Orbital (Eye Socket) Fat Transfer | Fat Grafting
Facial fat transfer or “grafting” refers to a procedure whereby Dr. Rad harvests fat via liposuction from one area of the body, carefully purifies it and then injects it very precisely into areas of the face in order to improve volume, contour, symmetry and proportion with the rest of the face.
Men or women who might benefit from fat transfer include those who have age-related facial atrophy, those who have had filler treatments and now want a permanent option, and those whose facial structure is deficient in certain areas where volume and contour are important (such as cheekbones, jawline, chin, lips, temples and eye sockets).
Dr. Rad has performed thousands of fat transfer procedures (also known as fat grafting) to restore natural volume, symmetry and youthfulness. Fat transfer is particularly useful to treat deflated or sunken areas of the face such as the eye sockets (“orbits”), tear trough (under-eyes), temples, cheeks/midface, nasolabial folds (“parentheses lines”), lips and chin. Fat grafting is a worthwhile alternative to injectable fillers because it offers permanence and the most natural results safely and with little downtime.
The most common areas that Dr. Rad treats are the temples, apples of the cheeks, tear trough, eye sockets, jawline and lips.
“The beauty in a face should be noticed, not the work that went into it.”
- Ariel N Rad, MD, PhD, FACS
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The process involves minimal discomfort – mild facial soreness and moderate temporary swelling are common. Patients often feel sensations such as a dull ache, however this is mild and easily controlled with pain medicine taken for a few days. Mild to moderate bruising and swelling are normal and resolve over 5 to 10 days.
05Aftercare
While healing and recovery will be different for each patient, a quick return to work and going to social outings 1 to 2 weeks after surgery is common. Return to full unrestricted activities depend on how vigorous your work and exercise are, and generally ranges from 2-6 weeks.
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Your vision for your results will emerge through detailed consultation with Dr. Rad, meticulous examination of your anatomy, and careful pre-surgical planning. While Dr. Rad’s surgical approach is unique for each patient, the goal of naturalness remains constant. To see Before & After results, visit our gallery page.
frequently askedQuestions
How do I know if I’m a good candidate?
Aside from the expectation that patients should be in good overall health, ideal candidates for a facial fat transfer are those who are concerned with lack of volume, hollowing, flattened contours and/or deflation in the following areas: temples, eye sockets, tear trough (under eye), midface (cheeks), lips, jawline and chin.
While the investment is more significant than in-office filler treatment, good candidates for fat transfer recognize the long term advantage of having permanent volume restored for a lifetime which is much more cost effective as compared with injections of filler every 6-12 months.
What are other options for enhancing your facial contouring?
Facial contouring involves restoring volume in deflated areas of the face via Facial Fat Grafting, or removing volume from the lower cheek region to create a more chiseled appearance via Buccal Fat Removal. Often deflation is accompanied by skin laxity and sagging; therefore, Dr. Rad often performs Facelift and Neck Lift surgery concurrent with facial fat grafting.
Injectable Dermal Fillers are the most effective non-surgical treatment for facial volume and contouring; the downside is that it is temporary, lasting 6 to 12 months.
What is better: Facial Fat Transfer or Fillers?
Think of fat as the permanent version of fillers which are temporary. Your fat consists of living cells that are your own, and with meticulous technique you, fat volume transferred to your face is permanent. So you can enjoy the improvements for a lifetime, a significant advantage over fillers which require touch-ups every 6-12 months.
What are the downsides of Facial Fat Transfer?
The main disadvantage is that this is a surgical procedure requiring mild anesthesia. For safety Dr. Rad performs surgery under anesthesia in a hospital operating facility. While cost can be considered a short term disadvantage, the cost savings over years as compared with twice annual filler treatment vastly favors fat transfer.
Can this be combined with other procedures?
Yes! Facial fat transfer synergizes well with facelift, brow lift, upper and lower blepharoplasty, neck lift and lip augmentation/lift. Think of it as a powerful tool Dr. Rad uses to refine features and restore volume in specific areas to achieve balanced and nuanced results.