Facial Fat Grafting in Denver, CO

When aging takes a toll on the face, most people are worried about fine lines and wrinkles or sagging skin. But an often-overlooked change is the loss of volume from a depletion of natural subcutaneous fat tissue within the face. The proper distribution of subcutaneous fat is key in producing the youthful look that many desire. However, over time gravity, tissue laxity, and the loss of fat and collagen may cause a gaunt or hollowed-out appearance around the mouth, eyes, and cheeks.

Those wanting natural-looking rejuvenation now have an effective option: facial fat grafting, also known as fat transfer. This minimally invasive procedure uses a patient’s own fat to restore fullness to areas of the face that lack volume, including the temples, cheeks, and under-eye hollows. If you’d like to correct similar cosmetic changes related to age or other factors, discover how treatment can refresh your appearance with long-lasting results.

Considering facial fat grafting in Denver? Contact Schmidt Facial Plastic Surgery to schedule your personal consultation for a fat transfer to face procedure.

Ideal Candidates for Facial Fat Grafting in Denver

If you are no longer comfortable with cosmetic changes caused by loss of facial volume, then you may be an ideal candidate.  Patients interested in facial transfer typically exhibit the following:

• Hollowed-out cheeks
• Facial asymmetry
• Under-eye hollows
• Thin or “deflated” lips
• Lines and wrinkles
• Deep folds between the nose and mouth
• Prominence of facial bony contours

At your personal consultation, Denver based facial plastic surgeon Dr. Schmidt will assess your face and further determine your candidacy for treatment. Dr. Schmidt performs a comprehensive evaluation to discuss how the aging process and assess your facial aging.  He will also help you explore other treatments that may complement the effects of facial fat grafting – such as facelift or BOTOX^® injections – for optimal rejuvenation. Whether you’d prefer to have fat transfer performed alone or in combination with additional procedures, Dr. Schmidt is dedicated to helping you achieve your cosmetic goals.

Facial Fat Grafting: How It Works

The procedure begins by harvesting fat cells from another part of the patient’s body, commonly the abdomen, inner thighs, or outer thighs. The beauty of this procedure is that a little goes a long way – allowing for smaller amounts of fat to be transferred and very small incisions for harvesting and transfer the fat.

When the fat has been harvested, Dr. Schmidt then purifies the fat tissue using state-of-the-art filtration technology called Puregraft. Compared to traditional purification methods, Puregraft has been found to remove more contaminants, which ultimately ensures quicker healing and longer-lasting results.

Once the Puregraft process is complete, the fat can be inserted into key points of the face. Insertion points depend on each patient’s individual needs but could include the temples, nose, cheeks, chin, around the eyes, or around the mouth.

Watch the above video to learn more about the benefits of PureGraft for facial fat transfer.

Customize Your Facial Fat Grafting Procedure

Facial fat grafting is a highly customizable procedure, and it can be used to rejuvenate the face in a variety of different ways. Below are some of the most popular uses of the procedure.

Rejuvenation Around the Eyelids

The delicate skin surrounding the eyes is one of the first areas to show the signs of age. Facial fat grafting can beautifully restore a refreshed appearance to this area by filling in hollowness below the eyes. Likewise, fat can be injected underneath the eyes to eliminate dark circles caused by loss of volume.

Lip Enhancement

Full, symmetrical lips can make a face look more youthful and balanced. But as you age, your lips are just as susceptible to unwanted cosmetic changes as any other part of the face. You may notice your lips aren’t as full as they used to be making you have a more aged appearance. For patients who’d like to avoid using lip implants, fat grafting is an excellent natural enhancement option. A fat transfer to face procedure can be completely customized to your personal tastes, whether you’d prefer subtle or dramatic lip enhancements.  

Cheek Augmentation

The cheeks play an important role in promoting aesthetic harmony of the face. When cheeks thin out due to age or weight fluctuations, they can cause you to look aged or tired, which is why many choose to undergo cheek augmentation with fat transfer. Facial fat grafting allows you to take control of these unwanted cosmetic changes and get the sculpted definition or the youthful fullness you desire – without the need for implants.

Overall Facial Rejuvenation

The versatility of facial fat grafting also makes it a great option for reducing some of the most bothersome signs of age, like fine lines, wrinkles, and skin creases. When fat is injected into the nasolabial folds, or marionette lines, it fills in these surface depressions and gives the skin a smooth texture. Fat can also be injected in front of the lower jaw area to reduce the appearance of mild jowls.

Facial Sculpting

In addition to revitalizing or sculpting the contours of the cheek, treatment can be used to create more definition in other areas of the face in lieu of implants. Fat can be transferred along the jawline or into the chin to provide increased definition, volume, or a more refined facial appearance.

Considering facial fat grafting in Denver? Contact Schmidt Facial Plastic Surgery to schedule your personal consultation for a fat transfer to face procedure.

Fat Grafting – Frequently Asked Questions

Will the Procedure Give Me Scars?

The incisions made during a fat transfer to the face procedure are very small, so any resultant scar will be minimal. Likewise, Dr. Schmidt makes incisions in areas that are naturally concealed within the face’s contours, whenever possible.

Are the Results of Facial Fat Grafting Permanent?

The treatment creates long-lasting, permanent volume in the targeted areas. This longevity is created by the use of patient’s own tissues. The use of natural fat means the body is much less likely to reject or reabsorb the grafted tissue than it would a synthetic substance such as dermal fillers.

The transferred fat simply grows as it normally would. Dr. Schmidt’s patients can also expect particularly long-lasting results due to the Puregraft process, as it removes impurities that could otherwise inhibit the growth and retention of grafted fat.

What Is Fat Grafting Recovery Like?

After a fat transfer to the face procedure, you may experience soreness, bruising, and some swelling from the donor sites and treated areas. However, these symptoms will typically peak within a few days and then start to subside. The overall recovery period usually takes between 10-14 days and may vary from patient-to-patient.  

What Is Fat Grafting Recovery Like?

After a fat transfer to the face procedure, you may experience soreness, bruising, and some swelling from the donor sites and treated areas. However, these symptoms will typically peak within a few days and then start to subside. The overall recovery period usually takes between 10-14 days and may vary from patient-to-patient.  

How Much Does Fat Grafting Cost in Denver, CO?

Since fat grafting is such a customizable procedure, Dr. Schmidt can give you an accurate cost estimate after learning about your goals and concerns in a one-on-one consultation. Ultimately, many factors influence the final price tag for cosmetic surgery, which we can discuss with you in more detail. We are also happy to provide information about available financing options to put the cost of your dream procedure within reach.

Where Can I Find Facial Fat Grafting Before-and-After Photos?

Please visit our gallery to see the natural-looking results Dr. Schmidt has created for past facial fat grafting patients.

Are There Any Risks of Fat Grafting?

Using your natural fat cells minimizes the chance that your body will treat the graft as a foreign substance. However, it’s possible that not all the transferred cells will survive in their new location, despite Dr. Schmidt’s advanced techniques. Because of this, you may wish to schedule a follow-up procedure to attain your desired appearance and volume.

What Is the Best Age to Get Fat Grafting?

Since everyone ages at different rates, there’s no such thing as a “target age” for fat grafting. Dr. Schmidt has created beautiful results for patients of all ages. People with a less advanced degree of facial aging typically look more refreshed and rejuvenated after receiving a fat transfer. Depending on the amount of skin sagging and volume loss you are experiencing, Dr. Schmidt may recommend pairing your fat graft with another procedure, such as a facelift.

If Fat Grafting Isn’t Right for Me, What Other Procedures Can I Choose From?

While many healthy people are excellent candidates for a facial fat transfer, you must carefully weigh your specific pros, cons, and the reasons you wish to pursue this procedure. Since dermal fillers can provide many of the same benefits as fat grafting without the need for surgery, you may wish to use these products as a “test drive” before committing to something more invasive.