Fat Grafting

Natural fat harvested from your own body can offer many of the same benefits as an injectable wrinkle filler. Using modern technology at the USMD Hospital in Arlington, plastic surgeon Dr. James Ward performs facial fat grafting procedures to reduce some obvious signs of aging on the face.

When Is Facial Fat Grafting the Right Choice?

Facial fat grafting is a proven technique that seems to finally be getting the recognition it deserves. In 2010, more than 57,000 facial fat grafting procedures were performed in the US alone, according to the ASPS. This process in which fat is harvested from a site on your body (often the flanks, thighs, or buttocks), purified and then injected into carefully chosen sites on your face, works to correct:

Depressed scars
Thin Lips
Hollow areas of skin
Nasolabial folds
General facial contouring uses

In order to be an ideal candidate for facial fat grafting, you should be a healthy nonsmoker and have realistic expectations for the results. During your consultation, you and Dr. Ward will discuss the ideal harvest site on your body.

How Fat Grafting Works

When beginning, you will be given a local anesthetic at the harvest and injection sites. Using proven techniques in liposuction, Dr. Ward will remove the necessary amount of fat from the donor site using a low pressure syringe or a thin cannula, which is inserted through a small incision. He may then run the fat through a purification system, preparing it for injection. Using careful injection techniques, Dr. Ward will place amounts of fatty tissue in the areas of your face to be treated. The incision will then be closed with sutures and the injection sites will be covered with a bandage.

Post-Operative Steps: What to Expect

After your facial fat grafting procedure, both the harvest and injection sites may be swollen or bruised and you may experience some discomfort. Some of the fat injected may be reabsorbed by the body, but it is impossible at the time of treatment to know how much. Most patients experience the benefits of their treatment for three to six months, though some have seen results up to a year or more.

We encourage you to schedule a consultation with Arlington plastic surgeon Dr. James Ward to learn more about how facial fat grafting procedures he performs in the safety and convenience of a hospital setting can benefit you. If you are near Arlington, the Mid-Cities, Ft. Worth, Grand Prairie or Duncanville, please call or email Dr. Ward's office at (817) 861-0505.