Fat Transfer vs. Facial Fillers: Which Is Better?
Go BackOne of the natural effects of aging is your skin becoming looser and less supple. Our facial skin ages in the same way and in addition the face loses volume as we age. If you are dissatisfied with the way your face has aged, you are not alone. Thanks to the incredible advancements in cosmetic procedures, you can reverse the effects of aging and restore your face to a more youthful appearance. Fat transfer and facial fillers are two of the best nonsurgical options available. Knowing more about these procedures can help you choose which is right for you.
Facial Fillers
Facial fillers are a better option if you have an issue with wrinkles. There are many injectable fillers available on the market, including Juvederm, Voluma, Restylane, and Sculptra Aesthetic. These fillers all use hyaluronic acid and other substances. Each filler has a different consistency and is used at different depths in the face, from on the bone all the way through to fat and into the skin, depending on the depth of the wrinkle or fold. When they are used, patients can see results that include volume added to the face. Even the deepest of wrinkles can be improved with facial fillers. Your doctor will recommend what filler is best for you.
Some fillers provide immediate results while others are more gradual. No matter which specific one you choose, their results are temporary and can last anywhere from several months to a year.
What Are the Benefits?
Side effects are infrequent and are usually limited to bruising or swelling. Some of the benefits of facial fillers include the following:
- Reduction in wrinkles and improvement of facial volume
• No downtime
• Immediate results
• Most useful in patients who are not candidates for, or do not want surgery.
Fat Transfer
The fat transfer procedure is used when a patient needs to restore volume to the face and larger amounts of fat are required in these cases fillers would not be appropriate to use. It involves a technique known as fat grafting. It works by taking fat from a specific area of the body, and use those tiny amounts of fat to be put into the face to restore volume, giving you a more youthful appearance that looks and feels natural.
How Is It Different?
Fat grafting is different from other popular cosmetic surgery procedures such as liposuction as only very small amounts of fat are removed for transfer into the face. Fat that is taken usually comes from an area such as the thighs or abdomen. It is purified and then gets injected into target areas of your face that require refreshing and plumping up. It can be used in any area of the face but is best suited for the cheeks, nasolabial folds, and marionette lines. It is usually not used in the lips.
When the fat is injected, the doctor uses a microdroplet technique. This means that only very small droplets are injected at a time, which results in a smoother, more natural appearance. Many experts in the cosmetic field believe fat transfer is a better, more effective technique due to stem cell responses in the skin. At the same time, this is only speculation as it has not yet been definitely proven. The main negative of fat transfer is that some of the fat may dissolve before it becomes alive. Occasionally a touch-up injection may be needed.
What Are the Benefits?
There are also benefits of this procedure, which include the following:
- Better volume restoration than fillers
- Fewer risks and side effects than other procedures
- Lasting results
- Improved skin texture and tone
- More natural due to the use of your own fat
Schedule a Consultation
If you live in Michigan and are interested in learning more about the fat transfer procedure or facial fillers, contact Straith Clinic at your earliest convenience. To schedule an appointment, call 248-270-5272 or fill out an online form.
