FAMI – Revolutionary Fat Transfer Procedure

Facial Fat Transfer is a procedure that uses your body’s own fat to enhance facial volume and restore youthfulness to hollow or sunken areas. The terms “stem-cell facelift” and FAMI (facial augmentation by muscular injection) have also been used to describe this phenomenal procedure. A number of devices or “systems” are commercially available to assist in fat transfer, including LipiVage ®, Viafill ®, LiveFill ®, Adivive ®, and Tissu-Trans ™.

Causes of Facial Volume Loss

Losing facial volume is a common side effect of aging. When this occurs, the result is a more tired, aged appearance. Volume is lost due to several factors, including thinning of the skin. Sun damage leads to a process called elastosis where the skin loses it suppleness and the collagen in the skin begins to degrade. Facial fat starts to shrink and the cheeks and under-eyes become hollow. Facial bones also begin to atrophy or shrink, so there is less support for the facial structures. Facial fat transfer delivers long lasting results that include a fuller and more youthful appearance. Many people appreciate the naturalness of their own fat (as compared to other filler injections), so there is no risk of an allergic reaction or rejection.

How Facial Fat Transfer Works

A local anesthetic fluid is used to anesthetize the donor site where the fat is gently removed. This anesthetic is called tumescent fluid and is the safest and most modern form of mini liposuction. Mini liposuction is used to gently and carefully remove fat for the fat transfer from another part of your body such as your waist or around your navel. A lower suction pressure is used for fat harvesting than would be normally used for liposuction so the fat cells are not injured before the transfer. The downtime and recovery from the fat harvesting is usually minimal soreness and mild swelling for several days. Your extracted fat is then processed and cultivated into a consistency appropriate for facial transfer, to be performed at the same time. A special centrifuge spins the fat cells, separating them from surrounding oil, red blood cells, and residual anesthetic fluid. The speed of the centrifuge is important; if it is too fast, the fat cells can become injured. If it is too slow, the fat will not be adequately purified. The centrifuged fat cells are more concentrated and have a higher survival rate when they are treated in this manner. Oil and red blood cells can cause inflammation and may inhibit the overall success of the procedure, so these components are removed while maintaining a closed system, so that the technique is sterile and no outside factors can affect the viability of the precious fat.

Small syringes are used with special injection cannulas to artistically thread the fat cells in all the layers of the face, a very small amount at a time. This technique has been referred to as “structural fat grafting”. The fat cells can each maintain a good blood supply for enhanced survival and the fat adds support and volume to the treated areas of the face, including the cheeks, under-eyes, temples, eyebrows, etc. An experienced surgeon is careful to gradually add fat to create a natural result.

About Fat Transfer Recovery

After facial fat transfer, you may experience some bruising and swelling. This resolves over a period of weeks; usually patients are able to partake in social events within 2-3 weeks. Discomfort is usually mild, and may consist of soreness. It may take 3-6 months to achieve the final result after fat transfer.

Am I a Facial Fat Transfer Candidate?

Schedule a FREE consultation with Dr. Mok or Dr Kotlus at 800-610-7484. You will be able to assess your condition and determine the treatment that will best help you achieve your desired appearance. Generally, fat transfer candidates have sunken areas or have “skeletal” facial features. Facial fat transfer may be an excellent procedure to provide a softer overall appearance.

Facial fat transfer is frequently combined with other procedures, such as laser skin resurfacing, eyelid lifts, and/or facelifts. The addition of natural volume can enhance the results of surgical procedures, creating a more natural look.

Allure Medical Spa Patients Before and After FAMI

Under local Anesthesia, fat was removed from the abdomen,
processed and injected into the areas marked.

Before and 2 years later, Botox® for brow lift, crows feet and lip lines.
Fat transfer for hollow eyes and cheeks,facial lines and lips.
Filler lips and fine lines and topical’s for skin improvement.

Before and after fat grafting to tear trough, temples and upper cheeks.

6 days after fat grafting (FAMI) still swollen in the jowls and mild bruising.