Facial Fat Transfer or Dermal Fillers?

Youthful facial features are under constant attack by environmental factors like exposure to UV rays and lifestyle issues like unhealthy foods. But perhaps the most significant issue causing facial aging is your body’s natural inclination to slow its collagen and elastin production. As a result, thinning skin and depleted facial volume lead to wrinkles, lines, and folds.

To reverse these hallmarks of aging, aesthetic medicine counters with multiple treatments designed to rejuvenate youthful beauty. Two of the most popular are dermal fillers and facial fat transfer.

The question facing many people in Madison, CT, is which procedure is better at resolving their cosmetic concerns.

Facial Fat Transfer

Facial fat transfer, also known as facial fat grafting, removes fat from one part of the body and reintroduces it into the face. The procedure starts by performing liposuction at a donor site – typically the hips, abdomen, or thighs. After purifying the harvested fat, we will then inject the graft into areas that need volume.

When Does Fat Transfer Work Best?

Facial fat transfer provides incredible, natural results for correcting sunken cheeks, undereye bags, a sagging jawline, gaunt features, and a general loss of facial fullness. In addition, Dr. Lisa Donofrio can use facial fat transfer for patients of any age to enhance the contours of their cheeks, lips, or jawline.

Fat Transfer Benefits

Fat grafting offers unique benefits that set it apart from other filler treatments:

• It uses your natural tissue to reduce the risk of complications and provide longer-lasting results.
• The donor area where Dr. Donofrio harvests the fat can appear more contoured.
• Fat transfers are more flexible than fillers because they work well anywhere on the face, including the forehead and crow’s feet areas.
• Natural fat is a rich source of stem cells to help with facial rejuvenation.

Are There Any Downsides to Consider?

Since the body will reabsorb a portion of the transferred fat, you may need more than one treatment to achieve your desired outcome. However, with a skilled provider, future sessions are less likely.

Fat grafting is more expensive than synthetic fillers because the procedure is more complex. However, it can save you money over time because the results are longer-lasting.

Fat grafting provides noticeable results instantly, but you won’t realize the full benefits for weeks.

Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers are biocompatible gels injected beneath the skin to temporarily address facial aging. Fillers add volume, and smooth folds, improve contour deficiencies, and diminish wrinkles. You can choose from an extensive list of dermal fillers that include recognizable brands like Juvéderm^®, Restylane^®, and Sculptra^®.

When Do Dermal Fillers Work Best?

Dermal fillers are an excellent choice for anyone seeking a cost-effective anti-aging solution. They are an ideal way to test-drive facial rejuvenation if you are new to these techniques. In addition, they can address multiple concerns, including wrinkles and volume loss. Facial fillers work best for people with good skin elasticity who are struggling with the onset of fine lines.

Dermal Filler Benefits

• A non-invasive treatment that can achieve excellent results
• No surgical prep time
• No incisions, sutures, or downtime
• Instant results
• Cost-effective

Swelling may occur, but it typically doesn’t last as long as fat transfer. Most dermal fillers deliver immediate results.

Are There Any Downsides to Consider?

Though a few filler products can last up to two years, your body will gradually metabolize most fillers within six months.

The long-term costs of dermal fillers run higher than facial fat transfer, since follow-up treatments are necessary to maintain your desired outcome.

Which Solution Is Right for Your Needs?

While facial fat transfer and dermal fillers are effective treatments to restore lost volume and eliminate facial wrinkles, it’s no surprise that fat grafting is one of the fastest-growing areas of cosmetic surgery. Patients report that the treatment is comfortable, the healing time quick, and swelling subsides in no time. These factors, combined with a lower long-term cost and the use of bioidentical tissue, often make the fat transfer a better choice for many people in Madison.

To learn more about your options for aging more gracefully, contact us today to schedule your private consultation