Facelift surgery has significantly evolved over the last 20 years as surgeons develop new and more effective ways to rejuvenate the ageing face. The trend has now turned away from surgical results that appear obvious to achieving natural-looking improvements that appear subtle and balanced with the overall facial features. Successful facelift surgery nowadays should make a person look like they have returned from a relaxing holiday.
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Facial fat transfer has been one of the most successful techniques that have been introduced into facelift surgery due to the natural results achievable with the injection of your own body fat. There are several different types of fat transfer procedures carried out at Centre for Surgery, including fat transfer breast augmentation or the Brazilian butt lift, which have become incredibly popular procedures in the UK. Few people are aware of the benefits of combining fat transfer with a facelift to enhance facial volume and smoothen out facial imperfections, as well as optimising the natural contours of the face. Combining a facelift with fat transfer is also known as a “lift and fill facelift”.
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What is a facelift with fat transfer?
As part of the natural ageing process, the face gradually loses soft tissue volume and hydration, and this can make our faces appear deflated and saggy. Prominent lines and wrinkles may begin to form with age. Combining a facelift with a fat transfer can correct several different areas of concern that either procedure on its own is unable to.
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Many people have often tried facial injectables, including anti-wrinkle injections and dermal fillers, as a temporary method of restoring loss of volume in the cheeks or temples. Skin hydration can also be improved with the injection of various hyaluronic acid-based substances, including Restylane Skinboosters. The only way to achieve a more permanent improvement in the youthfulness of your facial features is to have a facelift combined with facial fat grafting.
Expertly undertaken facelift surgery can make people look over ten years younger by getting rid of loose skin and tightening the underlying facial muscles. A facelift alone is less able to restore volume in sunken cheeks or hollowed eyes, and this is where facial fat transfer is beneficial. Laughter lines and several types of skin conditions, including acne scarring, can only be adequately treated with facial fat transfer.
What does a facelift with fat transfer involve?
The principles of facelift surgery combined with facial fat transfer are similar to fat transfer to the breasts or with a Brazilian butt lift. Excess fat is first removed with a Liposuction from common areas such as the abdomen or thighs. The extracted fat is then processed to remove impurities before being injected into targeted areas of the face, such as the cheeks, lower eyelids or temples.
Many people are understandably apprehensive about injecting synthetic substances or having artificial silicone implants such as chin implants or cheek implants used to fill out hollowed areas. Fat transfer to the face is a highly popular solution as it involves using your own body fat to enhance soft tissue volume without inserting a foreign material into the body, as with implants or soft tissue fillers.
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Is a facelift with fat transfer permanent?
The results of a facelift with fat transfer are considered permanent, although there are certain things to be aware of when choosing to have a lift and fill facelift.
Although a facelift can produce results lasting many years, the natural ageing process will lead to changes in the face and body over time. However, if you have had facelift surgery, the magnitude of age-related changes will be less than if you had not had a facelift procedure. As with any type of fat transfer procedure, not all of the fat that is injected will become integrated into the targeted area. A small amount of fat will become naturally absorbed by the body. This is a normal process, and your surgeon will take account of this when injecting fat and may inject slightly more fat as a possible solution.
Immediately after surgery, it is normal to appear significantly swollen, and this will not reflect the final result, which will become noticeable after six weeks. We would recommend staying patient and following your surgeon’s post-operative instructions to get the best results. Try to avoid actively losing weight after surgery as the facial volume will also be lost from the face, and this can make you look more aged and affect the results of surgery. You should also avoid excessive weight gain. As with any cosmetic surgery, you should be at optimum body weight and can maintain this over time to help maintain the results of surgery for the long term.
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Facelift surgery at Centre for Surgery
Centre for Surgery is the leading cosmetic surgery clinic in London. Our UK surgeons perform hundreds of facial rejuvenation procedures each year at our state-of-the-art Baker Street clinic in central London. Our friendly and expert patient coordinators are here to assist you throughout your patient journey with us at Centre for Surgery. Simply call us on 020 7993 4849 or complete the contact form below to schedule a facelift consultation at our London clinic.
