The telltale signs of the aging process differ with each individual. Some people age exteriorly (tissue proliferation) and have tension and pressure wrinkles. Others age interiorly (tissue involution) and have sag and shrinkage wrinkles. With exterior aging, face-lift, reduction liposuction and other forms of excisional surgery may be necessary. With interior aging, one can replace some of the lost tissue with fat to rebuild tissue contour.

Newer techniques in fat transfer have brought about advances in many areas of aesthetic surgery. Autogolous fat reinjection for facial lipofilling has been done since 1985. Facial lipofilling involves the implantation of ones own fat in areas of reduced soft tissue support to rejuvenate and embellish different areas of the face.

How is Facial Lipofilling Done?
After the donor site (usually the hips or lower abdomen) is anesthetized with local anesthesia, fat from under the skin is extracted with needle and syringe. This fat is the replacement tissue (donor) fat. The total amount of donor fat needed for each procedure depends on how much soft tissue is missing in the areas to be treated, such as the temples, cheekbones, cheeks, smile lines, upper and lower lips, chin and angles of the jaw. The areas to be filled are marked and then injected with donor fat. After the injection, the tissue is gently molded into place. The procedure takes about 1 to 2 hours and you can return home immediately at the completion of the procedure.