I am 48 years old and thin.

Question:
I am 48 years old and thin. I think that this makes my face seem rather hollowed out, and I also think if makes me look older. Is there an injectable treatment that can fill in these hollowed areas or is a fat transfer preferred?

Answer:
Your complaint with regards to your face is a rather common one. What we see in facial aging is a gradual deflation of the face from the full and softer features of youth to a thinner and more hollowed appearrance as we age. One of the most popular procedures that I now perform in my office is the injection of fillers to the face. When these dermal fillers, such as Restylane, Juvederm, or Radiesse are placed in the proper locations of the face the changes to the face can be quite dramatic. I also use fat transfer for the same purpose. The fat is harvested from either the abdomen or hips and is injected in small amounts into the face. There are advantages and disadvantages to dermal fillers and autologous fat. Both of these procedures are wonderfully effective. Dermal fillers can be performed with a small amount of local anesthesia in the office and the results are immediate. All of the hyaluronic acid fillers such as, Restylane, Juvederm, and Pearlane are completely reversible if too much filler has been place in any location. Fat is a more permanent solution and will last longer than other dermal fillers. It does require a small surgical procedure to harvest the fat and touch up procedures are frequently required for fat injections, but the results are extremely pleasing.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld