Autologous fat grafting is one of the most perfect solutions to address the lack of volume in plastic surgery, and the change in the nature of the tissue after fat grafting is an unexpected surprise. Fat grafting has been the specialization of Prof. Lu Feng’s team, leading the industry in both scientific research and clinical application. Fat grafting for facial rejuvenation has achieved very good results in clinical practice. All questions about facial fat grafting before and after surgery are as follows.
First, the advantages of autologous fat
1.What problems can autologous fat transplantation solve for the face?
Facial aging is mainly characterized by the reduction of soft tissues and volume loss, so autologous fat filling to the face can not only improve the shape of the face, so that candidates have a full forehead, temples, cheeks, round chin, plump apple muscle, etc., but also play a very significant effect of facial rejuvenation through the filling of tissue volume.
Moreover, clinically we found that the facial skin of the candidates who have undergone facial fat transplantation will also be significantly improved, and filling over the fat thickness can make the skin color and thickness significantly improved.
2.How can the contour and shape of the face be filled with autologous fat?
The problem of contour and shape is a typical process of addition. We fill the fat to that place where it is depressed, so as to fill the facial depressions and make the shape of the face look more in line with the aesthetic standards. A good fat grafting surgeon should not focus on one part, for example, to fill up the forehead, but also to make a good connection between the forehead and the temples, only then can a face look more perfect, and the same goes for other parts.
Therefore, it is not too recommended to simply do fat transplantation in one part of the face, and it is not only the local effect that needs to be beautiful, but also the overall coordination.
3.Why can autologous fat filler make the face look younger?
Research shows that facial aging is mainly caused by the reduction of soft tissue and the loss of volume. So when we take a face that is already sunken and angular everywhere and make the face look full by means of fat transplantation, then naturally it looks much younger.
4.Why does the skin also become better after fat filling?
Our team has discovered and found the answer to the phenomenon of better skin a long time ago. In layman’s terms, the fat we fill in not only has fat cells but also many other cells such as fat stem cells and endothelial progenitor cells, which can differentiate into fibroblasts that can secrete collagen. Then when the collagen of the skin increases, what we can see is that the skin is more elastic, lustrous and looks more youthful.
Second, the effect of autologous fat facial filler in various parts
1.Tear trough
1) Is the effect of autologous fat filler tear trough good?
The tear trough depression area is generally small and requires a very precise amount of filler, too much filler will form a bulge, similar to the eye bags, too little filler does not play a significant role. For fat, the filler should not be too shallow, otherwise you may see the granularity.
We can now process the fat more delicately through our unique technical means and transplant it as precisely as possible in this area, and also harvest quite good clinical results.
2) Why do some people have a bulge on the inside of the tear trough, near the bridge of the nose, after filling?
This is because the anatomical structure of the tear trough itself is such that many doctors are obsessed with the pursuit of “filling” when dealing with this area, but ignore the anatomy of this area, and many factors such as the level of filling, the amount of filling, and the injection technique can also make this so-called “eight-like The level of filler, the amount of filler, and the injection technique can also cause the so-called “figure of eight” bump to appear. For this area, choose a professional and experienced doctor to handle it carefully.
3) Why do some people’s eye bags become bigger instead after filling?
Two factors, the filling level is wrong and the filling amount is too much caused by. The level of filling is too shallow, the tissue volume on the surface of the filling material cannot fix the filler; too much filling can lead to the effect similar to the enlargement of the eye bags.
2.Nasolabial folds
Is the effect of autologous fat filler nasolabial folds good?
The effect of autologous fat filling nasolabial folds is quite good. The level of filling and the amount of filling can solve the problem of nasolabial folds if it is well mastered. After fat transplantation, the patient needs to reduce the facial movement in order to promote the survival of fat in this area.
3.Temples
Is it dangerous to fill the temples with autologous fat?
There is a certain risk of filling the temples with autologous fat, there are relatively more blood vessels in this area, and the caliber of blood vessels such as superficial temporal artery and middle temporal vein is relatively thick, if the fat is injected into the blood vessels, there is a risk of vascular embolism if it travels with the blood vessels. However, a good fat grafting surgeon will minimize this risk by knowing the anatomical structure well and grasping the injection level and technique properly.
Can I still chew food after the filler?
You can chew food normally after filling this area with fat, but in principle, you should minimize chewing movements. Because the temporalis muscle is also a chewing muscle, the fat needs a relatively static environment for better survival in the early stage after fat filling, and movement is not conducive to fat survival. For chewing there will be pain, which may occur in the short term, the pain will generally be reduced in the short term until it disappears, do not worry about it.
4.Nose bridge & root
Is autologous fat suitable for filling the bridge of the nose and the root of the mountain, and will it be very wide?
Autologous fat is also an option for those who simply have a low nasal bridge and root, but of course, this is certainly not as three-dimensional as the prosthesis, after all, the fat does not reach that hardness. Whether it will be very wide or not depends on the doctor’s filling technique, but if the level and filling amount are correct, it can also achieve a certain degree of rhinoplasty effect. And as its own tissue, there will never be complications that are relatively difficult to deal with with prosthetic rhinoplasty.
5.Chin
The chin has a high absorption rate, so how many times can it be filled to achieve a more satisfactory result?
If the soft tissue of the chin is thick enough and the chin is not very short or receding, we can also achieve satisfactory results in one go. However, most of the candidates with short chin will need 2-3 times of fat grafting to achieve satisfactory results. After the surgery, you should reduce chewing movement, reduce the movement of the filling area, pay attention to diet and rest, and do not do strenuous exercise, sauna and other activities in the short term.
Third, the survival rate of autologous fat
1.What role can autologous fat stem cells play?
Autologous fat stem cells, in general, can play two roles, one is the role of seeds, which can differentiate into fat cells and survive to play the role of volume filling; they can also play the role of fertilizer, which can secrete various cytokines, and these cytokines are the best fertilizer for the survival of fat cells.
2.Does the survival rate of autologous fat become higher when PRP is added?
PRP can also secrete various cytokines after activation, and these cytokines can also promote the survival of fat graft.
3.Is there any way to minimize fat absorption after surgery?
The fat cells transplanted in will be absorbed after death, so how to keep the fat cells alive is the key to fat transplantation. Adding fat stem cells, PRP, PRF and other means during the surgery is equivalent to fertilization, which can make the more delicate fat cells carry through the ischemia and hypoxia process in the early stage of transplantation. Postoperative reduction of activities that may cause damage to fat cells can reduce fat cell death to some extent. The most important of these is local braking, which means keeping the transplanted area relatively still and not allowing the newly established blood supply to the fat cells to be cut off. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the stimulation of sports, high temperature, low temperature, ultraviolet light and other environments after the operation, and it is also necessary to pay attention to diet, rest and sleep.
4.Is the survival rate of the 2nd and 3rd filling higher than the 1st one?
Yes, the survival of fat cannot be achieved without blood supply, and the better the blood supply is, the higher the survival rate is. Because the blood supply condition of the transplanted area will be significantly improved after one operation, the survival rate of fat transplantation is higher than the first time.
5.How many times do I need to fill the whole face to achieve a fuller effect?
Generally, 2-3 times of filling are needed to achieve satisfactory results. The interval between each time is at least 3-6 months before the second surgery.
Fourth, there may be negative issues
1.Will the autologous fat filler be displaced and sagging?
Because autologous fat is its own tissue, it will be well integrated with the surrounding tissues after filling into itself, so there is no problem of displacement at all. As for the problem of sagging facial tissues, it is inevitable and has nothing much to do with fat transfer. Simply put, as long as the earth is spinning and as long as you are aging, the tendency for human tissue to sag is bound to exist. There is no evidence to prove that fat transplantation will accelerate facial sagging.
2.Why do many candidates have the problem of unevenness after filling?
The problem of unevenness rarely occurs in our area. If unevenness occurs, the raised fat can be absorbed away by local pressure and hot compress in the early stage, and if unevenness occurs in the later stage, then secondary filling is needed to correct it. In fact, there are not many problems of unevenness after fat transfer filling, less than one percent.
3.Why is there a local hard knot after filling?
Local hard knots do not need to worry, through a period of time will naturally soften, even if not softened, there is no need to worry. The filler is its own fat, so there are no complications that are worth worrying about. If you are very concerned, you can apply local heat and massage, which can accelerate the softening and disappearance of hard knots.
4.Will there be local bruising? How long will it take to disappear?
First of all, bruising is due to bleeding, as a surgery, bruising is inevitable, and it is impossible not to bleed. However, this amount of bleeding is insignificant for the human body, and the bruises produced will disappear within 1-2 weeks.
V. Recovery period of autologous fat filler
1.How long does it take to reduce swelling?
The swelling period varies from person to person, but most of the swelling will take 20 days to 1 month to completely disappear. In the early stage, the swelling will definitely be swollen. Within one month, please do not be upset by the swelling, because what you are experiencing is a process of gradual beauty, just like the cocoon into a butterfly, which has to go through this process.
2.How long does it take to recover naturally?
Basically, the fat is absolutely stable after 3 months, but you can basically see the final effect at 1 month after surgery, so 20-30 days will recover naturally.
3.How long is the absorption period in general?
1 month after fat grafting is the critical period for fat survival, so be sure to keep in mind the above-mentioned types of precautions during this 1 month. It takes 3 months for the final stabilization of fat grafting, so try to pay attention to the above mentioned precautions during this period.