Cheek fat grafting

Fat grafting is a very successful technique with proven results which has been used in plastic surgery for decades. This procedure is used to fill defects and irregularities in the subcutaneous tissue. Dr Sydney Coleman has developed his own technique to correct aesthetic defects, predominantly in the cheeks. This procedure corrects the reduction of adipose tissue that occurs with aging, as well as highlighting certain areas of the face (areas that attract light) such as the cheekbones or the jawline and lips.

Patients who have lost adipose filling in certain areas of the face due to aging or who have intrinsically underdeveloped areas. This technique is also recommended for patients with facial asymmetry.

It can be performed under local anaesthesia, or for improved patient comfort, sedation may also be administered by the anaesthesiologist.

The fat is extracted from the donor area, which tends to be the periumbilical abdominal region. This material is then centrifuged, separating the useful fatty tissue from the saline used for anaesthesia and the oily material that will inevitably be reabsorbed and which does not contribute to the result. After this procedure, the fat is ready to be injected into the desired area. The procedure is performed using small quantities and at different depths. The objective is for the grafted fat particles to be surrounded by tissue from the recipient area, as this will ensure that the particles obtain the nutrients necessary to retain their vitality.

Approximately one hour.

The donor area will recover after slight swelling that will last for a few days. The treated area will be quite swollen for the first 48 hours, so applying a cold pack to the area and taking oral anti-inflammatories is recommended.

• Infection: Any surgical procedure can be affected by contamination and bacterial infections. We recommend antibiotic prophylaxis.
• Ecchymoses (bruises) and inflammation to a greater or lesser degree are a logical consequence of this procedure and so are therefore not considered to be a complication.
• Asymmetries: This is infrequent, but as with any plastic surgery procedure, it may require further corrective touch ups.

• Is the fat reabsorbed?
  It is understood that a percentage of the injected material is reabsorbed, however if the technique is correctly performed, Dr Coleman recommends not overcorrecting (not injecting more than the necessary amount), given that the reabsorption may be minimal.