A loss of facial volume is one of the most notable effects of aging. Cheeks often become “sunken in” as does the areas under the eyes and around the temples. Fillers are one way to correct this problem.
This procedure uses the body’s own fat to fill sunken areas. It can also be added to the breasts and buttocks to make them fuller and rounder. Lipostransfer of the buttocks is better known as a Brazilian Butt lift.
Fat for the Lipostransfer procedure is generally taken from either the buttocks or the thighs. These areas are often chosen because most people have enough fat in these areas for the procedure. After the fat is removed, it is centrifuged and then injected into the area where more volume is needed.
Lipostransfer can be used on both male and female patients. Any person that wants to add volume to those parts of the body that have become sunken-in due to aging or injury may find that Lipostransfer is a great way to do so. It is appropriate for people of almost any age, except for those younger than 18 years old.
Though Lipostransfer is considered to be technologically advanced, it is not a brand new concept. Fatgrafts have been around awhile, in fact, for nearly a century. The technology has advanced in recent years but the concept remains very much the same.
Lipotransfer is unique in the fact that the filler consists of actual body fat. There are a number of benefits associated with this, one being that no foreign substances are placed in the body. Consequently, there are no worries about the body rejecting the substance or reacting negatively. The fat used in Lipotransfer is soft and pliable which makes it easy for the surgeon to mold it as necessary.
When a person’s face begins to loose volume, they have a few options, some more invasive and extensive than others. Some people opt for a facelift. During a facelift, the tissue is moved back to its original position and excess skin is removed. People who would prefer a less invasive approach might find Lipotransfer to be a better option. Instead of moving the tissues and excising skin, it adds volume, combating the hollowness that comes as a result of age or injury.
Cost
The price of Lipotransfer will vary based on a number of factors, including the experience and reputation of the person performing the surgery, the part of the country the doctor’s practice is located, and how intense the procedure will be. Someone who is adding the filler to their cheeks will likely pay less than a person receiving the Brazilian Butt Lift, where fat is added to the buttocks to give them a rounder, fuller appearance.
Recovery
Recovery is fairly quick for patients who undergo Lipotransfer. Depending on the particular procedure a person undergoes, a person may experience some swelling and bruising. Both should begin to subside after about 7 days. It will be important for patients to follow the doctor’s instructions carefully. Doing so helps to reduce the likelihood of complications occurring.
Complications: Complications are a risk that people assume when they choose to have cosmetic surgery or procedure of some sort. Lipostransfer is considered safe and there aren’t many noted side effects. However, things don’t always go as planned. When they do not, complications may occur. Complications associated with this procedure include but are not limited to, lack of symmetry and the total re-absorption of the fat into the body. When the latter occurs, volume in the treated areas diminishes.
Procedure:
Step 1: The patient will be given a local anesthetic or be lighted sedated.
Step 2: The surgeon will take the fat from one of the following, the flanks, stomach, butt or thighs. These areas generally have a higher fat content than other parts of the body.
Step 3: The fat that the doctor removed from the body is then placed into a centrifuge to separate the usable components of the fat from that which is unusable.
Step 4: After the fat needed to perform the procedure is taken from the individual’s thighs or stomach and placed in the centrifuge, it is injected into the area of the body that requires greater volume.
Questions to Ask:
1. How long will it take for me to recover?
2. What type of results can I expect?
3. How much will the procedure cost?
4. Will the fat atrophy?
5. What happens if I quickly lose the volume from the fat?
6. If the procedure doesn’t take, will I have to undergo it again?
7. Does Lipotransfer look more natural than artificial fillers?
8. How long have you been administering Lipostransfer?
9. Where will the procedure take place?
10. What will happen in the event that something goes wrong?
PRP Treatment for Lipo-transfer for Cheeks
One of the tell-tell signs of aging, is hollowed cheeks. As some people age, their face will begin to droop and sag. Others will begin to experience hollowness in their cheeks and under the eyes. There are several ways to handle hollowing. One of the most common is the use of fillers. There are plenty of artificial fillers on the market and at least two very good natural ones, Lipo-transfer and PPR therapy. Both of the latter can be effective. However, each works very differently from the other.
When a person has a Lipo-transfer procedure for the purpose of filling out their cheeks, fat is harvested from another part of their body, and injected into the cheeks. Fat is often harvested from a person’s stomach or thighs. Both of these body parts typically have fat to spare. There are a number of benefits with this type of treatment. A person doesn’t have to use artificial fillers and the result is more natural looking. There are no concerns regarding allergic reactions or the body rejecting the substance. There are however, a number of drawbacks.
In order for Lipo-transfer to be successful, the doctor performing the procedure must do a good job. If they do not, the result will often lack symmetry and thus look unattractive. Another risk is that the body reabsorbs the fat. If it does so completely, there will be nothing to show for the procedure and the money the person just spent for it.
A Lipo-transfer procedure isn’t cheap. The cost will vary depending on the body part being treated. The procedure is considered a permanent one so afterwards, what a person sees is what they get, for better or for worse. Now, it may be possible to have further work done to improve any perceived flaws but doing so would further place a person’s appearance at risk.
The platelets extracted and then injected into the skin via PRP therapy eventually acts as a natural filler. This is a result of the growth factors contained in them. These growth factors jumpstart the body’s healing mechanisms causing the body to regenerate tissue and collagen. The result is plumper underlying tissues and restored facial volume.
There are very few side effects and the risks associated with PRP therapy are minimal. Because the fullness of the cheeks depends on the body’s natural response to the growth factors and not the surgeon’s skill, a person doesn’t have to worry about looking unnatural or ‘worked on.’
PRP injections cost between $500 and $1500 per injection. The number of injections a person will require depends on the extent of the wrinkling or thinness of the lips. The more injections a person needs, the more they will have to pay. PRP therapy is not a permanent procedure, meaning that the results won’t be. They generally last for up to one year. Maintenance injections after the initial treatment may prolong a person’s results.
The idea of paying a few hundred or even a thousand dollars each year for plumper lips when individual could pay less for artificial fillers or Lipo-transfer may not make much sense to some. However, there are reasons a person might opt to. For one, PRP therapy harnesses the body’s own power to heal itself. It is completely naturally and safe. There is no risk of lumps developing or a lack of symmetry, which exists when using lip plumping alternatives. The result is a natural look and healthier skin.
As mentioned above there are risks associated with lip-transfer procedures, for instance, the fat placed in the lips may be reabsorbed into the body and secondly, the end result may be aesthetically, less then desirable. Most people have seen far too many images of plastic surgery gone wrong and as a result, may want to avoid it if at all possible. PRP therapy is one way for individuals to get the results they want but without the risks commonly associated with plastic surgery.
One of the best things about PRP therapy is its simplicity. It is surprisingly, a very simple procedure. A doctor will draw a small amount of blood from a patient. This blood is placed in what is known as a centrifuge machine. This machine spins the patient’s blood and in the process separates its components. Whole blood is made up of white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets suspended in plasma. Platelets are responsible for wound healing, tissue repair and regeneration. For this reason, it is often used to treat soft tissue injuries, rejuvenate the skin, fill in wrinkles and plump up hollowed facial features.
A PRP treatment takes between 20 and 30 minutes, from start to finish. To begin, a doctor or nurse will prepare the skin. The part of the body that will be treated is cleaned. Either a topical anesthetic is applied to the skin or a nerve block administered, to prevent pain. PRP therapy is not considered painful, save the pricks a person will feel from the needle when their blood is drawn and the platelets are injected into the skin.
After the skin has been cleaned, the doctor will begin preparing the blood. As mentioned above, the blood, while in a test tube, is placed in a centrifuge machine where it is spun and separated. The platelets are removed and injected into the skin. When used to combat hollowness in the cheeks, it will be injected into this area of the face. If a person experiences any pain after the procedure, they will typically be instructed to take a mild over-the-counter pain reliever. Some doctors will prescribe a mild, prescription strength, pain reliever.
After about three weeks, if the PRP was successful, the tissues underlying the cheeks will begin to plump up and fill out. This improvement should continue for another month or two. The result is a more youthful appearance and filled out cheeks.
In addition to whole blood PRP therapy as described above, some doctors will administer a PRP gel or spray. Individuals should discuss which form of treatment their doctor is planning to use, if they are interested or have a preference.
Post-procedure, a person may experience some mild soreness, inflammation and bruising. This typically won’t last more than 24 hours. A person won’t have a lot of restrictions to abide by. They may, however, want to rest and let the swelling and bruising subside.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
1. Do you believe that PRP is the best way to fill out the hollowness in my cheeks?
2. What other, if any procedures would you suggest?
3. Will I experience any pain? If so what should I take for it?
4. How many times have you administered this procedure?
5. Are you a licensed dermatologist?
6. How many injections do you think I’ll need?
7. When I will start seeing results?
8. How much will this procedure cost?
9. Do you accept payments?
10. Does your office have a financing program?
