Not all of the anti-aging procedures available to patients today require invasive surgery and long recovery times. Two alternatives have been growing in popularity in recent years: fat transfers and dermal fillers. Each of these treatment options can smooth away fine lines and wrinkles, add volume where it may be needed, and help to achieve a more youthful overall look. While fat transfers and dermal fillers share some of the same benefits, they have very distinct differences. Learn more about each treatment option before you decide which of them is the right choice for you.
What You Need to Know About Fat Transfers
Fat augmentation, or facial fat transfer, is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that allows patients to restore some of the volume lost from specific areas of the face. As we age, the natural fat pads in the face will shift or wear down, leaving parts of the face sunken, flat, or hollow. Fat transfer can be performed to enhance the fullness of the cheeks, fill in any facial hollows or depressions, restore lost volume to the eyelids, and also refine the jawline.
Fat transfers are performed on an outpatient basis, using a local anesthetic or light sedation. Your plastic surgeon will begin the procedure by harvesting fat cells from a larger area of the body, such as the abdomen, hips, thighs, or buttocks. Using a small cannula, he or she will remove the required amount of fat cells, which will then be purified before returning to the body. Once ready, the fat cells are injected with a syringe into the treatment areas of the face.
What You Need to Know About Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers offer a similar effect with some slight changes. This treatment option is completely nonsurgical, with only a syringe used to administer each injectable dermal filler product. Dermal fillers provide an effective anti-aging treatment for patients, especially in those experiencing the early signs of aging. There are many varieties of dermal filler on today’s market, so it’s important to discuss your desired results with your plastic surgeon before treatment. Based on your needs, he or she can recommend the product that is best suited to your facial features. Some of the dermal fillers available today include Juvederm injectable gel, Perlane, Voluma, Radiesse, Restylane, and ArteFill filler. Your treatment can be customized to include one or several of these formulas for each individual aging sign you are experiencing.
No matter which dermal filler or fillers you choose, your procedure will be performed in much the same way. You will likely be treated with a local anesthetic on the injection site to minimize your discomfort. Your dermal fillers will then be injected into the treatment areas you discussed, where they will smooth fine lines and wrinkles, restore lost volume where needed, and more. Dermal fillers can easily be used to diminish the appearance of many of the common signs of aging.
How Do Fat Transfers and Dermal Fillers Compare?
Choosing the right anti-aging treatment for you is really a personal decision, often based on multiple factors. Fat transfers can be an obvious choice for some patients, especially given that they are completely natural and often permanent. Yet, dermal filers have their own appeal for the right patients. Some things to consider when making your decision might include:
- Fat transfers are less effective than dermal fillers at filling in deep creases and wrinkles.
- Dermal fillers are rarely permanent (only ArteFill provides long term results), whereas fat transfers are much longer lasting and usually permanent.
- Dermal fillers provide a wide range of specialty treatment options so you can customize your anti-aging facial treatment as needed.
- Fat transfers are completely natural, since you are using your own fat cells. There is no risk of an allergic reaction or rejection of the tissue.
- Both options can provide natural looking results, but only fat cells will integrate with the surrounding tissue to provide the most natural result.
- Dermal fillers offer temporary results that are a good choice for patients who want to preview potential surgical results before having a procedure done.
Fat transfers and dermal fillers provide patients with many of the same benefits as well. They are also excellent options for added volume if that is your primary goal. Work with your plastic surgeon to decide which is right for you. With a new, youthful appearance, you’ll be happy with the results.
Plan the Treatment Best for Your Anti-Aging Needs
Fat transfers and dermal filler injections both require proper planning to achieve your best results. To get more information about how each of these treatments might benefit you, contact the Aesthetic Surgery Center to book an appointment with Dr. Anurag Agarwal or Dr. Richard Maloney, one of our double board certified facial plastic surgeons. They have been featured on many of the major news networks, including ABC, NBC, and FOX, as recognized experts on a variety of facial plastic surgery topics. Dr. Agarwal and Dr. Maloney believe that educating and communicating with their patients are the keys to helping them achieve successful, natural-looking results. Book your appointment at the Aesthetic Surgery Center, located at 1175 Creekside Parkway #100 in Naples, FL, by calling (239) 594-9100.