What is facial lipofilling?
The facial lipofilling technique involves extracting fat cells (adipocytes) from the patient and injecting them into other areas of the body. The donor area is usually the abdomen, but other areas such as the thighs or flanks can also be used.
One of the main factors contributing to facial aging is the loss of volume caused by progressive fat atrophy. Imagine an inflated balloon simulating the face of a young person. As it loses air, folds appear on the balloon, and something similar happens to the face. Volume loss contributes to the laxity of facial tissues, with the appearance of wrinkles and sagging.
There are a wide variety of injectable substances on the market to treat this volume loss , including hyaluronic acid derivatives. These substances work very well, but their effect is limited over time as they are reabsorbed, a problem in cases where large volumes are needed. Autologous fat grafting (also called lipofilling or lipostructure) has the great advantage of being permanent, in addition to being the body’s own tissue and therefore 100% biocompatible . Furthermore, the injections contain not only fat cells (adipocytes), but also stem cells and growth factors. This explains the improvement in skin texture in the treated areas.
Faqs de Lipofilling facial
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The facial lipofilling technique was first described by Dr. Sydney Coleman of New York in 1987, and since then its indications have multiplied and the technique has been perfected.
Facial lipofilling involves extracting fat cells (adipocytes) from the patient and injecting them into other areas of the body. The donor area is usually the abdomen, but other areas such as the thighs or flanks can also be used. The procedure is generally performed under local anesthesia with sedation. Fat is harvested using liposuction cannulas, and the aspiration material is selected to obtain a higher concentration of adipocytes, growth factors, and fat cells. Variable amounts of fat can be removed depending on the needs of each case.
The obtained material is injected into different areas of the face, including the eyebrows, temples, cheeks, lips, and nasolabial folds. -
Facial lipofilling is a minimally invasive procedure with little downtime. Swelling and some bruising may appear in the first few days, but these generally resolve within 7 to 10 days. Typically, not all of the injected fat cells will survive, so a slightly larger volume than necessary will be injected to account for this. Some touch-up with a new fat injection may also be necessary. Lumps or nodules after this treatment are rare if the injections are performed correctly.
