The Best Alternative to Dermal Filler: The Regenerative Science Behind Nano Fat Grafting
If you’re familiar with the world of aesthetic surgery, chances are you’ve heard about the miracles of fat grafting. Fat grafting is a common staple in the operating room for face, breast, and body procedures. Dr. Michelle Lee––the founder of our world-famous, Beverly Hills-based luxury cosmetic practice, PERK plastic surgery––typically performs nano fat grafting in conjunction with surgeries like facelifts and neck lifts to optimize natural, longer-lasting facial rejuvenation results.
However, did you know nano fat grafting can also be performed in our office as a nonsurgical treatment? Yes, you can undergo facial fat transfer without having to plan and undergo invasive surgery, or pay the additional costs of O.R. and anesthesia fees!
What are the benefits of nano fat grafting?
We’ll let you in on a little secret: nano fat grafting is the best-kept industry secret to date. For Hollywood celebrities, nano fat grafting is the widely preferred, all-natural alternative to dermal fillers. In fact, nano fat grafting is considered a safer and more predictable volume replacement method than filler because it is a regenerative aesthetic treatment (as opposed to the injection of a foreign substance).
Also, there is no risk of allergic reaction or bodily rejection since the “filler” is your own repurposed fat. Not to mention––nano fat grafting is a great volume replacement option for all ages! That said, the demand for in-office nano fat grafting treatments has skyrocketed at PERK in recent years.
Nano fat grafting smooths fine lines and wrinkles, restores volume and collagen production, and dramatically improves skin quality and texture. Nano fat grafting is reserved for more delicate features that require a higher level of precision and a gentler touch, including areas like the:
- Under eyes
- Tear troughs
- Cheeks
- Nasolabial folds
- Marionette lines
- Mouth lines
- Lips
- Hands
- Decolletage, neck & chest
- Temples
What is Nano Fat Grafting and what does the process look like?
While fat is typically an unwanted feature, it is a critical element in achieving a successful nano fat grafting treatment! To start, Dr. Lee will typically harvest fatty tissue from areas like the abdomen, buttocks, or thighs. Then the fat refinement process begins––which includes a series of filtration techniques to isolate your fat’s regenerative components––including emulsifying (or liquefying) and purifying the fat to prepare it for areas that require delicate precision and subtle enhancement.
A nano fat grafting procedure looks quite different from traditional fat grafting. Traditional fat grafting is performed for larger areas, like the breasts and buttocks, and its primary purpose is to augment a body part’s appearance. The traditional fat grafting methodology is ideal for body procedures since precision is not necessarily required. In contrast, nano fat grafting specifically addresses more delicate areas like the face, neck, hands, and chest. Also, the fat is administered through a much thinner cannula.
Unlike traditional fat grafting, the patient’s fatty tissue must be refined to isolate regenerative properties such as growth factors, stem cells, and fibrin collagen––while excess liquid and other unnecessary materials are simultaneously eliminated. When filtered, your fat’s regenerative properties are extracted. For this reason, the emulsified fat is what Dr. Lee likes to call “liquid gold,” because the filtrated fat contains a high volume of naturally-occurring growth factors, stem cells, and fibrin collagen. These are the critical anti-aging elements that work to maximize cell turnover and restore volume to areas beginning to sag and wrinkle. Nano fat grafting is a natural way to turn the clock back.
How long do the results last?
The success of this treatment is dependent upon your body and its ability to effectively absorb and preserve your fat’s regenerative properties. In other words, whatever the body absorbs and retains is for the patient to keep! Patients who undergo nano fat grafting typically report almost immediate improvement in the treated area(s) (though final results can take up to 6 months), and it is said that patients who undergo 2 to 3 consecutive sessions can enjoy their results for several years before returning for their next treatment!
It is important to keep in mind, however, that every patient (and every patient’s metabolism) is different! Transferred fat can be reabsorbed by up to 40%, and naturally, aging still occurs. Therefore, several sessions are sometimes recommended in order to yield the most optimal results; and in special cases, patients may be better candidates for dermal fillers, lasers and other rejuvenation methods.
Are you the right candidate for nano fat grafting? To find out, call (310) 400-6180 to schedule your consultation with PERK plastic surgery’s board-certified plastic surgeon and facial aesthetic specialist, Dr. Michelle Lee.
