Simultaneous Facial Fat Grafting and Rhinoplasty
Dr. Hamidreza Hosnani
ENT Specialist | Rhinoplasty Surgeon in Tehran | Nose Surgery Specialist
Fat injection, or lipofilling, is a procedure in which facial volume is restored using fat from your own body. By enhancing the cheeks and lips, reducing hollowness around the eyes, and improving the appearance of scars, a more natural facial beauty can be achieved. Dr. Hosnani usually performs lipofilling under local anesthesia or mild sedation. The required fat can be taken from different areas of the body, usually the abdomen or upper thigh, and then injected into the desired area.
Lipofilling Can Be Performed Along with Rhinoplasty.
How Is Fat Injection Performed?
Lipofilling is usually performed by Dr. Hosnani under local anesthesia or mild sedation. However, if fat injection is performed at the same time as cosmetic rhinoplasty, general anesthesia may also be used. The steps of the fat injection procedure are as follows:1- Fat Harvesting:
The first step is removing fat from the body. The abdomen and thighs are usually preferred donor areas. Before harvesting, a local anesthetic combined with a medication to control bleeding is injected into the donor site. A small incision is then made, and using special syringes attached to a large needle called a cannula (which has small holes at its tip), the fat is gently suctioned out with low pressure. This small incision is usually closed with a single stitch.2- Fat Purification:
The harvested fat is then passed through special filters and washed with specific solutions to separate blood, oil, and other unwanted materials from the fat cells.3- Fat Injection:
In this stage, the purified fat is injected with syringes into the desired areas (such as thin areas of the face, beneath wrinkles, etc.). This step is performed using fine, delicate needles. With each pass of the needle under the skin, the surgeon injects a small amount of fat so that the transplanted fat cells come into direct contact with the surrounding tissues and integrate properly. Approximately 40% of the injected fat successfully survives and becomes part of the facial tissue. This 40% remains permanently.4- Supplementary Injections:
Since about 60% of the injected fat cells do not survive and are gradually absorbed by the body, additional fat injection sessions are usually performed in two more stages, spaced about 8 months apart. In other words, the procedure is typically repeated twice to achieve the desired fullness and volume.Recovery Process After Fat Injection
• Immediately after the procedure, the cheeks are usually swollen and bruised. After about one week, you can resume going out and participating in social activities.• After approximately 3 weeks, about 80% of the bruising will have resolved. Any remaining bruising can usually be concealed with makeup.
Note: After surgery, you may feel that the doctor has injected too much fat. This feeling is normal and not a cause for concern. Since about 60% of the injected fat is gradually absorbed, the surgeon intentionally injects a slightly larger volume at the beginning.
• It may take around 8 months for swelling and inflammation to completely subside. Because of this, additional touch‑up injections are typically performed at 8‑month intervals to refine the facial contours and achieve the desired aesthetic result.