Adipose tissue is a living organ that insulates the body, provides padding and contour, and interacts with body's hormones, enzymes and proteins. Composed of connective tissue and fat cells, it can be a vital resource for stem cells and tissue transfer that can affect the health and appearance of an individual. Fat can be harvested from one area of the body and transferred to another region. The living, functioning, transferred cells take as a graft (just like if we were to transfer a layer of skin as a skin graft). The key to survival is that each fat cell must develop its own blood supply within 24 hours of the transfer in order to survive. This is called graft take. It is critical for the surgeon to meticulously transfer small portions throughout an area in order to maximize take. This technique developed by NYC Surgeon Sidney Coleman, is vital to maximizing the percentage of fat that survives the transfer. Dr. Schneider has been using this technique since 1995 for fat transfer to the face, hands, breasts, buttocks, and other body regions.

Technique

The fat transer technique involves three basic stages: the fat harvest, fat preparation, and the fat injections. The fat harvest uses liposuction techniques. The procedure may be performed either under intravenous sedation or under local anesthesia. The region where the fat is going to be harvested from is injected with a solution containing epinephrine. The allows for the fat to be harvested easier and it decreases bleeding. Recent studies show that typical fluids used for this should not contain the medicine lidocaine as it may decrease fat take.

The fat is harvested into a separation flask to allow the lighter fat tissue to gently separate from the heavier liquid portion. The liquid portion is then eliminated and the fat is further gently concentrated with a strainer. Some physicians will then put the fat in a centrifuge, however, Dr. Schneider believes in handling the fat cells as delicately as possible.

Once the fat has been concentrated, it is placed into syringes for injection. The region to be treated is prepared and a tiny needle is used to puncture the skin to allow for placement of the injection cannula's. Dr. Schneider uses blunt tipped micro-cannula's that do not penetrate blood vessels. The fat in then injected into the given region in small aliquots throughout multiple layers in the region.

Fat Injections for Facial Rejuvenation

We hear many patients say that as they age, or as they lose weight, their faces look thinner and older. The volume of the face is decreased due to loss of fat in some areas and by loss of bone in certain regions of the facial skeleton.  This smaller "platform" allows the tissues to sag much like how your clothes would sag if you suddenly lost 30 lbs. This is what helps contribute to the signs of an aged, tired face.

The facial regions treated with facial fat injections include the temple, naso-jugal groove (also called the tear trough), cheek bones (zygoma), mid-face, parenthesis (naso-labial folds), jaw line, marionette region and lips.

Fat Injection Facial Rejuvenation Photographs. Click the arrows to advance the slides.

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