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The technique of facial lipofilling consists of extracting fat cells (adipocytes) from the patient himself 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 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 a young person’s face. As it loses air, folds appear in the balloon, and something similar happens to the face. The loss of volume contributes to the laxity of facial tissues, with the appearance of wrinkles and flaccidity.
There are a variety of injectable substances on the market to treat this loss of volume, including hyaluronic acid derivatives. These substances work very well, but their effect is limited in time as they are reabsorbed, and this is a problem in cases where large volumes are needed. Autologous fat grafting (also called lipofilling, or lipostructure) has the great advantage of being permanent, as well as being a tissue of its own and therefore 100% biocompatible. In addition, the injections contain not only fat cells (adipocytes), but also stem cells and growth factors. This explains the improvement in skin texture of the treated areas.
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.
The technique of facial lipofilling consists of extracting fat cells (adipocytes) from the patient himself 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 be used. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia with sedation usually. The collection of the fat is done by means of liposuction cannulas, and the material obtained from the aspiration is selected to obtain a greater concentration of adipocytes, growth factors and fat cells. Variable amounts of fat can be removed depending on the needs of each case.
The material obtained 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 will appear in the first few days, but usually resolves in 7 to 10 days. Normally not all the fat cells we inject will survive, so a little more volume will be injected than necessary in anticipation of this. Some touch-up with new fat injection may also be necessary. Lumps or nodules after this treatment are rare if the injections have been performed correctly.
Dr. Nieto is a reference in oculoplastic surgery. He combines his activity in reconstructive surgery in public medicine with his private reconstructive and cosmetic activity at the Clínica Corachán in Barcelonaand the Instituto Oftalmólogico Gabriel Simón in Madrid.
Clínica Corachán 2, bajos. Plaza Manuel Corachán 4, Despacho 8 Barcelona 08017
Instituto Oftalmológico Gabriel Simón Fuencarral, 7 28004-Madrid
