Fat Grafting

“It was hard to accept the changes on my face that I was noticing as I aged. The wrinkles around my eyes and lips just made me look old and tired. Then Dr. Carney suggested fat grafting and all I can say is I wish I had been able to do this when I was younger.”
Susan B.
Virginia Beach, VA

Fat grafting is a cosmetic procedure in which your own fat is used to rejuvenate the face, enhance cheeks or lips, or to correct scarring or facial asymmetry. With fat grafting, some of the fat is reabsorbed within a few months but some will become permanent.

Unlike other injectables and fillers, fat injections use fat tissue taken from a site within your own body, and therefore, do not pose the possibility of an allergic reaction. This procedure is often recommended for patients who need large volume enhancements or require injections deeper into the skin tissue.

About the Procedure
The donor and recipient site are cleansed and treated with a local anesthetic. Fat is then removed via liposuction (usually from the thighs, abdomen, or buttocks) and then placed into a centrifuge where it is separated from surrounding tissue. It is then put into a syringe and injected in the desired areas.
The injected fat rejuvenates the skin by reducing the appearance of lines and wrinkles. Altogether, the procedure usually lasts between 30 and 60 minutes.

After Treatment
After treatment, patients may experience bruising and redness that lasts up to 48 hours. Patients should avoid sun exposure and may wear makeup with UV protection to hide any effects of the procedure. May times, patients can return to normal activities immediately. However, with high volume injections, recovery can last several weeks.