of having Facial Fat Transfer surgery at our fully accredited AAAHC surgical center under IV Sedation.
Facial Fat Transfer surgery typically takes around 1.5 to 2 hours, including taking fat from the donor site, to complete depending on the amount of areas selected for the transfer. We ask that you arrive at our facility approximately 1.5 hrs prior to your surgical start time. You should have nothing to eat or drink (not even water, candy, or gum) after midnight the night before your procedure. You should wear a button-up top or loose-fitting clothing to allow you to change easily without placing unnecessary pressure or stress on the facial area and the donor site. You will need an adult driver on the day of your surgery to bring you to the surgery center and to take you home and a responsible adult to care for you the first 24 hours after surgery.
When is my pre-operative appointment?
Your pre-op appointment will take place two to three weeks before your surgery. We strive to make this appointment as stress free as possible. At this appointment, you will receive pre-operative and post-operative instructions, review and sign consents, take pre-operative photos, and make final payment. You will also receive the list of your prescriptions. Most of our patients find that using our Capsule Pharmacy service in advance of the pre-op is quite convenient because all prescriptions will be delivered to our office and ready for you at the pre-op appointment.
At this appointment patients also like to select skincare products appropriate for pre-operative and post-operative skin health and optimal healing.
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What is the difference between Facial Fat Transfer and Filler?
Volume loss is a common facial aging concern but can be treated with Facial Fat Transfer or Dermal Fillers. Facial Fat Transfer is a surgical procedure that uses a patient’s own fat to restore facial volume and offers a longer lasting result than fillers. A typical dermal filler treatment is a non-surgical treatment that may last up to 12 months. Facial Fat Transfer has the potential to offer near-permanent improvement in most patients.
Another more permanent option for restoring volume loss is Facial Implant surgery. Since some patients do not want a Facial Implant, Facial Fat Transfer or Dermal Fillers are excellent options.
What are the risks of Facial Fat Transfer?
Common side effects of a facial fat transfer are bruising and swelling, a feeling of numbness or altered sensation in the fat-filled areas. This is usually temporary. Bleeding and infection are uncommon.
Fully Accredited
On-Site Surgical Facility
Dr, Sean Delaney, Dr. Russell Kridel and Team FPSA provide patients with an exceptional surgical experience at our AAAHC accredited on-site operating facility. Our patients enjoy the comfort, ease and convenience of having surgical and medical aesthetic procedures in our beautiful practice environment. Facial Plastic Surgery Associates’ operating room has been certified by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC). Accreditation by this highly regarded, independent organization ensures that our in-office operating room meets the highest quality of standards and safety. This accreditation is similar to the process completed for out-patient surgical facilities associated with hospital systems.
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