Introduction
As we age, our faces naturally lose volume, often leading to hollowed cheeks, sunken eyes, and a tired, gaunt appearance. Genetics, lifestyle choices, and environmental factors can also play a role in how our facial contours evolve, causing areas of the face to sag or appear deflated. While traditional options like implants seem like a solution, some may not be interested in pursuing that route. Fortunately, facial fat transfer offers a natural alternative. By using your body’s own fat, Dr. Urban in Salt Lake City can restore lost volume in targeted areas such as the cheeks, under the eyes, and around the jawline. This method provides a subtle result and reduces the risk of rejection or complications, giving you a refreshed, youthful appearance that looks and feels completely natural.
Facial fat can diminish as we age, leaving a hollow or deflated appearance. Facial fat grafting, also known as fat transfer, can restore volume to these areas, offering a rejuvenated and youthful look. Unlike temporary fillers, fat grafting can provide lasting results, often for many years.
Dr. Urban will harvest the fat from your abdomen, hips, or inner thigh. The fat will then be processed and injected into the facial fat atrophy areas. Because of his advanced and reliable technique, a significant number of these fat cells will survive and graft to fill in the areas of treatment. Fat grafting is performed under local anesthesia or IV sedation. All surgery is performed on an outpatient basis in our state-of-the-art Joint Commission operating room, complete with all of the required monitoring, anesthesia delivery, and emergency equipment. When this procedure is done correctly by a Board-Certified Facial Cosmetic Surgeon like Dr. Urban, the results can be wonderful.
Facial fat transfer provides numerous benefits for individuals looking to restore volume and smoothness to their faces. One primary advantage is that it uses your own natural fat, eliminating the risk of allergic reactions or rejection, making it a safe and effective option for many patients. This procedure particularly addresses sunken cheeks, hollow under eyes, and deep wrinkles, replenishing lost volume to provide a youthful and natural look.
Beyond restoring volume, facial fat transfer also improves the texture and quality of your skin, as the transferred fat contains stem cells that promote healing and rejuvenation. The results typically last longer than injectable fillers because the fat integrates with your tissue, creating more permanent volume restoration.
The best candidates are typically those who have lost facial volume due to aging, weight loss, or genetics and want a more youthful appearance. Fat transfer can effectively address common concerns such as hollow cheeks, sunken under-eyes, thinning lips, and deep nasolabial folds (smile lines).
Ideal candidates should have enough donor fat in other areas of their body, such as the abdomen, thighs, or flanks, to provide the volume needed for transfer. Those who have realistic expectations and a desire for subtle, natural-looking enhancements tend to do best with this procedure. Additionally, candidates should be in good overall health without any significant medical conditions that could affect the healing process or the success of the fat transfer. During a consultation in Salt Lake City, Dr. Urban can determine if this procedure is the right fit.
The best first step in the facial fat transfer process is scheduling a consultation with Dr. Urban. During this consultation around Salt Lake City, he will thoroughly evaluate your facial structure, discuss your aesthetic goals, and determine if facial fat transfer is the best option to meet those goals. Dr. Urban will also review your medical history and examine areas of your body that could serve as potential fat donor sites, such as the abdomen or thighs. This is a key part of the process because successful fat transfer relies on having adequate donor fat for the procedure. If you and Dr. Urban determine that a facial fat transfer is right for you, the next step will be scheduling your procedure and preparing for the surgery.
On the day of your facial fat transfer surgery, you will first meet with Dr. Urban and his surgical team to go over the details one final time, ensuring you’re comfortable and informed about the process. Depending on your specific needs, the procedure will be performed in a fully accredited surgical facility in the Salt Lake City area under local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia. Dr. Urban will begin by harvesting fat from one or more areas of your body using minimally invasive liposuction. The fat will then be carefully purified and prepared for injection into the targeted areas of your face. These areas include the cheeks, the under-eye region, the lips, and the nasolabial folds. The entire procedure usually takes about 1-3 hours, and you will be monitored closely during your recovery in the clinic before being sent home with aftercare guidance.
After your facial fat transfer, you can expect some swelling, bruising, and tenderness in both the donor and recipient areas. This is a natural part of the healing process, and while these symptoms can appear more pronounced initially, they typically subside within 7 to 10 days. Most patients feel comfortable returning to non-strenuous activities within a week, though Dr. Urban will advise you to avoid physical exertion for a few weeks to allow for safe healing. As the swelling decreases, you’ll begin to see the benefits of your procedure, with a more youthful and rejuvenated appearance emerging in about 3 to 6 weeks. The final results of a facial fat transfer take time to materialize fully as the body may absorb some of the transferred fat, but with proper aftercare, the remaining fat will integrate permanently, offering long-lasting results.
The cost of a Facial Fat Transfer in the greater Salt Lake City area can vary depending on several factors, including the amount of fat needed for transfer, the areas being treated, and the complexity of the procedure. Facial fat transfer procedures can range from $4,000 to $8,000 on average. This price typically includes the liposuction to harvest the fat, preparation, and purification of the fat, as well as the injections into the facial areas. However, the final cost can fluctuate based on the individual needs of the patient and the extent of the enhancement desired. Financing options may also be available to help make this transformative procedure more accessible.
Dr. Scott D. Urban is a highly skilled, triple board-certified cosmetic surgeon specializing in facial cosmetic surgery and oral maxillofacial surgery, with a deep commitment to delivering natural, stunning results. Dr. Urban received his DMD degree from Harvard University and his MD from the prestigious Mayo Clinic School of Medicine, making him uniquely qualified to perform complex procedures. His extensive training includes a general surgery internship, an oral and maxillofacial surgery residency, and a specialized facial cosmetic surgery fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham under the mentorship of Dr. Peter Waite, the past president of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery.
If you have any questions or concerns about fat transfer or want to see if it’s right for you, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Dr. Urban and his team are here to provide you with personalized care and support throughout your journey to enhanced beauty.
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