I’ve been looking into the pros and cons of dermal fillers

Question:
I’ve been looking into the pros and cons of dermal fillers vs. fat transfer. I’m a 45 year old woman with sunken eyes and marionette lines. So far, the pros of the fat transfer outweigh the fillers by far. What are some lesser known risks associated with a facial fat transfer procedure?

Answer
Although there are some who describe facial fat transfer as a panacea, there are definitely shortcomings to the procedure that you should be aware of prior to undertaking the facial fat transfer procedure. Autologous fat transfer to facial areas that have thin skin such as the lower lids have the potential for having small imperfections such as lumps. I am extremely conservative with facial fat transfer around the eyes for this reason.

The longevity of the fat can also be somewhat unpredictable in some regions of the face. Fat injections to the mid face and nasolabial folds are my first choice. Fat injections to the lips does not last as long and I have abandoned the procedure. Obviously, as with any procedure, the risk of pain, bruising, hematoma, infection, and even reports of blindness is still present though quite minimal with autologous fat injections to the face.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld