How Much Donor Fat Is Needed for Facial Fat Grafting

Facial fat grafting is an increasingly popular cosmetic procedure to restore volume and improve facial harmony. The technique is often referred to as a fat transfer or fat injection. It involves the use of your body’s own tissue to improve your overall facial aesthetic. Unlike synthetic fillers, fat grafting offers a natural and biocompatible way to rejuvenate your facial appearance. It can be used in the cheeks, temples, under-eyes, and jawline. Because your own tissue is used, the results can last for years. This makes it a more effective and long-lasting treatment. You may wonder, how much donor fat is needed for facial grafting?

How Much Donor Fat Is Needed for Facial Fat Grafting?

Facial fat grafting is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Because of this, there are several factors to consider regarding the amount of donor fat needed. In many cases, the total volume of fat ranges from 10 to 50 milliliters or more. The total harvested may exceed this amount to account for the fat survival rate. A skilled and experienced surgeon assesses the area where fat will be harvested and the donor site to ensure optimal results.

Size of the Treated Area

Each area of your face requires a different volume of fat. Some areas need much more than others. For example, more fat is needed for the cheeks, temples, and midface as compared to the tear troughs. When you meet with the top female plastic surgeon, you can discuss your aesthetic goals. From there, a customized plan is designed to ensure facial harmony and enhance your natural features.

Fat Survival

The fat grafting process is highly effective. However, not all of the grafted fat survives. This is completely normal and accounted for when harvesting fat. Research shows that 70% of the transferred fat establishes a permanent blood supply and survives. Because a portion of the fat may not survive, the surgeon will transfer more fat than necessary to account for the resorption. This is standard practice and ensures your aesthetic goals are achieved through the process.

Available Fat

Because the donor fat is taken from your own body, there needs to be enough. Common areas include the abdomen, flanks, inner thighs, outer thighs, and hips. The donor area must have enough healthy and viable fat. Taking too much fat can compromise the area and cause unnecessary trauma. Because of this, there has to be enough donor fat available in the area. The surgeon will evaluate your body composition to ensure the fat graft is healthy.

Is Facial Fat Grafting Right for Me?

Facial fat grafting is a safe and effective way to improve your appearance. It enhances your natural beauty by adding volume and smoothing out the contours of your face. Because your own tissue is used, it blends seamlessly into your face. The treatment can restore your youthful glow and take years off your face. Before you get started, there are a few factors to consider when deciding if facial fat grafting is right for you.

Aesthetic Goals

The best candidates for the treatment are patients with moderate facial volume loss. This often impacts the cheeks, temples, under-eyes, and nasolabial folds. These issues are often caused by the natural aging process, weight loss, and even genetics. Facial fat grafting restores a softer and more youthful contour to your face. To ensure the very best results, candidates should have good skin quality. This includes moderate elasticity, which ensures smoother and more natural-looking results.

Overall Health

Candidates should be in good overall health. This is necessary to ensure optimal healing. Health conditions that impact circulation can increase complications. It can also lead to issues with your results. Any medical conditions you have should be well-managed. The surgeon will go over your medical history and current health at the consultation. Be sure to let them know if you have any health conditions and what medications you are taking. Candidates should be non-smokers. If you do smoke, share that information with the surgeon. You will need to quit smoking before and after fat grafting.

Weight Stability and Availability

It is important to maintain a stable body weight before fat grafting. This helps the surgeon collect high-quality fat. By doing so, the results look natural and last longer. It is also important to maintain your weight after facial fat grafting. Significant weight loss or gain can cause the transplanted fat cells to shrink or expand. This can negatively affect your facial symmetry and overall aesthetic. Candidates must also have enough available fat. This can be taken from the abdomen, thighs, or flanks. You should have a moderate amount of soft, pinchable fat to ensure there is enough available.

Realistic Expectations

One of the most important factors is that candidates have realistic expectations. Facial fat grafting offers results that are natural-looking. The subtle enhancement can improve facial balance, restore volume loss, and result in facial symmetry. Due to the nature of the procedure, some resorption is expected. This occurs a few weeks after the procedure. Right after treatment, you will notice some swelling. Once the swelling goes down and the resorption occurs, you will see your final results. Facial fat grafting is a long-term solution and excellent alternative to injectable fillers. However, follow-up treatments may be necessary to maintain your results.

Lifestyle and Post-Surgery

Successful facial fat grafting depends on your commitment to post-operative care. Candidates should be prepared to follow recovery instructions. In addition, certain lifestyle factors are necessary to preserve your results. This includes avoiding smoking and excessive drinking. Both have a harmful impact on your skin, which can impact your long-term results. It is also necessary to live a healthy lifestyle to maintain your weight. This includes regular exercise and consuming a balanced diet. Managing your stress levels and getting consistent sleep is also crucial after facial fat grafting.

Top Female Plastic Surgeon

If you want to improve your facial aesthetic, contact the team at Sarah Avila Oculofacial Plastic Surgery today to schedule your consultation!