Loss of facial volume can lead to lines, wrinkles, and a tired or hollow appearance. The most popular way to address facial volume loss is with dermal fillers. However, fat transfer offers another option for restoring lost volume. Both have advantages and disadvantages you should consider.
What Do Fat Transfer and Dermal Filler Treat?
Facial fat transfer and dermal fillers are two ways to restore lost facial volume. They can be used to smooth lines and wrinkles, restore fullness and definition, and correct hollow-looking areas. Dermal fillers are injectable materials that enhance volume, and they come in a range of formulas. Fat transfer uses your own fat, injected into problem areas to add volume.
What’s the Difference Between Fat Transfer and Dermal Fillers?
While fat transfer and dermal fillers add volume and smooth wrinkles, they have significant differences. Dermal fillers are much more widely used and make a better choice for most people. Hyaluronic acid-based dermal fillers (RHA®, Juvederm® and Restylane®) are reversible, do not change with weight gain or loss, have different variations perfect for the goal of the patient, and are uniformly smoother than fat.
How Do They Work?
Dermal fillers work using materials that can stay in the body for a long time, rarely causing any adverse reaction. These materials, such as hyaluronic acid, provide natural-looking results. At Krauss Dermatology, we offer RHA®, Juvederm® and Restylane® fillers for a variety of purposes, from erasing the finest lip lines to defining a cheek or jawline. Each dermal filler has a different formula for targeting different concerns.
Fat transfer uses liposuction to collect fat from a donor area. This fat is prepared before being injected into your facial features. These living fat cells will establish themselves in their new location and provide enhanced volume. Unlike dermal fillers, a fat transfer does not allow providers to choose different formulas that target different areas. However, if a patient needs a very large amount of augmentation to achieve their goals, fat may be a more economical and practical choice.
How Long Do They Last?
Dermal fillers like Juvederm® and Restylane® usually last one to two years. Formulas used to enhance cheek volume and enhance the jawline are usually the most dense and long-lasting. Because it uses living fat cells, fat transfer results last a long time but can be affected by aging, weight changes, and other factors. It is usually necessary to overcorrect initially with fat, which can lead to more swelling and recuperation time than with hyaluronic acid dermal fillers.
As an added advantage, results from dermal fillers can be reversed if you do not like them or they will wear off over time. You cannot easily undo the results of a fat transfer if you are unhappy with them. With weight gain, fat-treated areas can enlarge in an unintended way.
Is There Any Recovery Time with Dermal Fillers?
Dermal fillers require minimal to no downtime and let you return to other activities immediately. Facial fat transfer requires liposuction to remove fat from the donor area, and even a small area of liposuction can require three or four days to recover and return to your usual activities. Dermal filler effects are limited to minor bruising or swelling in the injection area that fades within a few days.
Am I a Good Candidate?
Almost anyone can receive dermal filler injections. Hyaluronic acid, the most popular dermal filler material, is one of the most widely used injectables in the world and has an excellent safety record. While fat transfer is also a generally safe procedure, liposuction inherently has some risks not involved in injections.
While fat transfer has some advantages, dermal fillers are the preferred choice for most people. Your Krauss Dermatology team can choose a dermal filler specifically designed for each part of your face and provide you with superior results. If, during your consultation, we feel your specific situation is best served by a fat transfer, we can make recommendations of facial plastic surgeons who can perform the procedure.
Take the Next Step
If you have further questions about dermal fillers, we encourage you to schedule a consultation at Krauss Dermatology. Call us at (781) 416-3500 or fill out our online contact form. We look forward to taking care of you.