All About the Face: A Younger, Fresher Face and Neck

Facial Rejuvenation comes in many flavors. The aging face has wrinkles, sagging skin, and volume loss. Fine wrinkles are often addressed with lasers, skin care, and Botox®. Deeper wrinkles may require surgery. Significant facial volume loss which begins in the 20s can be managed by injectables or facial fat grafting. Fat grafting is where unwanted fat from the flank is sucked out and processed.

It has been discovered that liposuctioned fat is rich with stem cells. Stem Cells are the undifferentiated cells that when placed in contact with the other organs will actually create or repair those organs. We have known for years that fat (which contains stem cells) injected into the face has corrected problems with skin pigmentation, wrinkles, loss of facial volume secondary to decrease in bony size, and other aging effects.

So in essence, fat grafting helps accomplish many of the things that lasers and Botox® does. The results are synergistic when combined. The skin after fat grafting is often greatly improved as the stem cells do its magic. Pore sizes diminish, and the skin takes on a new, fresher shine.

I often suggest fat grafting as a first line treatment to the aging face. When done right, the results are subtle but significant. It’s quick, relatively painless, and it can be combined with liposuction to reduce unwanted deposits. Fat grafting is the future of facial rejuvenation. And there are no visible incisions. Face lifts are required when the tissue is sagging. There are many different kinds of facelifts, but in general, an incision is made that is carried behind the tragus of the ear and the underlying tissues are tightened and the skin is redraped. Fat is also injected into areas that are deflated. The results are natural because we are not just pulling the skin back. We tighten structures BELOW the skin, and redrape the skin without a tugged look. The addition of fat helps restore the volume that has been lost and the results are natural and long lasting.

The aging neck is often also addressed with the aging face either This by liposuction or a neck-lift. A neck lift tightens the underlying neck muscles, the platysma, to restore that tight neck line you once had. A nice neck is crucial for a young, fresh face.

EXAMPLES OF FACIAL FAT GRAFTING

Approximately 50 cc of fat was injected into multiple regions of her face. It was suctioned from an unwanted area and processed in the operating room.

A long lasting injectable was used to correct the pre jowl region and marionette line groove. I often find that combination therapy works best for an entire face.

The woman above had both facial fat grafting and rhinoplasty to better balance her face. Both the nose surgery and fat grafting leave no visible scars. The incisions for the nose are hidden inside the nose, and the fat is injected through the corner of the mouth.

Above, a 23 year old girl is ‘beautified’ through the addition of volume under her eyes and in the cheekbone. Indeed, fat grafting is not just for the middle aged. It is a wonderful way to freshen a face or highlight pre-existing beauty as in the case of this young lady. Although it appears as if the nose and lips were augmented, they were not. Sometimes just balancing the face highlights other beautiful facial features!