Overview of Facial Wrinkle Treatment with own Fat

Why Transfer your own Fat to your Face?

Fat Transfer can be used to compensate for contour disorders of the body and other imperfections.

The fat required for this is obtained by liposuction, i.e. gently sucked off at another part of the body, processed and injected into the defect.

Causes of a Change in the Tissue Structure

Contour disorders occur after injuries, after tumour operations, in congenital malformations or after unsuccessful liposuction.

Local tissue was destroyed and in addition to the internal defect, there is an internal scar which intensifies the problem and reduces the local blood circulation. In congenital malformation, the tissue was never present.

Formation of Wrinkles by Changing the Tissue Structure

The symptoms are unsightly retractions, dents, internal defects and asymmetry. After an injury or after surgery, there is an external scar in addition to the internal one.

These symptoms do not disappear by themselves after the destruction of internal tissue, they must be treated.

Aim of the Treatment with Autologous Fat Injection

The aim of the treatment is to achieve a natural body silhouette, harmonious and symmetrical.

Procedure of the Treatment

First, in a consultation, we explain exactly what can be achieved with the transfer of autologous fat and which facts are important.

The procedure usually takes place under anaesthesia.

The fat of the patient is first carefully removed from the body via suction. The extraction sites can vary depending on the structure of the body. The abdomen and the waist are perfect ares for fat pads.

After liposuction, the fat cells are gently processed and injected into the affected areas to be modeled and then lipofilling takes place.

It is slightly over corrected, because 20 – 30 % of the transferred tissue does not grow so a second operation is always necessary, i.e. a second suction and transfer for post-modelling. The body silhouettes at the extraction site are also corrected by removing fatty tissue.

Keyword stem cells: With each fat transfer, the stem cells contained in the suctioned tissue are automatically transferred. They develop their positive effect in the target area. An enrichment of these cells is possible, but only takes place in the laboratory at great expense, which is not feasible in the clinic.

Follow-up Treatment

After the procedure, the patient can stay in our clinic or go home.

The target area swells after the autologous fat transfer and bruising is possible. Decongestant medication and upright posture help to reduce the consequences that always occur.

12 weeks after the operation, the final result is visible. Then a decision is made as to whether the goal has been achieved or whether a further transfer makes sense.

Once the desired result has been achieved, this will remain for many years.

Ist das gewünschte Ergebnis erreicht, bleibt dies für viele Jahre bestehen.

Risks/Complications

The risk of infection is minimal.

Hardening and unevenness of the transferred fat are rare and are usually broken down.

Part of the fat is absorbed (see above).

When is Surgery not Recommended?

If there is no fat to transfer, i.e. the patients are very thin, it is better to use hyaluronic acid.

Infections in the areas to be treated prohibit the procedure.

Costs/Reimbursement by the
Health Insurance Company

The costs have to be paid by yourself.

Further Information

The following doctors have dealt extensively with this topic:
K. Ueberreiter, Germany and U. Tanzella