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Introduction
Full, youthful lips are often associated with a healthy and refreshed appearance. Over time, however, natural aging can lead to a gradual loss of lip volume and definition. Fat grafting offers an effective lip enhancement solution that uses your body’s fat to restore a more youthful look. At Peninsula Plastic Surgery PC in Salisbury, MD, patients considering fat grafting for lip enhancement can expect professional care and an individualized approach.
Fat grafting is an option worth exploring if you are seeking a natural facial filler that avoids synthetic materials. This technique, also known as autologous fat injection, provides a long-lasting method to enhance lip fullness and facial volume by transferring fat from one area of your body to another.
This article provides essential information about fat grafting, including how the procedure works, who may be a good candidate, and what to expect during the process.
What Is Fat Grafting?
Fat grafting, also called fat transfer or autologous fat injection, is a cosmetic procedure that uses your body’s fat to restore lost volume and improve facial contours. In the context of lip enhancement, fat grafting can add natural-looking fullness to thinning lips. The process involves removing fat from areas where it is unwanted—commonly the abdomen, thighs, or flanks—and injecting it into targeted facial areas, including the lips.
Unlike synthetic dermal fillers such as Juvederm or Restylane, fat grafting uses living fat cells from your body. Because the material is autologous (originating from you), there is little risk of allergic reaction. This makes fat grafting a popular option for patients who prefer natural facial fillers and desire a more permanent solution for facial fat augmentation.
At Peninsula Plastic Surgery PC, fat grafting injections are typically performed as an outpatient procedure, often on the same day as liposuction to harvest the fat.
Goals of Fat Grafting for Lip Enhancement
Fat grafting for lip enhancement aims to address volume loss and contour changes that result from the natural aging process. The most common goals include:
Improved Facial Contours
Fat transfer techniques allow for subtle reshaping of the lips and surrounding areas, which can result in smoother, more balanced facial contours.
A More Youthful Appearance
Loss of fat in the face can make you look older or more tired than you feel. Fat grafting helps restore the natural fullness that is often associated with youth.
Plumper, More Youthful Lips
Thin or deflated lips can be rejuvenated through autologous fat injection, adding volume and creating a softer, fuller appearance without the use of synthetic fillers.
Who Is a Candidate for Fat Grafting?
You may be a candidate if you:
Have Dark Circles Under Your Eyes
Dark circles can be the result of lost subcutaneous fat under the eyes. Fat grafting can restore volume and minimize this hollow appearance.
Experience Sagging in the Cheeks
As facial fat diminishes with age, cheeks may appear sunken. Fat transfer can restore volume to create a fuller, lifted look.
Have Bags Under the Lower Eyelids
Fat injections may be used to smooth the transition between the lower eyelid and cheek, reducing the appearance of under-eye bags.
Desire Augmentation of the Lips, Cheeks, or Face
Patients seeking fuller lips or facial rejuvenation often find fat grafting to be an effective solution.
During your consultation at Peninsula Plastic Surgery PC, our medical practitioners will evaluate your concerns and assess your suitability for facial fat augmentation.
What to Expect During Your Fat Grafting Consultation
At Peninsula Plastic Surgery PC in Salisbury, MD, your consultation is an opportunity to meet with an experienced plastic surgeon who can provide personalized guidance. Dr. Perrotta, Dr. Luppens, and Dr. Kerestes will take the time to understand your aesthetic goals and conduct a thorough physical examination.
Following your evaluation, your surgeon will outline a proposed treatment plan and discuss what you can expect from fat grafting. This includes an explanation of the procedure, potential risks, and expected outcomes.
Once the surgical plan is finalized, our aesthetic coordinator will provide a detailed, written quote outlining the total cost of your proposed surgery. This ensures transparency with no surprises. At that point, you may schedule your pre-operative visit to prepare for surgery.
Pre-Operative Visit and Preparation
Your pre-op visit at Peninsula Plastic Surgery PC covers all necessary steps before surgery. One of our trained medical assistants will take pre-operative photographs for reference. Your surgeon will explain the fat grafting technique and review all details regarding the procedure, including any potential risks or complications.
While fat grafting is generally safe, all surgeries carry some degree of risk. Major complications are rare, but your surgeon will review these with you in detail.
At this appointment, your surgeon will also conduct a final pre-operative physical exam, review your medical history, and ensure you are in good health for the procedure. All required consent forms will be signed at this time, and final payment is due.
You will receive a notification with your arrival time 24 hours prior to your surgery.
The Fat Grafting Procedure
Fat grafting for lip enhancement is usually performed on an outpatient basis. Anesthesia options include general anesthesia, heavy IV sedation, or regional nerve blocks. Local anesthesia alone is typically avoided because it can distort tissues, making it harder to achieve precise results.
Fat Harvesting
The first step involves removing fat from a donor site, typically the belly, thighs, or another area with sufficient fat. Liposuction is used to extract the fat with minimal trauma to the cells.
Fat Processing
The harvested fat is carefully processed to purify it and remove any impurities, fluids, or damaged cells. This step maximizes the survival of the fat once injected.
Fat Injection
Purified fat is injected into the lips using small cannulas. The surgeon makes careful judgments about how much fat to inject to achieve a balanced, natural-looking result.
The procedure typically takes a few hours, and you can return home the same day.
Post-Operative Recovery and Results
After fat grafting injections, most patients return home wearing a compression garment or ace bandages over the fat donor sites. The lips and other facial areas typically do not require bandages.
Recovery Timeline
- Initial Discomfort: Usually mild and managed with oral pain medications.
- Bruising and Swelling: Common and generally subsides within 2 to 4 weeks.
- Follow-Up Visits: You will have several follow-up appointments to monitor your progress and ensure proper healing.
Long-Term Considerations
Over time, it is common for the body to reabsorb some of the transferred fat—about 25% or more. For this reason, some patients may choose to have additional fat grafting treatments in the future to maintain their desired results.
Why Choose Peninsula Plastic Surgery PC for Fat Grafting in Salisbury, MD?
At Peninsula Plastic Surgery PC, patients benefit from the experience and expertise of Dr. Perrotta, Dr. Luppens, and Dr. Kerestes. Our team is dedicated to providing high-quality care in a professional environment. We focus on patient education and transparent communication at every stage of the process.
For individuals interested in fat grafting in Salisbury, MD, Peninsula Plastic Surgery PC offers individualized consultations, advanced surgical techniques, and thorough follow-up care to support optimal outcomes.
Conclusion
Fat grafting is a reliable and natural approach to enhancing lip volume and restoring youthful facial contours. This procedure uses your fat through autologous fat injection, minimizes the risk of an allergic reaction, and offers long-lasting results. Fat grafting injections can address volume loss, sagging, and under-eye concerns while providing a more youthful and refreshed appearance.
At Peninsula Plastic Surgery PC in Salisbury, MD, our experienced surgeons—Dr. Perrotta, Dr. Luppens, and Dr. Kerestes are dedicated to helping you achieve your aesthetic goals through safe, effective treatments.
If you want to learn more about fat grafting for lip enhancement, we encourage you to schedule your personalized fat grafting consultation today. Contact us to take the next step toward achieving the natural results you are looking for.
