Facial Fat Grafting in Westchester County, NY

Facial fat grafting (also called fat transfer) can provide a more youthful facial appearance by restoring lost volume associated with aging. Dr. Michael Suzman offers this delicate and specialized cosmetic enhancement to his patients as both an in office procedure and as part of facelift or other cosmetic surgery in the operating room. The common areas with volume loss are the cheeks and temples, as well as the nasolabial folds, jowls, and lips. Similar to facial fillers, fat transfers can be injected into wrinkles and folds to rejuvenate the face, but doesn't require the maintenance of traditional fillers. Results tend to be more natural and certainly more long lasting than fillers. Using highly purified and filtered fat from gentle liposuction, fine injections of fat, known as nano fat, can treat the small wrinkles of the skin and reverse signs of aging and sun damage. This technique is a true revolution in facial aging treatments, and Dr. Suzman has among the most experience in the country with fat and nano fat grafting. The effects of growth factors on the skin are truly impressive.

During the consultation, Dr. Suzman will create a unique treatment plan to achieve the best results that meet each patient’s needs. During surgery, he removes fat by liposuction from selected areas of the body, processes the fat, and then injects the purified donor fat cells into the areas of the face. The procedure is designed to augment the mid-face or cheek bones so that it appears lifted and fuller. It can also be applied to the lower face as well to enhance the lips, chin, and to fill in lower face lines and wrinkles. WESTMED uses the most innovative techniques in handling fat transfers. They inject small amounts of purified fat into different areas of the face at various depths to obtain the highest absorption rate.

Facial fat grafting with liposuction is performed on an outpatient basis under either local or general anesthesia. The amount of time needed for liposuction and facial fat grafting will vary according to several factors, including the amount of fat being removed, the technique used, and the size of the area being treated. The fat is placed into the face through small imperceptible incisions, which results in minimal scarring. The procedure can be performed with other procedures, such as a facelift, necklift, or blepharoplasty. Common areas for donor fat include the abdomen, hips and flanks.

The procedure time will vary, depending on how many areas are being treated as well as the volume of fat being removed and injected. Facial fat grafting alone usually takes one hour.

Depending on the patient’s health and anxiety tolerance, facial fat grafting may be performed under local anesthesia and sedation.  When combined with other procedures, it is often performed as an outpatient setting in a surgery under general anesthesia. 

Facial fat grafting is often combined with other facial procedures such as a facelift, necklift, blepharoplasty, or browlift. There is a limit to how many procedures can be done safely as it relates to surgical recovery, and the amount of time the surgery takes.

Each patient’s recovery time is different, and depends on how many procedures are performed at the same time. The average return to work for facial fat grafting alone is less than a week.