Located in Glen Mills, Media and Chester, Providence Facial Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery offers fat injections to the residents of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and the surrounding areas desiring facial plastic surgery. Check out our Facebook Page!

When it comes to aging, many of our patients experience a loss of volume in the facial tissue. Fat and even bone melt away, leaving a hollowed, sagging appearance in its wake. Although this is common, it does not mean you have to accept it as the new you. In fact, it has never been more possible to revive your appearance. If you feel that your face has lost its youthful, vibrant look, a fat injection may be able to help.

What is Fat Injection?

Fat injection is a procedure that uses your own fat as a natural filler. The injection is used to add fullness to areas of your face, giving you a younger, more energetic appearance. Best of all, the results are long-lasting, so you can enjoy your new look for many years to come. Additionally, since a fat injection uses your body’s own fat, this procedure has no risk of rejection or allergic reaction. This makes it an effective and safe choice for many individuals seeking to maintain the glow of youth.

The best aspect of fat in section, also known as structural fat grafting, is that it essentially replaces “like with like”, replacing the fat that was lost with fat from your own body as opposed to a synthetic filler. We are replacing exactly what was there when you were younger. This is an essential part of restoring the youth in your face as simply tightening and removing skin may remove loose skin and make wrinkles go away, but they will not necessarily make you loose more attractive of younger without replacing the volume the has been lost. Fat transfer has also been shown to improve the quality and appearance of the overlying skin over the following months after the procedure. Structural fat grafting is also a potentially permanent filler which can be long lasting. We advise all patients that they may need a small tough up injection after about eight months when we can evaluate how much of the fat has survive the grafting process.

Am I a Good Candidate for a Fat Injection?

If you are seeking to look younger and feel better, you may be curious as to whether you are a good candidate for a fat injection. The good news is that many are excellent candidates for this procedure. The best candidates for fat injection will have some hollowness or wrinkles in the face, as well as existing fat elsewhere in the body that can be harvested for the procedure. It is also important to have realistic expectations for the results, to be in good health, and have a stable level of self-confidence before going into the procedure. Of course, the best way to determine your candidacy is to schedule a consultation, so that Dr. Ginsburg can thoroughly assess your goals and create a treatment plan best suited to your needs.

How is the Fat Injection Performed?

A fat injection procedure is performed in three steps: harvesting, processing and injection. In the first step, Dr. Ginsburg will harvest the fat from the donor site—typically the abdomen or upper thigh—via liposuction. Once the fat has been extracted, it is processed for reinjection. Dr. Ginsburg will inject the prepared fat into different areas of the treatment site to maximize the surface area and ensure it is spread around smoothly. As long as the fat graft is able to grow a blood supply to itself, it will survive, and the procedure will be successful.

In most cases, fat injection is performed under sedation or general anesthesia, and is often combined with other facial procedures. Combining procedures is a convenient method for achieving a more holistic facial improvement, while reducing overall recovery time. If you are interested in what combination of procedures may be best for you, do not hesitate to reach out.

For Which Areas Can Fat Transfer Be Used?

There are many situations for which patients may choose to have fat transfer. The most common reasons for a fat injection are:

Add fullness to the cheeks, forehead and glabella
Smooth the contour of the upper and lower eyelid and cheek
Fill in areas of facial atrophy, a sunken appearance due to aging and other causes
Improve wrinkles around the nose and mouth, such as nasolabial folds and marionette lines
The jawline can also be shaped with fat to improve the definition and reverse the volume loss at the prejowl sulcus and angle of mandible on either side of the jowls

If you have more specific questions regarding the placement of a fat transfer, we are here to help. Simply contact us to schedule a complimentary consultation, where you can receive answers and better understand if fat injection will work for you.

What Should I Expect from Fat Injection Recovery?

As with all procedures, recovery will be different for each patient. However, the most common experience amongst our patients is swelling. Especially in the first week after your procedure, you will want to give yourself plenty of time to rest, avoiding any strenuous activities. Swelling will decrease with time, but it will likely take until the third week after your procedure for you to begin to look more like yourself. The donor sites may also be sore and bruised, but these symptoms will resolve on their own over time. We recommend taking at least one week off of work so that the most noticeable swelling can diminish, and you can feel comfortable in social situations.

Typically, advise our fat injection patients that around 70% of the fat will be permanent, giving you long-lasting results with only potential minimal touch-ups required. This makes fat injection an excellent choice for individuals who feel dermal fillers and injectables are simply not providing the length of results they desire.

The specific details of your fat injection will be discussed with you during your complimentary consultation. If a fat injection is combined with other procedures, your recovery time and expectations may need to be adjusted. And should you have any concerns during your recovery, our team is here to help.

How Much Do Fat Injections Cost in Philadelphia?

At Providence Facial Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery, we price each procedure individually for our patients. This allows us to provide the most accurate cost depending on the fat removed, the location of the injections, and any other additional procedures you elect to pursue. We are happy to discuss your pricing and financing options at your initial, complimentary cosmetic consultation. Please view our patient financing page for further details.

Additional Facial Plastic Surgery Procedures

While fat injection can work wonders on its own, many patients benefit from combining this procedure with other facial enhancement options. Our wide range of services include:

As you learn more about what we offer, you may be curious about our triple board-certified surgeon, Dr. Mark Ginsburg. With his breadth and depth of knowledge, you can rest assured that your procedure will provide only the highest quality results.

Fat Injection FAQs

How long does a fat injection last?

Fat injections produce long-lasting results that are considered permanent, which is why they are preferred over traditional dermal fillers by many patients. The fat injected doesn’t wear off like dermal filler formulas. However, it’s important to understand that your body will continue to change due to the natural aging process. Fat injections can restore and augment volume in the face, but it cannot prevent age-related volume loss. You may still notice a gradual decline in volume as is natural.

How long does it take for a fat transfer to settle?

The settling of fat cells in a fat transfer can take a few months. In most cases, the fat will be fully settled in 4-6 months after your fat injections, at which point you will be able to appreciate your final results. This does not mean you have to wait 4-6 months to see results – you will notice them much sooner, but they will only become most noticeable after swelling fades and the fat has settled.

How does fat transfer work?

The fat transfer procedure via fat injections is performed in three simple steps. First, unwanted fat is harvested from an area of the body like the abdomen or the thighs. This is done using liposuction techniques. Then, the fat will be processed to ensure that it can be safely and effectively placed back in the body with optimal results. Finally, the fat will be injected into the desired treatment areas to produce the desired results.

How long does swelling last after fat transfer to the face?

Most swelling that occurs after a fat injection treatment will peak within 2-3 days of the procedure, and will continue to improve until it’s mostly resolved in approximately 2 weeks. In some cases, patients may experience minor, continued swelling for up to 2 months.

How long does it take to see results from fat injections?

The results from fat injections will be visible immediately as the fat is injected into the desired treatment area. However, bruising, swelling and other temporary side effects may disguise the final results of treatment. You’ll begin noticing clearer results in the days and weeks following treatment as these side effects fade, with final results visible in approximately 3-4 months.

Schedule Your Complimentary Consultation Today!

Providence Facial Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery offers facial plastic surgery, cosmetic surgery, and skin rejuvenation to residents of Glen Mills, Media, Chester, and the greater Philadelphia area. Mark Ginsburg, DO, FAACS, is a board-certified facial plastic surgeon, general cosmetic surgeon, and head and neck surgeon who combines personalized care with the latest technology to provide each patient with extraordinary and natural results. For more information or to schedule a complimentary patient consultation, call 484-352-3524 to speak to a member of our friendly, knowledgeable staff.

Fat Injection in Philadelphia, PA