Facial Fat Transfer in Philadelphia, PA
At Main Line Plastic Surgery, we provide cutting-edge facial fat transfer to help patients restore youthful volume and achieve a naturally refreshed appearance. As we age, the face can lose fat, leading to sunken cheeks, sagging skin, and a tired, drawn face. But with the advances in medicine, it is now possible for patients to restore a fuller, softer, and younger-looking face.
Our plastic surgeon, Dr. Raymond Jean, who is board-certified, uses the Puregraft system to perform facial fat transfers with accuracy and attention to detail. This modern technique cleanses the patient’s own fat before reinjection into the cheeks, temples, jawline, or under-eye hollows. Using this natural alternative to artificial fillers, our aim is to produce long-lasting results with minimal downtime for every cosmetic and reconstructive surgery.
At Main Line Plastic Surgery, we provide cutting-edge facial fat transfer to help patients restore youthful volume and achieve a naturally refreshed appearance. As we age, the face can lose fat, leading to sunken cheeks, sagging skin, and a tired, drawn face. But with the advances in medicine, it is now possible for patients to restore a fuller, softer, and younger-looking face.
Our plastic surgeon, Dr. Raymond Jean, who is board-certified, uses the Puregraft system to perform facial fat transfers with accuracy and attention to detail. This modern technique cleanses the patient’s own fat before reinjection into the cheeks, temples, jawline, or under-eye hollows. Using this natural alternative to artificial fillers, our aim is to produce long-lasting results with minimal downtime for every cosmetic and reconstructive surgery.
Table of Contents
What Is Facial Fat Transfer?
Facial fat transfer is a cosmetic procedure that restores facial volume to achieve a more youthful look by using the patient’s own fat. During this procedure, Dr. Raymond Jean removes fat from another area of the body—most commonly the abdomen, thighs, or flanks—through liposuction. It is then purified using the innovative Puregraft filtration system, which removes over 97% of impurities so that only the healthiest fat cells are used.
Following purification, Dr. Jean injects the fat into targeted areas of the face, such as the cheeks, temples, jawline, or under-eye hollows. This facial cosmetic surgery smoothes wrinkles, fills sunken areas, and enhances natural contours for a refreshed, more youthful appearance. Unlike temporary dermal fillers, facial fat transfer provides long-lasting results with biocompatible tissue from the patient’s own body. This is the ideal solution for patients who desire natural rejuvenation without the use of synthetic materials.
Why Puregraft?
The results for fat grafting with traditional methods of purification last approximately 5 to 7 years. Puregraft is designed to improve both the retention of fat after transfer as well as the longevity of results:
- Purification is crucial to consistent, long-term results with fat transfer: The body retains more of the grafted fat, making outcomes more predictable and long-lasting.
- Purified fat minimizes complications: Infection risk is reduced because of the near-total removal of impurities before the fat is transferred.
- Puregraft makes the best use of more fat: The body reabsorbs around 40% of fat after transfer. Puregraft produces fat with significantly higher viability for grafting; the body retains more of this purified fat, making it more likely you will see the results you want.
What Parts of the Body Can Fat be Removed from for Grafting?
Will the Results of My Facial Fat Grafting Look Natural?
Facial Fat Grafting Procedure Explained
Initial Consultation and Testing
During the first consultation, Dr. Jean discusses facial concerns and examines the patient’s face to determine if facial fat transfer is the best solution. He also discusses aesthetic goals and inspects donor areas on the body. Our surgeon may also take some clinical photographs to document the “before” stage and to allow surgical planning. The patient is also provided with a cost quote for the procedure.
To ensure the procedure is safe, Dr. Jean conducts a thorough medical evaluation. This may include reviewing the patient’s medical history and ordering any necessary tests, such as blood work or an EKG, depending on their age or health. Facial fat grafting does have some medical contraindications, which include:
- Uncontrolled diabetes
- Bleeding disorders
- Chronic infections or immunodeficiencies
- History of severe cardiovascular diseases
- Smoking or use of nicotine
How to Prepare for Facial Fat Grafting Procedure?
The Surgery
- Marking and Anesthesia: Both the recipient and donor sites on the patient’s body are marked by Dr. Raymond Jean on the procedure day. Then, local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia, depending on the extent of the procedure, is subsequently administered by our anesthesiologist to optimize comfort.
- Harvesting and Purification: Next, Dr. Jean then begins the procedure by performing gentle liposuction of the pre-determined donor area. The fat is thereby harvested and processed through the novel Puregraft system, yielding a clean and high-quality fat sample for grafting.
- Injection and Contouring: Following purification, our surgeon injects the fat into targeted facial areas such as the cheeks, under-eyes, jawline, or lips. Using fine, blunt cannulas, he gradually builds up volume and restores youthful contours. The entire facial fat transfer procedure typically takes one to two hours, depending on the areas treated.
Recovery and Aftercare After Facial Fat Grafting
After the procedure, patients are observed for a short while at our facility to ensure uneventful anesthesia recovery. Mild bruising, swelling, or tenderness of both the donor and treated facial regions can be expected during this period. A patient can expect to receive detailed instructions from our physician to recover from a fat grafting procedure.
Bruising and swelling typically persist for the first two to three weeks after surgery. Makeup can often be worn after one week to camouflage bruising, and most patients feel comfortable returning to work and social activities within 7 to 10 days. General guidelines include the following:
- Avoid massaging or rubbing the treated area
- Do not smoke
- Stay hydrated
- Sleep on the back with a head slightly elevated
- Do not engage in strenuous activities until cleared by our doctor
Is Facial Fat Transfer Right for Me?
A patient may be a candidate for fat grafting if they are unhappy with signs of facial aging, such as:
- Frown Lines: By adding volume to the area, fat grafting can minimize the appearance of anger or stress lines between the eyebrows.
- Hollowness Under the Eyes: Fat transfer can reduce dark shadows and make a patient look refreshed by adding volume beneath their eyes.
- Sunken Cheeks: When cheeks lose fat as patients get older, they can look hollow. Putting fat into this area brings back a youthful look—it lifts the cheeks to give them fullness again.
- Smile Lines: To help smooth out these creases and soften expressions, fat is injected into the nasolabial folds (the lines from the nose to the corners of the mouth).
- Thinning of the Lips: Using fat instead of synthetic fillers to replace lost volume makes it possible to naturally plump one’s lips while also restoring shape and definition.
- Sagging of the Chin and Jawline: Augmenting volume-depleted regions with fat can delicately elevate the bottom half of the face, thereby refining its shape and diminishing the look of sagging cheeks.
Benefits of Facial Fat Transfer
Natural Volume Restoration
Smoother Facial Contours
Improved Skin Quality
Long-Lasting Results
Minimally Invasive with Dual Benefits
Cost of Facial Fat Transfer in Philadelphia, PA
