Patients often seek aesthetic solutions when they recognize signs of aging in their face. Whether it’s lines along the forehead, protruding cheek bones, or wrinkles that run from the nose to the ends of the lips, each can add years to a person’s appearance. For patients in Munster, Hobart, Crown Point, and Frankfort, facial fat grafting offers a natural solution to reduce these signs of aging and reduce unwanted fat from other areas of the body.* Robert Frank, MD Plastic Surgery also uses the procedure to address small scars and depressions, creating a more even appearance.*

Dr. Frank’s Approach to Facial Fat Grafting

Facial fat grafting is one of several options for addressing wrinkles, lines, scarring, and a sunken or angular appearance. Through an initial consultation, Dr. Frank discusses with patients the different methods of treatment and recommends whether fat grafting is a good option.

Some of the advantages of the procedure are that it:

  • Uses the patient’s own fat. Some patients prefer this approach to other fillers.
  • Is relatively low-impact. Facial fat grafting is less invasive than options like facelift.
  • Improves other areas. For example, Dr. Frank can use donor fat from the hips, thighs, or arms to create a slimmer contour while addressing signs of aging in the face.*

Fat is a less predictable source of volume than other fillers, however, as some cells will survive while others will not. Depending on the amount of facial fat grafting required, Dr. Frank may advise other approaches to help patients achieve the results they want.

About the Procedure

Patients from Munster, Hobart, Crown Point, and Frankfort receive facial fat grafting in a JCAHO-accredited surgical facility. During the procedure:

  • Dr. Frank carefully removes fat from targeted areas of the body, giving the patient a more aesthetically-pleasing contour.
  • He will purify the fat and prepare it for injection.
  • Dr. Frank selects specific areas of the face to graft the fat, creating a smoother and more youthful appearance.

Dr. Frank can advise patients about providing other plastic surgery procedures within the same surgical session. Often, this reduces the overall time patients spend recuperating.

Recovery from Facial Fat Grafting

Patients in Munster, Hobart, Crown Point, and Frankfort can expect some bruising and swelling, which should go away within a couple of weeks.* Some patients prefer to stay home from work until the majority of these symptoms are reduced.

Other limiting factors depend on where and how much fat Dr. Frank needs to harvest. Dr. Frank advises patients in his care about how to limit discomfort, and ways to care for their results over time.

Dr. Frank’s Advice on Recovery

We all have our own ideas of how long recovery should take. Unfortunately, this means many patients try to rush their recovery and go back to normal activities. This trend is especially true among young mothers who want to spend every moment with their children. They may attempt to play with or pick up their children before their bodies are ready to handle that strain.

Dr. Frank sees rushed recoveries in several ways, with one of the most common being pain. Patients who try to be too active too early in the recovery process often find themselves running through their pain medication too soon and have to ask for an early refill. Rather than increase the amount of medication you take, you will feel better sooner and end the period wherein you need the medication faster if you allow your body to rest. Do not force your body to undergo more physical strain than it is ready to handle. It is okay to take 30-minute breaks on the couch.

Another way Dr. Frank sees patients push themselves too hard is an increased risk of both swelling and dangerous hematomas.

For example, after liposuction, your body needs time to move fluid out of your skin. Patients who have had liposuction will have skin that feels firmer than untreated areas because of this fluid buildup. Getting that fluid out of your skin is one of your recovery goals during the weeks after surgery. But if you activate your muscles near the treated area, that activity draws fluid into the area, which increases swelling and often pain. In the case of a tummy tuck, too much activity early in your recovery can increase blood pressure, which then causes more oozing into the space created during surgery. While a little fluid is normal, it’s easy to overwhelm your body’s ability to absorb this fluid. A hematoma is the result.

To minimize these concerns, Dr. Frank encourages all patients to clear their schedules of everything except the most essential duties for the two weeks after surgery. You should minimize the amount of childcare, job responsibilities, meetings, social activities, and home chores in which you partake so your body can rest. You will feel better and recover faster if you plan ahead so that your body, not your calendar, determines when you are ready for your physical activities.

If you are looking for a natural and effective solution to reduce signs of aging, consider facial fat grafting in Hobart, Munster, Crown Point, and Frankfort. Discuss your options with Robert Frank MD, Plastic Surgery by calling (219) 513-2011 or using our online form.
*Individual results may vary