It’s no secret that as we age, our bodies change. That change often involves losing the fatty deposits underneath the skin that keep our faces plump, youthful and full of volume. When the fat is gone, depressions, hollows and grooves develop, and wrinkles become more pronounced. Thankfully, modern soft tissue augmentation procedures like fat transfer and hyaluronic acid injections can restore your youthful glow. But, which procedure is right for you?
What are Fat Transfers?
Also called fat grafting or lipo injections, fat transfer is a procedure during which a cosmetic surgeon extracts your own body fat, usually from an area like the outer thighs or abdomen, purifies it and injects it using a syringe or a thin tube, called a microcannula, into the facial areas you wish to treat.
What are Hyaluronic Acid Injections?
Hyaluronic acid injections, such as the popular JUVÉDERM® injectable available at Virginia Surgical Arts, are another method for regaining facial volume. The process works a lot like a fat transfer, but rather than using your own body fat, the specialist uses JUVÉDERM® and its collection of hyaluronic acid.
Which Produces Better Results?
Both procedures often deliver the intended results and are natural-looking. However, in terms of durability, fat transfers typically remain effective for much longer than JUVÉDERM® injections. Each patient’s body reacts differently, but in general, fat transfer results can last for years – sometimes permanently –while JUVÉDERM® injections may only last for four to six months before a touch-up is needed.
Complications or Side Effects
Because JUVÉDERM® and other hyaluronic acid injections are made from a foreign substance, there’s a risk for allergic reaction upon injection. Your doctor will have to perform an allergy test beforehand to ensure this won’t be an issue. Conversely, fat transfers are relatively side effect-free, save for some swelling and bruising at the injection site, and the chance that fat cells are absorbed into the body after injection.
Procedure and Recovery Time
Both are outpatient procedures, so you will be able to go home shortly afterward. Full fat transfer recovery, which mostly involves reduction in swelling, redness and blood vessels growing into the fat, usually lasts anywhere from one to several weeks. Comparatively, people can usually return to normal activities immediately after a JUVÉDERM® injection, and discomfort and swelling usually dissipate after 48 hours. Just keep in mind that JUVÉDERM® injections need to be administered more frequently.
Fat Transfer in Virginia Beach
Hundreds of thousands make the easy choice to rejuvenate their appearance with fat transfer each year. The fully licensed and accredited team at Virginia Surgical Arts have been performing safe and effective fat transfers for Hampton Roads residents for many years. For more information about how you can give yourself a brand-new, age-defying glow, call (757) 430-7690 or visit us online today.
