Plumpness in the face and hands is associated with youthfulness. When the face and hands age, they tend to develop hollow areas. As men and women get older, these depressions become more pronounced and noticeable.
Also, the hands and face are the most exposed areas of the body. Constant exposure to outside elements tends to age the hands and face more quickly than the rest of the body.
Hand and face rejuvenation is possible. A procedure called fat grafting can restore a more youthful appearance in the facial and hand areas. Fat is liposuctioned from donor areas, purified using sterile methods, and meticulously injected into areas where plumpness and volume are desired.
Facial Fat Transfer
As the fat in facial areas reduces with age, the face develops a hollow appearance. Depressions developing in the middle of the face and the chin makes the skin droop. This process results in a sunken facial appearance.
A facial fat transfer procedure removes fat from other locations in the body. The fat is then used to fill the depressions in the face. When volume is restored to the face, a more youthful appearance is the result.
Hands Fat Transfer
Some people have little fat in their hands, even when they’re younger. As people age and lose more body fat, the buffer between skin on the hands and underlying layers shrinks.
When there is little fat between the skin and veins of the hand, it’s easy to bump and bruise the hands. Also, as hands age and fat thins, the veins, tendons and bones become more exposed. This exposure makes hands look older.
A hands fat transfer helps reduce bruising and the look of aging. Hand rejuvenation through fat grafting transfers adds volume to the back of the hand. Added volume makes tendons, bones and veins less obvious. The procedure also enhances contours and improves skin durability.
How Facial or Hand Fat Grafting Transfer Works
A fat transfer, also known as a fat grafting procedure, takes excess fat from other body areas, and inserts the fat into the face and/or hands that need volume or plumping.
Before the fat is injected using small, fine needles, it’s purified and treated to preserve the stem cells present in the fat. The process ensures the fat is healthy and able to survive in its new location.
Using precise and meticulous injections, the plastic surgeon places the fat in the desired areas. There is usually no need for any sutures. Many clients, who want to remove more fat from the donor areas, have a traditional liposuction after the fat for transfer is removed.
This procedure results in a healthier glow, natural-looking rejuvenation and restores a younger look by reducing signs of aging.
Areas Well-Suited to a Fat Grafting Procedure
Facial Areas: In a facial fat grafting procedure (fat transfer to the face), hollow areas causing laugh lines in the cheeks, the “parentheses” lines on either side of the mouth and crow’s feet around the eyes are treated. Facial fat transfer fills in these areas with fat taken from other spots of the body, which is then injected into the face. The procedure restores younger-looking fullness and plumper contours in the face, because the fat fills out any depressions and indentations.
A facial fat transfer is an alternative to dermal fillers or implants in the chin area. A facial fat transfer is a more permanent solution compared to temporary dermal fillers. Adding volume to the chin using fat from the person’s own body is a more natural method. Chin implants are foreign substances that may cause allergic reactions.
Hand Areas: In a hand fat grafting procedure (fat transfer to the hands), the person’s own fat is taken from a donor area. The fat is carefully injected into the upper surface of the hands. This rejuvenates the hands, giving them a natural, youthful appearance.
Many clients undergo a combined face and hand fat transfer to provide the most comprehensive rejuvenation program.
What to Expect During a Fat Grafting Transfer
During a fat transfer procedure, fat is collected from the hips, stomach or buttocks. The harvest areas will be different for each person. The extracted fat is processed. It’s then injected, using a specialized method, to plump up facial and hand areas where there’s volume loss.
Typically, it takes about one to three hours, from start to finish, for a fat graft transfer.
Recovery After a Fat Grafting Transfer
After the procedure, to protect the fat newly transferred to the hands and/or face, there are a few precautions:
- Protect the face and hands from any potential physical injury or trauma.
- Avoid activities or movements that may cause stress or strain.
Given that no incisions occur, there’s no concern about possible hand and/or facial scarring.