Understanding the differences between dermal fillers and fat transfer is important for choosing the right option to address age-related changes in your appearance. Aging can result in volume loss that affects the eyes, cheeks, temples, and more. As you age, the collagen in your skin that helps it maintain its smooth, youthful-looking appearance also declines, resulting in changes to your skin’s texture. Both dermal fillers and facial fat transfers can help you achieve smoother skin and a more youthful-looking appearance. Dr. Eric Bachelor’s practice has helped thousands of patients enhance their appearance with customizable facial treatments that provide beautiful, natural-looking results.
Contact our office online or call (925) 462-3700 to learn more!
About Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers are injectables that restore volume to your skin to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Fillers can provide lasting hydration to the skin while diminishing signs of aging. They can also contour the face with minimal downtime while avoiding invasive surgery. Dermal fillers are some of the most popular treatments for addressing signs of aging because they can:
- Provide natural-looking volume: If you are struggling with a deflated-looking appearance, injectables can restore volume for a sculpted, younger-looking facial profile.
- Increase collagen production: Some injectables, like Sculptra and Bellafill, can increase your skin’s collagen levels to renew your appearance over time.
- Reduce wrinkles: Injectables can diminish the appearance of wrinkles to help you achieve smoother skin for a more youthful look.
We offer several different types of dermal fillers to renew your appearance. During your consultation, we will perform a physical examination to determine the most effective treatment plan for your aesthetic goals.
Juvéderm
Juvéderm is a family of soft tissue fillers formulated with Vycross® technology, a combination of high- and low-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid. The cross-linked formula provides natural-looking results and moves fluidly with your facial movements.
Bellafill
Bellafill is a dermal filler that adds volume to the skin while stimulating collagen production to refresh your skin. The filler is formulated with polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and is usually best for treating smile lines. Bellafill can provide results lasting up to 5 years, particularly in the treatment of this area.
Restylane
Restylane is a family of fillers that can add volume to the lips, face, and hands to address fine lines and wrinkles. It is formulated with XpresHAn Technology™ that moves fluidly with your facial expressions. It is also beneficial for addressing prominent hand veins to create a more refreshed look.
Sculptra
Sculptra is a filler that contains poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) microspheres that increase your skin’s collagen production to address wrinkles and improve your skin structure. Sculptra can enhance the cheeks, nose, mouth, and chin to help you achieve a more youthful-looking appearance. Sculptra can also effectively address deep-set wrinkles.
About Facial Fat Transfers
A facial fat transfer, also known as a fat graft, provides natural-looking volume to the skin with excess fat from other areas of the body. It can improve the appearance of sunken cheeks and thin lips that increase your perceived age. In 2023, specialists performed more than 34,000 facial fat transfer procedures to help patients achieve their aesthetic goals. (1) Because the fat used comes from your own body, this procedure is ideal for patients with sensitive skin or those seeking longer-lasting results. While your body absorbs dermal fillers over time, the fat transferred during the procedure can offer longer-lasting volume, though not all fat survives.
Fat Transfer vs. Facelift
A fat transfer can address signs of aging, but it is not a substitute for a facelift. During a facelift, Dr. Bachelor can address skin laxity by removing excess skin and tightening it for a smoother appearance. However, a facelift does not address volume loss. We will ask about your aesthetic goals during your consultation to determine the most effective treatment plan for your needs.
Benefits
Dermal fillers and fat transfers offer several benefits for patients who receive them. Some of the most notable include:
- Minimally invasive treatment: With injectables, we can enhance your appearance without invasive surgery.
- Customizable procedure: Your injector can personalize your procedure based on your unique underlying anatomy.
- Minimal downtime: You can return to your normal routines shortly afterward, and patients who receive a fat transfer only need 1-2 weeks of downtime after the liposuction process.
- Lasting results: If you take good care of your skin and avoid sun exposure, which could cause more fine lines and wrinkles to form, you can enjoy results for several years.
Candidates & Consultation
Suitable candidates for dermal fillers and/or a fat transfer are those who would like to address signs of aging and rejuvenate their facial aesthetics. We will create a personalized plan for your specific goals.
During your consultation, your nurse injector will ask about your aesthetic goals and perform a physical examination to determine the most effective treatment plan. Candidates for a fat transfer would typically like to address wrinkles, contour deformities, and facial volume loss. (2) A facial fat transfer can also address lip lines and increase the volume of your lips as well. (3) If you prefer to restore volume to your skin without removing fat from another area of the body, we will likely recommend fillers. If you have additional aesthetic goals, we can also discuss other treatments to help you achieve them. Some patients choose to receive a chemical peel to exfoliate the skin and address sun damage to enhance the results of their rejuvenation treatments.
After Your Treatment
After your treatment, we will provide specific instructions to help you care for your skin to ensure optimal results. You should take good care of your skin, stay hydrated, and wear sun protection regularly. Dermal fillers do not normally require excessive downtime. If you receive a fat transfer, you will need 1-2 weeks to recover from the liposuction process. Your recovery time may vary based on how much fat is removed during the liposuction portion of your treatment.
Results
Your results will depend on your treatment plan, but after receiving dermal fillers or a fat transfer, you can enjoy a smoother, plumper appearance. We recommend that you avoid excessive sun exposure. After a fat transfer, you can enjoy a younger-looking facial profile and long-lasting results.
Additional Treatments
Facelift
A facelift can also be effective for addressing facial volume loss. While a facelift will not necessarily add new volume to the face in the same way a dermal filler or fat transfer would, it does reposition deep underlying tissues in key areas, eliminating sagging or hollowness.
Chemical Peel
A chemical peel is a topical solution that exfoliates the skin to address signs of aging and skin damage for a brighter appearance. Refreshing your skin with a chemical peel can also help you address scarring or hyperpigmentation affecting your appearance. We offer a VI peel to address fine lines and wrinkles for patients who have sensitive skin. A VI peel is gentle enough to rejuvenate the delicate skin on the eyelids while still achieving impressive results. Reducing the wrinkles around the eyes can help you look younger, and addressing pigmentation beneath the eyes can help you look more awake.
Aerolase® Neo
Aerolase® Neo is a laser treatment that can enhance your skin’s tone, texture, and quality for a smoother, rejuvenated appearance. During the treatment, short bursts of energy stimulate collagen production and cell growth to improve the condition of your skin. This treatment is effective for most skin types and can help you address signs of aging with gentle pulses of energy that preserve the surrounding skin.
Hydrafacial
Hydrafacial is a multi-step dermabrasion treatment that brightens your skin and reduces signs of aging with Vortex technology. It hydrates the skin and removes impurities with antioxidant-rich serums to help you achieve a “glass skin” look. Hydrafacial treatments can help you achieve clearer skin with minimal downtime.
Cost of Dermal Fillers or Facial Fat Transfers in Danville and Pleasanton
The cost of your dermal fillers or facial fat transfer will depend on your specific treatment plan, aesthetic goals, and whether you need additional treatments to achieve your desired look. During your consultation, we can provide an all-inclusive quote to help you achieve your goals.
Contact our office online or call (925) 462-3700 to learn how we can help you improve your skin and enhance your confidence.
FAQ
Will I need more than one facial fat transfer and/or dermal filler treatment?
Some patients achieve their desired look with a single treatment, but touch-up sessions may be needed over time to maintain results.
Will I have scars after a facial fat transfer?
During liposuction, we will make a small incision to remove excess fat from the body. However, we hide incisions along the natural curves of your skin in a discreet location.
How do I know if a facial fat transfer or dermal fillers are the right fit for me?
During your consultation, we will perform a physical examination to determine the most effective treatment plan for your aesthetic goals and desired look.
References
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons ® Endorsed Partner. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/documents/news/statistics/2023/plastic-surgery-statistics-report-2023.pdf
- Shauly O, Gould DJ, Ghavami A. Fat Grafting: Basic Science, Techniques, and Patient Management. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – Global Open. 2022;10(3):e3987. doi:https://doi.org/10.1097/gox.0000000000003987
- Schultz KP, Raghuram A, Davis MJ, Abu-Ghname A, Chamata E, Rohrich RJ. Fat Grafting for Facial Rejuvenation. Seminars in Plastic Surgery. 2020;34(01):030-037. doi:https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0039-3402767