Fillers

Facial aging results in loss of volume. As we loose fat in our face, wrinkles form and skin sags.

This can lead to hollowness around the eyes, a deepening of the cheek/lip folds, thinning of the lips, and marionette lines. There are a variety of fillers available to restore the lost volume. Fillers are considered temporary, semi­ permanent. Restylane and Juvederm are the most common temporary fillers and last in the 6 to 12 month range.

Fat would seem to be the ideal filler. Most everyone has plenty to spare. Many wish they could take fat from one area of their body and place it in another.

Fat can be removed from the lower body separated and injected into and around the lips, the cheeks, and the lower eyelids.

The problem with fat is that it is somewhat difficult to predict how much will last. The technique used to inject the fat often results in prolonged swelling. The amount of fat that survives depends on the area treated. Less survives around the mouth where there is more muscle activity. Fat injections often need to be repeated several times. I often perform fat injections during face lift surgery.