Why We Are in Love with Fat

Historically, fat has been perceived as a problem. We don’t want to eat too much fat, and we don’t want to harbor too much fat on the body. When we talk about fat, it is usually something along the lines of “I sure wish I didn’t have this muffin top.” In recent years, experts have come to know the flip side of fat, the side that offers significant advantages, particularly in the area of facial rejuvenation.

Fat is Necessary

Here’s the thing: we need fat. We need it on our dinner plate, and we need it on the body. It has been only recently that medicine has found a way to harness the power of fat on the face. During the early years of life, we can take for granted the presence of fat on the face, even overlooking the fact that our facial contours are what they are because of fat cells. When we begin to lose collagen and elastin, the fatty structure of the face also changes. Cheeks lose their roundness, which leads to sagging at the jawline. When these changes occur, lifting is good, but can only do so much. What is needed is the return of volume.

Fat Grafting, the New Filler Technique

Fat grafting is a technique that has been in developmental stages for years. We used to discuss this process as half-hearted joke tinged by a speck of hope. Could it work to take unwanted fat from one part of the body and make it useful someplace else? The answer is yes, thanks to refined practice.

Fat grafting has become increasingly common, sometimes performed in conjunction with a facelift, and sometimes performed as the lift technique itself. What makes fat grafting different from dermal fillers, aside from the double-win of fat reduction in the harvest area, is the fact that fat lasts more than a few months at a time. Fat cells gradually integrate when they are used in filler form, such as for cheek augmentation. When they do, they remain in place permanently.

Is the loss of fat a problem that is aging your face? Let’s talk about how we can restore the appearance of youth using fat. Call our St. Louis office at 314-567-3567 for more information about a fat transfer for facial rejuvenation.