Is Structural Facial Fat Grafting Painful?

Structural facial fat grafting is not painful, as you will be under anesthesia. However, it is common to experience tenderness and swelling for a few weeks after surgery. Patients can use over-the-counter pain medication to relieve these symptoms.

How Many Appointments Will I Need?

The number of sessions depends on the size of the treated area and your desired fat transfer volume. Usually, the face is a small area, so a single session is enough. After a week, Dr. Greco will have you return to the office to monitor recovery. He will then let you know when he would like to see you next.

How Long Until I See Results?

The results are immediately noticeable. Patients should start seeing better results at the two-week mark as most of the swelling resolves. They will continue seeing cumulative results until three to four months after surgery when the fat will begin to settle and the surviving fat cells will have adapted to their new environment.

Can I Combine Structural Facial Fat Grafting With Other Procedures?

Yes, you can! Our patients who have received structural facial fat grafting in Philadelphia have combined it with other facial rejuvenation procedures, such as a brow lift or a lip lift . Patients are encouraged to share these ideas for combined procedures with Dr. Greco during the initial consultation so that he can include them in the surgical plan.

What Are the Risks Associated With Structural Facial Fat Grafting?

Structural facial fat grafting is considered low-risk as the body’s fat is being reinjected. However, there are still some risks associated with it. Some of them include: Bleeding. Fat embolism Seroma Fat cells not surviving Significant scarring Undesirable results. If you experience these side effects or have any concerns related to the procedure, please contact us at Greco MD immediately so that we may help.

Structural Facial Fat Grafting

Philadelphia, PA

Introduction to Structural Facial Fat Grafting

Structural facial fat grafting is a facial rejuvenation procedure where fat is grafted or “transferred” from a fatty area of the body to an area of the face that requires a volume boost, such as the cheeks, around the nostrils, nasolabial folds, forehead, lips, undereye bags, and hollows of the eyes. The harvested fat is first processed and then reinjected into the face. It is a longer lasting alternative to temporary fillers. However, patients should be prepared for fat retention to be at best 60-70% due to natural body functionality. If you are looking for structural facial fat grafting in the greater Philadelphia area, get in touch with Greco MD. Double board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Timothy Greco of Greco MD is a highly skilled surgeon with a state-certified, private, state-of-the-art surgical center located at 2 Bala Plaza (adjacent to Saks Fifth Avenue) in Bala Cynwyd, PA.

Structural Facial Fat Grafting Results

Structural Facial Fat Grafting B&A

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Mature woman with short silver hair looking in the mirror, gently touching her face, reflecting on her appearance with a calm expression - Facial Fat Transfer in Bala Cynwyd, PA

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What is Structural Facial Fat Grafting?

Structural facial fat grafting is taking fat from one area of the body and utilizing it to add more volume to hollow areas of the face for a boost of volume, shape, and contour. The fat is commonly gathered and grafted through liposuction, though other techniques may be used. It is often harvested from areas where it is difficult to lose, even with weight loss, such as the abdomen, flanks, or thighs. Once gathered, the fat is then purified, processed, and sometimes broken down into smaller granules to be reinjected into the face. In some cases, you may need several fat transfers to achieve your desired results.

What Are the Benefits of Structural Facial Fat Grafting?

Our patients who have received structural facial fat grafting in Philadelphia have enjoyed numerous benefits, including a long-lasting boost in their facial volume. Some other benefits are listed below:

Improve nasolabial folds around the mouth and nose
Improves cheek contours and mid-face
Improves hollow under eyes
Improves the appearance of acne scars
Less chance of infection
Natural process
Restoration of facial volume
Reduction of fine lines and facial wrinkles

Benefits

Who Are the Best Candidates For Structural Facial Fat Grafting?

The ideal candidates for structural facial fat grafting in Bala Cynwyd and the surrounding Philadelphia area would be those who are suffering from low self-esteem due to loss of facial volume. Some other characteristics of prospective candidates include:

Acne scars
Fine lines and wrinkles
Hollow under eyes
Lipoatrophy
Looking for long-lasting and natural treatment
Maintain realistic expressions
Nasolabial folds
No underlying medical condition

Candidates

What’s the First Step?

Your Structural Facial Fat Grafting Journey With Dr. Timothy Greco

The first step in getting structural facial fat grafting is to schedule a consultation with double board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Timothy Greco. During your consultation, Dr. Greco will discuss your medical history, aesthetic concerns, and expectations for structural facial fat grafting. He will examine your face, outlining potential techniques and injection sites while also sharing any associated risks and benefits of the procedure. This will also be the time when he will try to identify harvest areas for fat in your body. These are usually the abdomen, thighs, and hip area as they store excess fat for most people.

Once you are both in agreement to proceed with the procedure, Dr. Greco will draft a surgical plan, which you can take to our patient care coordinator for scheduling and pricing details and to receive any pre-operative instructions.

What to Expect on the Day of Structural Facial Fat Grafting Surgery

On the day of your structural facial fat grafting in Philadelphia, Dr. Greco and his staff will receive you at Greco, MD, get you settled for surgery, and review the plan to make sure there are no ongoing concerns or questions. Finally, a board-certified anesthesiologist will administer anesthesia to keep you sedated.

Once you are sedated, Dr. Greco will begin the procedure. Dr. Greco first performs liposuction from the target fat harvest areas for a structural facial fat grafting procedure. This is to extract the source fat from the pre-discussed target harvest areas. Liposuction uses a small, hollow tube called a cannula to suction out the fat gently.

Once the fat is obtained, Dr. Greco will process the fat in a centrifuge to separate excess fluid, debris, and dead cells from the adipose (fat) tissue.

Once the fat is essentially purified and prepared, Dr. Greco injects it in small amounts through a thin needle into areas of your face where you lack volume. The amount of fat Dr. Greco injects depends on your individual needs and the goal you’re trying to achieve.

One of the biggest benefits of fat grafting is that the new location doesn’t reject the fat cells since they are natural and not foreign particles.

Expectations

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Structural Facial Fat Grafting Recovery

Post-surgery, the staff will monitor you in the recovery room until the sedation wears off. Patients are encouraged to have a family member or a friend drive them home.

Structural facial fat grafting recovery will depend on the intensity of the procedure and the amount of fat volume transferred. On average, the swelling and bruising should take a few weeks to resolve. Patients are recommended to rest and not resume strenuous exercise during this time.

How Much Does Facial Fat Transfer Cost in Philadelphia, PA?

The cost of Structural facial fat grafting in Bala Cynwyd and Philadelphia varies depending on the volume of the target area, Dr. Greco’s fees, and the associated anesthesia fees. Patients should schedule a consultation to get an accurate price estimate as soon as possible.

Cost

Why Choose Dr. Greco?

Timothy M. Greco, MD, FACS, is Philadelphia’s most renowned facial cosmetic plastic surgeon. It would be a mistake not to consider him if you are looking for your structural facial fat grafting in the Philadelphia area.

Dr. Greco’s aesthetic surgical practice, Greco MD, focuses solely on plastic and reconstructive surgery of the face, head, and neck. He is also the adjunct assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Facial Plastic Surgery.

Dr. Greco is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS) and currently holds medical licenses for Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Minnesota. He is double board-certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS) and the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (ABO-HNS).

Why us?

Structural Facial Fat Grafting FAQ’S

Yes, you can! Our patients who have received structural facial fat grafting in Philadelphia have combined it with other facial rejuvenation procedures, such as a brow lift or a lip lift. Patients are encouraged to share these ideas for combined procedures with Dr. Greco during the initial consultation so that he can include them in the surgical plan.
Structural facial fat grafting is considered low-risk as the body’s fat is being reinjected. However, there are still some risks associated with it. Some of them include:
- Bleeding.
- Fat embolism
- Seroma
- Fat cells not surviving
- Significant scarring
- Undesirable results.
If you experience these side effects or have any concerns related to the procedure, please contact us at Greco MD immediately so that we may help.

Schedule a Consultation

If you are looking for a natural and long-lasting way to boost facial volume, learn more about structural facial fat grafting in the Bala Cynwyd and the greater Philadelphia area. Call the friendly office team at GrecoMD, or use the online scheduling form to book an appointment.