Fat Transfer (Grafting) in Seattle & Bellevue

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Understanding Fat Transfer

As we grow older, the face gradually loses volume, creating a weathered and gaunt overall look that can add years to your appearance. Fortunately, there is a terrific, minimally invasive way to reverse these telltale signs of aging, and it’s called a fat transfer. The procedure involves using your own body fat to restore lost facial volume, thus recreating your youthful contours and vibrant facial appearance.

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What Cosmetic Imperfections Can Be Treated With a Fat Transfer in Bellevue?

A highly versatile procedure, our fat transfer in Bellevue can correct a wide range of cosmetic imperfections, including:

Forehead creases
Lines and wrinkles between the eyebrows
Hollow areas underneath the eyes and cheekbones
Frown lines and smile lines
Marionette lines that run from the sides of the mouth down to the chin
Thin lips that have lost their volume
Scars or other depressions in the face

Fat Transfer Before & After Photos

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An Overview of the Fat Transfer Procedure

To prepare for your fat transfer, Bellevue plastic surgeon Dr. Ridgway will first administer local anesthesia to ensure your comfort and safety. If you are feeling apprehensive about the procedure, he may also offer a mild sedative, though this is not usually necessary. From there, the entire process will take around 90 minutes and is comprised of the following three steps:

Step One: Remove fat from a donor site

The first step of your procedure involves removing fat from another area of the body with excess volume, such as the abdomen, buttocks, hips, thighs, or jowls. During this step, Dr. Ridgway will use low-suction liposuction to preserve the quality of the fat cells while he extracts them.

Step Two: Filter the fat cells

Once Dr. Ridgway has collected the appropriate amount of fat cells, he will carefully separate them from the liquid that is also collected during liposuction. He will then remove the damaged fat cells and retain the whole and cleansed ones for the transfer.

Step Three: Re-inject the fat into your face

The final step of the fat transfer involves re-injecting the isolated fat cells back into your face, restoring lost volume, correcting imperfections and establishing a more youthful and defined contour.

What Is Recovery Like After Fat Transfer?

Immediately after your fat transfer in Seattle, you can expect to experience some swelling and bruising in the treatment area, though it will subside on its own within a few days. Other than that, most patients are able to return to their normal daily activities within a day or two of the procedure.

In terms of your results, they will be apparent immediately and will continue to improve as your swelling subsides. Though individual outcomes will vary, the vast majority of our patients report that the results of their fat transfer last for years – and sometimes they are permanent.

Discuss Your Fat Transfer Goals with Dr. James M. Ridgway

If telltale signs of facial aging are causing you to look older before your time, we encourage you to schedule a consultation for a fat transfer in Bellevue with Dr. James M. Ridgway. During your private meeting, he will carefully evaluate the imperfections and volume loss that concern you most before composing a custom treatment plan designed to restore your youthful and contoured facial appearance.

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