Facial Fat Transfer

Fat Transfer to Face Sydney (Coleman’s Fat Transfer)

  • Cosmetic elective procedure
  • Not covered by private health insurance or Medicare
  • Day procedure only
  • Can be performed under local anaesthetic in clinic

A fat transfer to the face can either be performed in an operating theatre or at Form and Face in Bondi Junction under local anaesthetic. It involves the transfer of small amounts of your own body fat into the areas of your face in which you desire an increase of volume. This can be suitable for people who desire to alter their facial conour without the use of foreign materials and with more permanence.

A fat transfer is permanent, however, everyone loses a small percentage of the injected fat, which is why Dr Norris will inject about 10% more than is required to compensate for the loss in the first 4 weeks.

QUICK ENQUIRY

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Initial consultation

Any type of cosmetic surgery is a personal choice and every patient has their own reasons for choosing to undergo a procedure. During your first consultation with Dr Norris, emphasis is placed on your goals and how you want your face to look after surgery. Your face, skin tone, skin laxity and level of facial fatty tissue will all be evaluated to determine whether you’re a candidate for this procedure.

If you are, photographs will be taken of your face and Dr Norris will take you through how the operation is performed and where the injection sites will be. Finally, you will be provided with a detailed quotation that outlines your surgical options. Should you decide to proceed, a second consultation will need to be scheduled to discuss the next steps.

It’s highly recommended that patients refrain from smoking at least 2 months before their procedure as it can impact the healing process and delay results.

How is the facial fat transfer procedure done?

Dr Norris performs fat transfers in fully accredited medical facilities under local anaesthetic. If only a small amount of fat needs to be transferred, the procedure can be performed at Form & Face. Before your procedure commences, you will meet the anaesthetist that Dr Norris works with, who will ensure you are comfortable throughout your surgery.

To complete the procedure, excess fat is removed from another area of the body using a cannula. Once the fat is cleaned and processed, any undamaged fat cells are injected into specific areas of the face. The entire procedure takes about an hour or two to complete, depending on how many areas need to be injected.

Once the transplanted fat establishes a blood supply the transferred fat remains permanently in its new location. However, patients should note that results will vary and you will need to wait about 6 months to see the final outcomes. In some instances, a second transfer may be required but this is rare.

Facial fat transfer & eyelid surgery 06, upper and lower blepharoplasty

Facial fat transfer, patient before and after fat transfer to cheeks (in combination with blepharoplasty)

What happens after fat transfer to face surgery?

  • A fat transfer takes approx. 1 hour to perform but longer if multiple areas of the face. Patients will also need to spend several hours in hospital following their procedure before they can be sent home.
  • A friend or responsible adult must collect you from the hospital as the effects of the anaesthetic can make it dangerous for you to drive. You may also want to have someone around after your procedure to assist you at home for the next day.
  • Patients will leave with written post-operative instructions and a prescription for pain-relief.
  • Short showers are permitted but it’s important to not run the water directly over your face and wounds. Clean your face with a face washer until the surgeon instructs you to rinse over with water.
  • The worst of the pain and discomfort takes place during the first two days after surgery. Pain medication can be used to alleviate any pain during your recovery. If you experience excessive pain, be sure to let Dr Norris know sooner rather than later.
  • Patients may also experience bruising, swelling, tenderness, and sensitivity. Swelling may vary from patient to patient and should resolve after about 3 weeks.
  • Light exercise such as brisk walking can be resumed after 2 weeks. Thereafter, if Dr Norris clears you for further exercise, your normal routine can be adopted after about 6 weeks.
  • Most patients can return to work after 2 days but some choose to take a few extra days.
  • A follow-up appointment will be booked for you on day 3 or 7 after the operation. This is to check your progress and ensure your wounds are healing correctly.

Possible complications

  • Haematoma collection of blood in the wound area, which is either naturally absorbed into the body or sometimes requires further surgical drainage. Symptoms include swelling, pain, bruising, hot to the touch or itchy skin.
  • Infection Infections are unpredictable and normally occur within the first 3 weeks after surgery. It’s essential that any infections be treated with an antibiotic as soon as possible.
  • Seroma Is a build-up of fluid after your surgery that can sometimes require removal via a syringe at the clinic.
  • Loss of Fat In the healing phase after fat transfer, patients do loose up to 10% of the transferred fat but Dr Norris does compensate for this by injecting more fat than is necessary to achieve the desired outcome.

How much does fat transfer to face cost in Sydney?

The size of the treatment area is one of the first aspects that need to be considered before a cost can be determined. Hospital, anaesthetist and aftercare fees are also incorporated into the final cost of the procedure. Since this procedure is purely cosmetic, the costs won’t be covered by Medicare or private health insurance – everything will have to be paid out of your own pocket.

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