Top Benefits of Combining Fat Transfer and a Facelift

Combining fat transfer and a facelift can offer a comprehensive solution to facial ageing. This dual approach enhances volume and tightens skin, addressing multiple ageing concerns at once. In this article, we will explain how these procedures work together and the benefits they can bring.

Key points to consider

Combining fat transfer with a facelift addresses both facial volume loss and skin sagging, which can result in a more youthful and balanced appearance.
Patients benefit from natural, long-lasting results due to the use of their own fat in the fat transfer process.
Choosing a qualified and experienced plastic surgeon ensures both safety and a great aesthetic outcomes when combining these facial rejuvenation procedures.

Understanding the Combined Procedure

Combining facelift surgery and fat transfer is a popular approach for achieving comprehensive facial rejuvenation. This dual procedure effectively tackles two major signs of ageing: loss of facial volume and skin sagging. The ageing process often leads to a deflated and saggy appearance especially in the cheek area due to the loss of soft tissue volume. This integration allows patients to achieve a more balanced and youthful look.

A facelift involves lifting and tightening the underlying facial tissues to create a more youthful appearance. This procedure addresses loose skin and wrinkles, making the face appear firmer and smoother. Facial fat transfer focuses on restoring lost volume in the face by using the patient’s own fat. This natural approach leads to a more authentic and long-lasting result.

The synergy between fat transfer and facelift procedures enhances the overall outcome. Fat transfer complements the facelift by filling in hollows and smoothing contours, while the facelift provides the necessary lift and tightening. This combination not only restores volume but also improves facial structure, leading to a rejuvenated appearance that looks natural and balanced.

What is Fat Transfer?

Fat transfer, also known as facial fat grafting, is a surgical treatment that involves extracting fat from one part of the body, processing it, and reinjecting it into the face. This procedure is highly effective in restoring facial volume lost due to ageing. The process starts with micro liposuction. In this step, excess fat is harvested from regions like the abdomen or thighs. The extracted fat cells undergo a cleansing process. They are then processed in a centrifuge to ensure that only healthy fat cells are selected, including fat grafts.

Once purified, the fat is carefully injected into targeted areas of the face where the volume loss has occurred and to create a more youthful appearance. Unlike synthetic dermal fillers, fat transfer or fat injections offers a more permanent solution because the fat cells integrate with the existing tissues. This natural integration not only provides long-lasting results but also reduces the risk of allergic reactions or rejection.

Facial fat transfer can enhance various areas of the face, including the cheeks, temples, jawline. It can also lift the brows and upper eyelids by injecting fat underneath the eyebrows. It can also help with deep creases such as Nasolabial folds, nose to mouth folds.

Many patients prefer facial fat grafting because it uses their own fat, leading to a more natural look and feel. They no longer want dermal fillers which are not permanent and prefer their own fat. The procedure’s ability to restore volume and improve facial contours makes it an excellent choice for those seeking a refreshed and youthful appearance.

To find out about the type of fat transfer techniques which include Microdroplets and Fractions visit our fat grafting page.

What is a Facelift?

A facelift, or rhytidectomy, is a facial rejuvenation surgery designed to reduce the visible signs of facial aging by lifting and tightening the underlying facial tissues. During the ageing process, our skin loses elasticity. This results in wrinkles and sagging. A facelift can target these issues by repositioning the deeper layers of the face, such as the SMAS (Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System), to create a firmer and rejuvenated face.

Facelift techniques have evolved significantly, with advanced facial rejuvenation procedures now offering more natural results. Modern facelifts, which target deeper facial structures rather than just the skin, provide longer-lasting and more authentic rejuvenation.

This procedure can improve various facial areas, including the lower eyelids, cheeks, and jawline, to enhance the natural contours of the face.

To find out about Deep Plane Facelifts, SMAS facelifts , mini facelifts, jowl lift or lower facelift head to our Facelift options page.

How They Work Together

When combined, fat transfer and facelift procedures work synergistically to provide comprehensive facial rejuvenation. Fat transfer restores volume , fat pads and support to the facial structure, addressing the loss of collagen and elastin that leads to wrinkling and sagging skin. This volume restoration is crucial for achieving a natural and balanced look, as it fills in hollow areas and smooths out fine lines and wrinkles.

The facelift component of the procedure enhances these results by lifting and tightening the facial tissues, further improving the definition of the jawline and neck areas. This dual approach ensures that both facial volume loss and skin sagging are addressed, resulting in a more youthful and harmonious facial appearance.

Combining these techniques results in a more natural look that lasts longer.

Key Benefits of Combining Procedures

Combining fat transfer with facelift surgery offers numerous benefits, making it a preferred choice for advanced facial rejuvenation procedures. One of the primary advantages is that this combination addresses both volume loss and skin sagging simultaneously. This dual approach results in a more balanced and rejuvenated facial profile, enhancing overall appearance and boosting self-confidence.

Facial fat transfer enhances the lift provided by a facelift by filling in hollows and smoothing out contours. This combination not only improves facial volume but also enhances skin texture and contour, leading to a more youthful and vibrant appearance.

At Kensington Medical we only have qualified GMC specialist registered plastic surgeon who are experts in facial plastic surgery . To book a facelift and fat transfer face to face consultation click here.

Enhanced Facial Volume

One of the significant benefits of combining facelift and fat transfer procedures is the restoration of facial volume. Fat grafting effectively replenishes lost volume in areas such as the cheeks, temples, and jawline, leading to a more youthful and vibrant appearance. It can help with the naso labial lines or nose to mouth lines. Injecting fat into these hollow areas creates natural contours and lifts the facial structure, enhancing overall aesthetics.

As we age, the loss of volume can lead to a deflated look, making us appear older and more tired. Restoring this volume with fat grafting improves facial structure and enhances skin quality, resulting in a rejuvenated, naturally balanced appearance.

Natural Results

Another key benefit of combining fat transfer with facelift surgery is the natural results it provides. One significant advancement in facelift surgery over recent years is the injection of a patient’s own body fat for natural results. Fat transfer results are more natural as the fat integrates with body tissues.

Long-Lasting Effects

The longevity of results from a combined facelift and fat transfer is another significant advantage. The natural integration of fat into the facial tissues enhances the durability of the results, making them a more permanent solution. Typically, 50-70% of transferred fat cells successfully integrate.

The outcomes of fat transfer can improve over time as the injected fat establishes a blood supply and integrates into the surrounding tissues.

Patients are likely to observe significant enhancements in facial contour and skin texture by the end of the first month after surgery, with results that can last for years, following a healthy diet and exercise.

Ideal Candidates for Combined Procedures

Not everyone is an ideal candidate for combining fat transfer with facelift procedures. Candidates with significant volume loss and poor skin quality may gain the most from combining fat transfer with a facelift.

Individuals who have lost significant weight or experienced age-related volume loss are good candidates for these combined procedures. However if a patient has lost so much weight they may have difficulty in finding the purified fat on the stomach and thighs to use.

Our plastic surgeon will be able to tell you in consultation if you are suitable.

Assessing Suitability

Assessing a candidate’s suitability for fat transfer and facelift procedures involves several factors. Candidates must be in good overall health to ensure safety during micro liposuction. Surgeons evaluate a patient’s overall health and ideal weight to determine appropriateness for fat transfer. Having sufficient excess fat from donor areas is necessary for harvesting.

Realistic Expectations

Having realistic expectations is crucial when considering cosmetic procedures. Understanding the benefits and potential outcomes of the combined procedures is crucial and is covered in a face to face consultation.

Initial Consultation

During the initial consultation, surgeons will evaluate the patient’s overall health to determine their suitability for the procedure.

The consultation also includes a detailed discussion about the surgical procedure, recovery, and possible results. This thorough evaluation ensures that patients are well-informed and prepared for the surgical journey ahead.

The Day of Surgery

On the day of surgery, patients arrive an hour early to the surgery facility. During preparation, patients have their vital signs checked, change into a gown, and discuss final details with the surgeon. The fat transfer to the face procedure typically takes between 30 minutes and 1 hour.

Both the fat transfer and facelift can be performed in a single surgical session. Each patient is different and in some cases the surgeon will prefer to break it into two distinct sessions, to ensure correct recovery.

Post-operative Surgery Care

Following post-surgery care is crucial to ensure a smooth recovery and best results. At Kensington Medical we provide comprehensive post operative instructions to ensure a speedy recovery. Patients are advised to follow prescribed medication for pain and to prevent infection. Keeping the surgical area clean and avoiding strenuous activities during recovery is essential. Follow-up appointments are booked before surgery and are necessary to monitor recovery.

Recovery and Results

The recovery period after facial fat transfer varies between patients, with full recovery generally achieved within 4-6 weeks. The recovery from combined facelift and fat transfer procedures may take several months, with improvements typically noticeable within the first two weeks. Patients can expect a gradual return to normal activities after a facelift combined with fat transfer, with the initial recovery taking a number of weeks.

Patients are asked to rest and avoid strenuous activities for at least two weeks following the procedure. Swelling and bruising are common, usually resolving within two to three weeks.

Expected Outcomes

The results of a facelift with fat transfer are considered fat transfer permanent, but they are still subject to the natural ageing process. Not all injected fat during a fat transfer procedure will integrate; some of the fat may be absorbed by the body.

While ageing changes are less pronounced with a facelift, the face does continue to age. Looking after yourself with good diet, exercise, avoiding the strong sun and limiting alcohol will all help.

Choosing the Right Surgeon

Choosing an experienced plastic surgeon ensures safety and the best results in combined fat transfer and facelift procedures. Look for key qualifications such as being board-certified and having specialized training in cosmetic surgery.

The experience of a surgeon in advanced facial rejuvenation techniques is vital as it contributes to more refined, predictable results. Considering qualifications and experience will help patients make an informed choice when selecting a surgeon for their combined procedure.

Qualifications to Look For

Surgeons should be registered with a recognised by the GMC medical association that verifies their training and skills. Check if your plastic surgeon has a cosmetic surgery certificate from the Royal College of Surgeons and is a Specialist registered plastic surgeon, indicating they meet national standards.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you get a facelift and liposuction at the same time?

Yes, you can combine a facelift and liposuction if the facelift is not extensive and only a small amount of fat needs to be removed. Your plastic surgeon will determine the best approach and in some cases may suggest that the procedure is done separately.

Should I get fat transfer with a facelift?

Combining fat transfer with a facelift can enhance the longevity of your results. It can provide added volume that complements the lifting effects of the facelift. It is an option to consider. Your plastic surgeon will advise on the best option for your face.

Can you get a face lift and fat transfer at the same time?

Yes, a face lift can be combined with fat transfer. This approach allows for both lifting and volume enhancement during a single procedure.

What is the main advantage of combining fat transfer with a facelift?

Combining fat transfer with a facelift offers the key advantage of simultaneously correcting volume loss and skin sagging, leading to a more harmonious and rejuvenated facial appearance. This dual approach enhances the overall outcome of the procedure. It can also avoid using dermal fillers which will need to be repeated.

How long does the recovery period typically last after these combined procedures?

The recovery period after combined procedures typically lasts around 4-8 weeks, with visible improvements often observed within the first two weeks.