Facial Fat Transfer in Houston

Facial fat transfer (also known as fat grafting) is a minimally invasive procedure to transfer fat from another area of the body to the face. Fat is gently removed from a site such as the abdomen or flanks with gentle liposuction. It is then purified and prepared for injection into the face to restore lost volume.

Beauty by Balinger | Christopher Balinger MD

Am I A Candidate for a Facial Fat Transfer?

If you want to restore volume or fill in areas of your face, you may be a candidate for facial fat grafting. This treatment may be recommended if you have:

Loss of volume in the face
Facial creases, such as laugh lines, smile lines, and crow’s feet
Acne scars
Sunken areas of the face, lips, or cheeks
Available fat in a donor area (such as the thighs, love handles, or abdomen)
Realistic expectations for treatment

Why choose us? We have mastered facial fat transfer.

Christopher Balinger, MD, is highly renowned in the realms of plastic, cosmetic, and reconstructive surgery. Beyond the numerous awards and accolades he has received over the years, he has won the hearts of his patients through his expert-level work and commitment to patient satisfaction. His practice, Beauty by Balinger, has helped countless patients achieve their aesthetic goals, leaving them looking revitalized and refreshed, and full of confidence.

A graduate of Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Virginia, Dr. Ballinger has always been dedicated to furthering his education and staying up-to-date with the latest developments in the world of surgery. He went on to complete a residency in general surgery at St. Luke’s Bethlehem in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and six years of postgraduate surgical training. He then completed a three-year fellowship in Houston, TX to take his surgical skills to the next level.

With a highly specialized educational and training background and a track record for success, it’s no wonder that board-eligible plastic surgeon Dr. Balinger is one of the most highly respected surgeons throughout the great state of Texas. Patients who are looking for cutting-edge care that is customized to their needs need look no further than Beauty by Balinger.

Beauty by Balinger | Christopher Balinger MD

A step-by-step description of your journey

Dr. Balinger and you select a donor site from which to harvest fat.
The donor site is injected with local anesthetic.
Dr. Balinger makes a small incision for fat removal and inserts a cannula connected to a syringe to gently extract fat.
The harvested fat is processed and prepared for transfer to a small syringe to be used for injection. After the treatment area is prepared, a needle or cannula is used to deposit fat to achieve the desired correction.

Is there any recovery after facial fat transfer?

Recovery after facial fat grafting is relatively mild, but you should allow adequate time for healing. Most people take a week to 10 days to recover. You may need to wear a compression garment or bandage at the donor site. You can expect some bruising and swelling during the first week, both in the face and in the area where the fat was harvested. Cold compresses can help relieve swelling and discomfort. You may be given pain medication, along with antibiotics to prevent infection.

What are the benefits of facial fat grafting in Houston, TX?

Fat transfer has many benefits for rejuvenating and improving the appearance of the face.

Results are longer-lasting than with dermal fillers.
This treatment uses fat from your own body (autologous fat), so there is no chance of allergic reaction to a foreign substance.
Results are soft and natural-looking.
The procedure is safe and minimally invasive.

FAQ: Facial fat transfer

Will I have scars after facial fat grafting?

The only scars you may have will be at the donor site where liposuction is performed. However, the incisions are small and placed discreetly in hidden areas. Most liposuction scars fade to barely visible over time.

From where is the fat harvested for facial transfer?

Certain areas of the body make better donor sites than others for fat grafting. They include the abdomen and love handles, where fat cells are typically abundant and hardy.

How is harvested fat processed for fat grafting?

The harvested fat may be processed with decanting and centrifugation. This separates out debris, dead cells, and fluid from the viable fat cells. Alternatively, the fat may be washed with a sterile saline solution.

How long do facial fat transfer results last?

Not all fat cells survive the transfer, and the treatment area may be slightly “overfilled” to allow for this. The fat cells that survive should integrate and continue functioning as normal fat cells, for long-lasting results.