Fat Injections

Also called Fat Grafting, this technique is another alternative for those who have lost volume in the face. It can also be used elsewhere on the body, for example to treat areas of scarring where the skin is depressed or hollowed. Fat can be injected in all the areas already outlined in the sections on hyaluronic acid fillers, so nasolabial folds, under the eyes, in the cheeks, in puppet lines and prejowel sulcus, as well as lips, are typical locations.

Fat is not just an inert material, but rather is made up of living cells called lipocytes. These fat cells must be obtained by harvesting them from the patient. Thus fat injection actually involves two procedures, harvesting the fat, and then injecting it. Both these steps are done on the same visit, and typically take a total of around 2 hours.

Harvesting the fat is achieved by use of  liposuction, using a cannula to remove fat, typically from the abdomen thigh or buttock. A small incision is made and the cannula is inserted. After the tissue has been obtained, it is placed in a centrifuge to separate the desired fatty cells from other components. The grafting is also done by means of a cannula, again requiring a tiny incision, and the fat is deposited in the appropriate areas. The procedure can be done awake with local freezing, or under sedation, depending on patient preference.

After the treatment, it will take some time for the grafted cells to become established. They will need to develope a blood supply in order to remain viable and survive. Roughly 30-50% of the injected cells will usually survive the grafting process and become permanently etablished in their new location. Therefore, often, though not always, patients will require a second procedure some weeks after the first. However, once a patient has sufficient viable fat to achieve the desired fullness, the results are very long lasting, essentially persisting indefinitely. Of course, because our faces will continue to age, although the fat will remain permanently, a patient may eventually develope new or recurrent areas of lines, folds or tissue loss, after some years.

Fat grafting is a safe and very effective cosmetic treatment, particularly in the hands of a highly trained and experienced surgeon like Dr. Weinberg. Typical side effects would include bruising, swelling, bleeding, and some discomfort after the procedure. Patients can return to their usual activities between 1 to 3 weeks after the procedure. In about 6 weeks they will be fully recovered. Potential complications of the procedure would include the unlikely possibility of infection. Very rarely it is possible for underlying nerves to be injured during the treatment causing weakness of muscles or numbness. Typically such a complication would be temporary. Another very rare occurrence would be occlusion of a small blood vessel by the injected fat, which could, in a very small number of people, result in loss of an area of skin. For a more complete description of possible complications, refer to the section of the web site on liposuction.

Who Is the Ideal Candidate For Fat Injection?

A mature patient with multiple areas of age related facial tissue loss resulting in multiple folds, lines and hollows, who prefers a very long lasting result to ongoing repeat injection with other fillers. Other good candidates would be patients who metabolize hyaluronic acid filler quickly and therefore obtain only very short lived benefit from these. 

Mississauga, Toronto and Ontario patients, book a free consultation to find out if Fat Injections are good for you, by clicking on “Contact Us” or “Appointments”.