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Almost half of ASPS surgeons perform fat grafting in most face-lifts

While the best method to surgically reposition fat is debatable, the growing consensus among surgeons is that volume augmentation is the preferred method for performing face-lifts, according to new data.

A total of 309 questionnaires were collected from American Society of Plastic Surgeons members.

Most surgeons (85.2%0reported using fat grafting during face-lifts at least some of the time. Nearly half (45.2%) use fat grafting in more than half of face-lift procedures. Most surgeons (71.1%), began using fat grafting to the face in the past 10 years..

Surgeons mostly prefer the abdominal donor site; processing fat using centrifugation, blunt cannula injection without pretunneling and injecting less than 0.1 cc per pass.

More than half of surgeons (52.4%) inject between 11 cc and 25 cc of fat during the procedure or immediately after.

Most surgeons will place between 0.5 cc and 3 cc of fat per compartment,

The deep malar compartment receives the highest volume injection. The surgeons identified the tear trough, upper lid sulcus and lower lid cheek junction as the most difficult areas to inject in terms of attaining excellent results.

Typically, revisions are performed at 4 to 6 months if they are necessary

Contour deformity was reported as the most frequent complication.

Although, volume addition alone can correct deflation, it will not alter basic facial shape, according to researchers.

The researchers advocate the use of facial fat repositioning in conjunction with volume addition, which can provide greater aesthetic control. – by Abigail Sutton

Disclosure: The researchers reported no relevant financial disclosures.