Facial Fat Transfer

Offered at our convenient location in Hamburg

Facial Fat Transfer Dr. Dalia Tobbia Hamburg office

A facial fat transfer is a procedure that restores natural volume to your face to improve the appearance of sunken cheeks from aging or genetics. Over time, your facial fat can atrophy, resulting in gaunt, sunken cheeks and thin lips that increase your perceived age. If you are struggling with a loss of facial fat, we can quickly restore it with a facial fat transfer. Unlike dermal fillers, the procedure does not require synthetic materials and results are permanent. With minimally invasive injections, we can improve the contours of your face by harnessing the power of your own fat.

At Plastische Chirurgie am Klosterstern, Dr. Dalia Tobbia has decades of experience helping patients transform their complexions. Although hollow cheeks and sinking jowls are a natural part of aging, a facial fat transfer can quickly restore your appearance.

Contact our Hamburg office or call +49 40 46 091 076 to learn more about how we can rejuvenate your face.

About Facial Fat Transfer

Facial Fat Transfer Dr. Dalia Tobbia Hamburg office

In 2023, surgeons performed more than 34,000 cosmetic facial fat grafting procedures to help patients meet their aesthetic goals. (1) Unlike dermal fillers that can result in an overfilled or unnatural appearance, using your own fat can create a softer and subtler result. The results look and feel natural and are therefore superior to temporary injectable substances because we perform the procedure in a minimalistic and delicate manner.

Fat Transfer and Facelift

A fat transfer is not a substitute for a facelift if the patient has advanced facial aging, but Dr. Tobbia can perform the procedure during a facelift to replace volume loss. With this method, it is possible to transfer fat from unwanted areas such as the thighs or stomach to the face to correct deep wrinkles or loss of volume as a result of aging. We can also correct irregularities or scarring from previous injuries.

Facial Fat Loss Graphic

Benefits of Facial Fat Transfer

  • Long-lasting results: The harvested fat is a natural substance and comes from your own body. Therefore the results are long-lasting with a very natural feel and appearance.
  • Minimal scarring: This method results in very minimal scarring because Dr. Tobbia makes tiny incisions to inject the excess fat after harvesting it.
  • Natural volume: Dr. Tobbia can inject the fat gradually and in small quantities, making it a very precise method to correct deep wrinkles or loss of volume from aging.
  • Customizable: Each patient’s facial anatomy is unique, and facial fat transfer allows for customized treatment to address individual concerns.

Facial Fat Transfer Candidates

This surgery is indicated in patients who are suitable candidates to have a fat transfer procedure for treating wrinkles, contour deformities, and loss of volume in the face. (2) Suitable candidates for a facial fat transfer are healthy nonsmokers who would like a rounder, more plump appearance after losing facial volume from, aging, weight changes, or genetics. The best candidates:

  • Do not smoke
  • Would like a plumper, younger-looking complexion
  • Have lost volume in their cheeks from aging or weight changes
  • Desire a natural look without the use of fillers

A facial fat transfer is especially helpful for patients who cannot receive synthetic injectables due to allergies. The procedure is customizable and ideal for patients who wish to achieve a younger appearance. Dr. Tobbia can restore volume to your lips to reduce lip lines as well. (3) Since facial fat transfer lasts longer than dermal fillers, the procedure is ideal for someone who is looking for a low-maintenance solution. However, if you have a health condition that will affect your ability to heal from the procedure such as a blood clotting or blood pressure condition, this may not be the best procedure for you.

Consultation & Preparation

Before you consider undergoing any surgical procedure, you will need a physical examination and consultation with our surgical expert. Because each patient is unique, both physically and with regard to aesthetic desires, Dr. Tobbia will formulate an individually tailored treatment plan based on detailed discussions of the most up-to-date surgical options available.

We will take photographs and use diagrams to explain the procedure in a step-by-step manner including limitations and possible risks. The main goal is to provide you with realistic expectations. Accurate preoperative planning is essential to suit each patient by targeting the area that needs to be addressed. To prepare for a facial fat transfer, you will need to:

  • Stop taking blood thinners
  • Avoid sun exposure that could damage your skin
  • Avoid alcohol for 24 hours before and after the procedure
  • Schedule time off work
  • Arrange for someone to drive you home and monitor you for 24 hours
  • Plan your meals and run errands for a comfortable recovery

Facial Fat Transfer Procedure

Dr. Tobbia will harvest the excess fat from an unwanted area and inject it into the desired location. The concept here is that the transferred fat will receive blood supply from the local tissues and remain in place as natural fat tissue in the face. During the procedure, we will cleanse your skin and place you under anesthesia. After we mark your skin for the procedure, Dr. Tobbia will use a thin cannula to perform liposuction and remove your excess fat. She will place the excess fat in a centrifuge to purify it and inject the purest fat cells into your face for a plumper, younger-looking appearance. She will employ the most up-to-date concepts and surgical techniques. Dr. Tobbia usually performs fat transfer under general anesthesia, however, she may also transfer very small volumes of fat under local anesthesia. Her meticulous attention to detail ensures even contours and the best possible aesthetic result.

Facial Fat Transfer Recovery & Results

You can expect to return to normal activities within 1 week. However, you should avoid strenuous physical activities and heavy lifting for several weeks. We advise patients to avoid direct sun exposure or extreme heat during the first 2-3 weeks. After the fat transfer, you can enjoy a smoother, younger facial profile with a plumper look and more radiant complexion. You will no longer need to worry about gaunt cheeks affecting your appearance. Your recovery period will also depend on the amount of excess fat we remove with liposuction and your body goals. We can discuss your recovery in depth after your consultation and provide a compression garment to help your body heal after we remove the excess fat.

Corresponding Procedures

Facelift

As you age, losing facial volume is often accompanied by droopy, sagging skin and the muscles in your face can begin to atrophy. A facelift is a procedure that tightens the skin and removes excess tissue for a smoother appearance. As you age and collagen production declines, you may notice wrinkles and fine lines on the face. Sagging jowls can make you appear older than you are, but a facelift repositions your skin to restore your youthful complexion. We also offer a less invasive stem cell facelift. During a stem cell facelift, we can super filter and purify your own natural harvested fat to extract the stem cells. Injecting the stem calls into your face helps your skin naturally regenerate for a younger, brighter complexion.

Brow Lift

If you have droopy skin above your eyebrows, we can eliminate it with a brow lift. During the procedure, Dr. Tobbia can address wrinkles and sagging skin from above the brows with a discrete incision along your hairline for a smoother appearance. We can perform a brow lift, facelift, and facial fat transfer in one procedure if you would like to achieve multiple aesthetic goals in one appointment.

Eyelid Lift

An eyelid lift (blepharoplasty) brightens and rejuvenates the appearance of your eyes. If you have excess, droopy skin above your eyes we can remove it with an upper eyelid lift. During the procedure, we make a discrete incision along the fold of the upper eyelid to remove excess tissue for a younger look. If you have tired-looking, puffy under-eyes, we can perform a lower eyelid lift – we can make a discrete incision along the inside of the lower eyelid to reposition the fat pads beneath your eyes.

Cost of a Facial Fat Transfer in Hamburg

The cost of your facial fat transfer will depend on whether or not you need additional procedures to achieve your aesthetic goals and the amount of fat you would like to transfer. Depending on your skin type, we can recommend additional treatments after your procedure to help you maintain your results.

Contact our office or call +49 40 46 091 076 to learn more about how we can help you improve your complexion for a more youthful appearance.

FAQ

Will I need more than one facial fat transfer?

Most patients only need one facial fat transfer to achieve results. However, if you lose facial volume later on from aging or genetics, then you may need an additional fat transfer.

How long will my results from a facial fat transfer last?

Your results can last several years if you take good care of your health and eat regular, healthy meals.

Will I have scars after a facial fat transfer?

You will not have any facial scarring, however, your surgeon will make a tiny incision to remove excess fat from another area of your body which can result in a minimal scar. The incision is approximately 1 cm, and your surgeon is careful to make it in a discrete location.

How do I know if a facial fat transfer or dermal filler is best for me?

For longer-lasting results, a facial fat transfer is ideal. However, if you do not have enough body fat for us to extract for a facial fat transfer, we can help you achieve a natural look with dermal fillers.

References

  1. American Society of Plastic Surgeons ® Endorsed Partner. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/documents/news/statistics/2023/plastic-surgery-statistics-report-2023.pdf
  2. Shauly O, Gould DJ, Ghavami A. Fat Grafting: Basic Science, Techniques, and Patient Management. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – Global Open. 2022;10(3):e3987. doi:https://doi.org/10.1097/gox.0000000000003987
  3. Schultz KP, Raghuram A, Davis MJ, Abu-Ghname A, Chamata E, Rohrich RJ. Fat Grafting for Facial Rejuvenation. Seminars in Plastic Surgery. 2020;34(01):030-037. doi:https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0039-3402767