Fat Grafting Specialist

Arizona Ocular & Facial Plastic Surgery

Oculofacial Plastic Surgeon located in Scottsdale, Peoria, & Phoenix, AZ

Today’s plastic surgery techniques often include fat grafting or fat transfers to add volume to aging skin. Dustin Heringer, MD, of Arizona Ocular & Facial Plastic Surgery, is a highly skilled oculofacial plastic and cosmetic surgeon who often incorporates fat grafting as part of face-lift surgery and as a dermal filler. For long-lasting results and enhanced cosmetic benefits for aging features, fat grafting is a more natural option than other types of dermal fillers. To learn more, call the Scottsdale, Peoria, or Phoenix, Arizona, office to book an appointment.

Fat Grafting Q&A

What is fat grafting?

Fat grafting is a surgical technique that removes unwanted fat from one area of your body and transfers it via injection into another area, such as your face, to add volume.

For example, Dr. Heringer may take fat from your abdomen or thighs and after processing it into a more purified fluid, inject it into the creases in your face, like he would a dermal filler.

Fat grafting, or fat transfers enhance facial fullness and can help build up shallow contours, like in your cheeks. Unlike dermal fillers, fat transfers are a permanent solution.

Once the fat is grafted into the new location, usually about 50% of it survives and lasts indefinitely. In some cases, you may need several fat transfers to achieve your desired results.

What is the procedure for fat grafting?

For a fat grafting procedure, Dr. Heringer first performs liposuction to remove a small amount of fat from an area of your body, like your abdomen or thighs.

He uses a small, hollow tube, called a cannula, to gently suction out the fat. Next, he processes the fat in a centrifuge to separate excess fluid, debris, and dead cells from the adipose (fat) tissue.

Once the fat is essentially purified, Dr. Heringer injects it in small amounts through a thin needle into areas of your face where you lack volume. The amount of fat Dr. Heringer injects depends on your individual needs and the goal you’re trying to achieve.

One of the biggest benefits of fat grafting is that the new location doesn’t reject the fat cells since they’re from your own body.

What aesthetic concerns can fat transfers improve?

Fat transfers can smooth out facial wrinkles and lines and give your face a plumper, more youthful appearance.

Fat grafting restores lost volume and improves the contours of your cheeks and midface, the hollows around your eyes, and improves the appearance of nasolabial folds around your mouth and nose.

Fat transfers work well as part of a face-lift or even to improve the texture of your skin, including acne scars.

Are you ready to learn more about fat grafting as an option to restore volume and smooth wrinkles? Call the friendly office team at Arizona Ocular & Facial Plastic Surgery to book an appointment, or use the online scheduling tool.