Volumetric Facelift
The main advantage of using your own fat rather than artificial fillers, is that fat is natural and after it becomes integrated into the soft tissue, the result is permanent.
As we age our face undergoes three fundamental changes; skin quality deteriorates, skin and soft tissue becomes lax and there is loss of volume. Although facelifts can lift sagging facial tissue and skin, they do not fully address the loss of volume. For some patients, restoring facial volume can have a far greater rejuvenating effect than a facelift or a skin resurfacing procedure.
The Ideal Candidate For Volumetric Facelift
Ideal candidates for volumetric facelift are those requesting a facelift who also have flat cheekbones and hollowness of the cheeks and lower eyelids.
Mr Karri is one of a few Plastic Surgeons in the United Kingdom who is a specialist in facial fat grafting. By combining facelift with fat grafting, he is able to restore a natural, harmonious look.
After the facelift is complete, fat is gently harvested from your abdomen, hips or thighs using a cannula. The fat is then purified and injected using a fine cannula into volume-deficient areas of your face such as the temples, cheekbones and jawline.
Prior to your surgery, Mr Karri and his team will give you detailed aftercare instructions. This will include how to care for the surgical site and incisions, pain relief that may be used to handle discomfort and when you may resume normal activity.
Scars / poor scarring – in the vast majority of patients, the facelift incision heals very well. In some patients however, the scars may become red, raised or asymmetric (appear different on the right and left side of the face).
Bruising and swelling – bruising and swelling is expected but rarely, can persist for several weeks.
Bleeding and haematoma formation – it is possible, though unusual, to experience a bleeding episode during or after surgery. Should postoperative bleeding occur, emergency treatment may be necessary to drain the accumulated blood.
Infection – infection after facelift is unusual. Should an infection arise then treatment with antibiotics or further surgery may be necessary.
Delayed wound healing – delayed wound healing is possible.
Asymmetry – there is always a risk of asymmetry whenever surgery is performed on both sides of the body. It is important to understand that nearly everyone has some pre-existing asymmetry e.g. the right cheekbone may be fuller than the left etc.
Nerve injury – motor and sensory nerves may be injured during a facelift resulting in weakness or loss of facial movements.
Numbness around the ears
Skin necrosis – very rarely, blood supply to the skin may be compromised so as to result in skin necrosis. This risk is higher in smokers.
Loss of grafted fat – survival of grafted fat depends on many factors and there is no guarantee all the grafted fat will survive.
Related Procedures
Facelift eliminates loose and sagging skin on your face and neck, creating a tighter and more youthful appearance.
This procedure lifts and rejuvenates the cheeks and lower eyelids, to create a natural refreshed appearance.
Eyelid Surgery – Blepharoplasty
Eyelid surgery serves to rejuvenate the upper eyelids, lower eyelids or both by removing excess skin and fat, as well as reshaping the eye.
Necklift, also known as platsymaplasty, is a surgical procedure that restores the youthful appearance of the neck.