Fat grafting, or fat injections, has become an integral tool in the plastic surgeon’s armament of cosmetic procedures, either as an adjunct to facelift surgery, or as a procedure performed on its own.  Fat grafting also has a role in improving aesthetic contour irregularities where the absence of tissue needs to be filled. Therefore, depressed scars may indeed benefit from fillers like fat.

I will very often perform fat grafting in conjunction with a facelift.  There are areas of the face which a facelift generally does not address, such as the sides of the lips, the area between the lower lip and the chin, and in the nasolabial fold area (wrinkles which run from the corners of the nose to the corners of the mouth).  Blepharoplasty, or eyelid lift, will correct the lines and/or depressions above the upper eyelids and beneath the lower eyelids.  Often, these tear trough areas need volume replacement and autologous fat grafting is performed in these areas. 

Areas of contour, or lack of contour, are also best addressed with fat transfers. For example, if the cheekbone areas seem a bit weak they can be gently strengthened with fat to give that beautiful, youthful and cherubic look. Using a syringe and special cannulae or needles, the fat is removed from an area where one has excess fat, such as the thighs, abdomen or buttocks. The fat is then “spun down”, decanted, and delivered into the areas previously decided upon by the patient and myself. 

Fat grafting can improve the creased and sunken areas of the face and add fullness to the lips, cheeks and hands.  Fat grafting also plays a role in scar correction and even in breast reconstruction. Buttock and breast enlargement can be performed with fat transfers. Full face fat grafting, when the patient is a candidate, can produce benefits similar to a facelift and can be performed under local anesthesia, or with/without oral sedation.

Potential risks of fat grafting are minimal, and I have never had a postop infection related to fat grafting. One of the many benefits of fat grafting over other fillers is that fat generally lasts much longer than other fillers. I have seen it last more than 5 to 6 years in my patients, whereas other fillers like Juvederm and Restylane will not generally last more than 6 to 12 months. 

Fifteen and twenty years ago, mostly women underwent cosmetic plastic surgery. I have seen a great increase in the number of men undergoing all plastic procedures, with a surprisingly equal number of men and women desiring fat grafting. Fat grafting is very attractive to some because of the very short downtime and fast recovery time. Men tend to be less patient healers and enjoy the fact that fat grafting has a much shorter recuperation time.

Dr. Berman is plastic surgeon and ENT, double-board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology / Head and Neck Surgery. He provides state-of-the-art digital computer imaging at his practice in Boca Raton, Florida to demonstrate to patients what they can realistically expect from treatment. His surgical center is accredited by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgical Facilities since 1995.

Dr. Berman has patients in South Florida, Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami. Call today to schedule a consultation or with any questions. We’d be happy to hear from you.

I have used this laser in treating scars, superficial pigmentation and deeper wrinkles.  After treatment your skin is more elastic and smoother. 

Generally, only one session is required to obtain optimal results with careful care of your skin post-laser and with subcutaneous tissue protection. Occasionally someone will need one or more sessions, depending on his or her skin type. 

Downtime for my patients after surgery has varied but has not been generally more than five days. I have had some patients undergo the laser resurfacing on a Friday morning and return to work on Monday morning. Most patients, in that time frame, still have some redness and swelling of the face, but it is a personal choice to return to the work place.  Women are generally applying makeup at the 5-day post-laser period. 

When performed alone, without facelift or eyelid surgery, I place the patient on an oral pain and sedation medication to be taken approximately one hour before the procedure. I then use a topical pain medication 30 minutes before the procedure.  A full 100% of my patients have reported that they feel only minimal discomfort with this regimen during the laser resurfacing. 

Immediately following the laser resurfacing the patient returns home. For the following 3 to 5 days they embark on a course of post-laser skin products and cleansing. 

Dr. Berman is a double board-certified plastic surgeon by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology / Head and Neck Surgery. His practice, based in Boca Raton, Florida offers state-of-the-art digital computer imaging to show patients realistic expectations. His surgical center is accredited by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgical Facilities since 1995.

If you live in South Florida near Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale or Miami, call Dr. Berman today to schedule a consultation or with any questions. We’re happy to hear from you.