248-289-7300 Troy, MI

Facial Fat Grafting

Facial Fat Grafting In Detroit Metro

Introduction

Introduction to Regenerative Facial Fat Grafting

Facial fat grafting offers a soft, natural, and long-lasting solution for those seeking to restore their natural, youthful contours or brighten dull skin. A fat grafting procedure will remove fat from your legs or abdomen to precisely fill in the deflated contours in your face with your own natural cells. The fat brings with it more than just volume; these donor fat areas are rich in stem cells that can improve skin and soft tissue health, soften scars, enhance blood flow, and restore skin brightness. This is much more than just a natural dermal filler; it is a regenerative stem cell treatment. These specific pockets of human fat tissue contain more adult regenerative cells than any other part of the body, including the bone marrow. These stem cells are used for their healing potential throughout the body by orthopedic surgeons, gynecologists, urologists, dermatologists, and sports medicine doctors. This is because these fat-derived stem cells can transform themselves into various types of cells to meet the needs. Why wouldn’t you want to ditch the manufactured HA filler for this natural rejuvenation process that harnesses your own healing abilities?

Award-winning Facial Plastic Surgeon and fat transfer specialist, Andrew Compton, MD, is located in Troy, Michigan, within the Detroit Metro Area, and just a short distance from Bloomfield Hills, Rochester, and Southfield.

A close-up studio portrait of a beautiful woman with blue eyes, light brown hair, and glowing, tanned skin. She is resting her chin on her fist and looking intently at the camera. Her shoulders are bare, and the background is a solid light gray. - Facial Fat Grafting in Troy, MI
American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Logo

What is Facial Fat Grafting?

Facial fat grafting, also known as facial fat transfer, is a surgical technique that involves making small incisions in the abdomen or thighs to gently suction the fat into syringes. These living fat cells are then purified before being injected into the face through blunt needles, known as cannulas. This is where science and art merge, as facial contours are designed through the specific depth, location, and concentration of fat placement. Fat cells are relatively fragile, so care is taken to treat them gently while quickly removing and reintroducing them into the body. Given the realities of this process, some fat does not survive the transfer and will be resorbed by your body. The good news is that most fat cells survive, and then the stem cells can go to work. In studies, the average patient achieved 60-70% volume retention compared to the known volume of fat transferred, representing a significant improvement from the baseline volume. Some patients might require multiple transfers to acquire the volume they need, especially with a very gaunt face, advanced age, previous Sculptra treatments, obesity, or in patients on GLP-1 medicines.

Who Are the Best Candidates for Facial Fat Grafting?

The ideal candidates for facial fat grafting are those who want to minimize and slow down the effects of aging on their face. Some of the characteristics that ideal candidates may have are:

  • Fine lines and wrinkles
  • Loss of volume in the face
  • Looking for long-lasting treatment
  • Looking for a natural cosmetic filler
  • Maintain realistic expectations
  • Poor contour definition
  • Sunken under the eyes
  • Acne scars

What Are the Benefits of Facial Fat Grafting?

Patients who have received facial fat grafting in Detroit have enjoyed numerous benefits, including increased facial volume and a refreshed appearance. Some other benefits are listed below:

  • Improve nasolabial folds around the mouth and nose
  • Improves cheek contours and mid-face volume
  • Improves the dark hollow under the eyes
  • Improves skin texture
  • Improves the appearance of acne scars
  • Improves skin brightness
  • Long-lasting result
  • Natural product of your own cells
  • Plumper face
  • Restoration of facial volume
  • Smoothing of facial wrinkles
  • More youthful appearance

What’s the First Step?

The first step in undergoing facial fat grafting is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Compton, a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon. During this consultation, Dr. Compton will discuss your medical history, your aesthetic concerns, and your expectations for facial fat grafting. He will examine the target areas on your face, outlining potential techniques and injection sites while elaborating on any associated risks and benefits of the procedure. During this time, he will also identify target donor sites for fat in your body. Dr. Compton will draft a surgical plan, and you can discuss this with our patient concierge for scheduling and pricing details and to receive any pre-operative instructions.

procedure-first-step

What to Expect on the Day of Facial Fat Grafting Surgery

On the day of your facial fat grafting surgery in Troy, Dr. Compton and his team will escort you to the preoperative area to prepare you and mark the surgical site, and to review the surgical plan. Once you are comfortable with proceeding, our team will administer oral or IV sedation anesthesia before the local anesthesia, ensuring your comfort throughout. The procedure generally takes 1 hour to complete, and patients will be in the office for between and -3 hours.

Facial Fat Grafting Recovery

Post-surgery, you will be monitored in the recovery room to ensure that sedation wears off. Patients must have a friend or family member drive them home if sedation medications were given.

We recommend sleeping with the head of the bed elevated to 30 degrees, with the neck extended and the chin pointed upward toward the ceiling, rather than toward the chest. Ice can be applied intermittently for a few days, and pain medication may be desired overnight. Bruising and swelling are common in the face and donor sites. Mild pain is expected for 24 hours. This can take 10-14 days to resolve, but it can be covered with makeup after a few days. We generally recommend avoiding strenuous activities for 2 weeks after this procedure, although this may vary, as it is common to perform fat transfer in conjunction with other procedures.

How Long Until I See Results? What is “Fat Blooming”?

After surgery, there will be bruising and swelling that will last 10-14 days. As the initial swelling subsides, the changes made during the fat grafting procedure will begin to become apparent. The next stage then begins, as the facial volume gradually decreases over the first three months, allowing the living fat to settle in and any nonviable fat to be removed. Not to worry, though, because then the fat rebounds to the final volume in months 6-12. We refer to this rebound phenomenon as “fat blooming,” and you will observe a gradual improvement over time. Patience is key with this process.

How Much Does Facial Fat Grafting Cost in Detroit, MI?

The cost of facial fat grafting in Detroit varies depending on the volume of the target
area, anesthesia fees, and the number of other procedures being performed simultaneously. On average, Dr Compton’s patients will pay between $3,000 to $5,000 per session depending on the type of anesthesia and the other selected surgical procedures. Fat grafting may require multiple sessions to obtain the desired results.

During each session, Dr Compton will typically transfer between 15 and 30 mL of fat of varying
particle sizes including macrofat, microfat and nanofat to differing areas and depths of the face during each fat grafting session. To obtain an accurate estimate of the price, schedule a consultation with Dr. Compton so that he can create the best surgical plan tailored to your needs. Our patient care coordinator will then be able to provide you with the cost after your plan is created.

Why Choose Dr. Compton?

Dr. Andrew Compton is a double-board-certified Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialist and a Fellowship-trained Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon in the Detroit area. His extensive training has given him experience operating on all parts of the face and neck, and he has performed thousands of nasal and facial surgeries. Dr. Andrew Compton is also an award-winning fine artist. His artistic eye and attention to detail enable him to excel in facial aesthetics, particularly in the three-dimensional contouring of the face through fat grafting. He should be an undoubted choice for your facial fat grafting in Troy, MI.

Facial Fat Grafting FAQ’S

Take the first step towards your transformation

Schedule Your Consultation

If you have full-blown “filler fatigue” and are looking to rejuvenate your face with a natural filler, consider facial fat grafting. Contact the friendly office team at Andrew Compton, MD’s Troy practice to schedule an appointment or use our online scheduling tool.

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