The injection of a patient's own fat tissue removes the allergic reaction problem. As in collagen injection, the `transplantation' of a patient's own fat gives support to weakened structures under the facial skin, resulting in the reduction of creases, wrinkles and other unattractive skin changes.

Following a routine surgical prep, fat is removed from a site of excess, usually the buttocks or abdomen, using liposuction from small incisions and local anesthesia. It is purified and then reintroduced, in small amounts, into or under the skin to fill out facial defects. With this treatment, patients may experience discomfort, puffiness and bruising and have a longer recovery period than with collagen injections. Depending on the individual, it may take up to ten days before the patient feels `presentable'. However, the swelling does dissipate, and much of the discoloration can be covered with cosmetics.

 

As with the collagen method, excellent, immediate results lasting for months can be achieved. However, much of the injected fat does not survive the `transplantation' process because its blood supply has been interrupted. Additionally, the fat will gradually be absorbed by the body so that two or three sessions of fat injections are necessary to achieve the best results. However, fat injections give only semi-permanent results, and, depending on the site of correction, the whole cycle will, sometime in the future, need to be repeated. There is no limit to the amount of autologous (patient's own) fat that can be injected.

 

This therapy is a minor surgical procedure, and with that comes the risks associated with any surgery. The injection of fat usually involves more swelling, discomfort and bruising than with collagen injections. Harvesting fat from another donor site means yet another surgical location of bruising, swelling, ang healing.