Lipofilling (or lipostructure or fat injection) treats the natural dents (hollows) by reinjecting fat taken from the patient himself.
The most common indications
- Filling and attenuation of certain wrinkles, especially of the face
- Restoring the “fullness” of a drawn face or during early stages of facial ageing (especially the lips)
- Restoring the volume and shape of the face: this may include the restoration of a face emaciated by ageing
- Reshaping of the silhouette (lipomodelling)
- Correction of irregularities after a lipoaspiration
Lipostructure is a true surgical procedure that must be performed by a competent and qualified plastic surgeon, specifically trained in this type of technique and practicing in a truly surgical context.
Before the procedure
The surgeon will make a close clinical and photographic study of the corrections to be made. Particularly in terms of facial rejuvenation, it will be necessary to analyse the ageing process by comparing photographs from youth with the current condition.
If deep anaesthesia is required, the preoperative assessment is carried out in accordance with medical protocol and our anaesthetist will see you at the latest 48 hours prior to your procedure.
DAY D – 10: Stop taking any medication containing aspirin or any anti-inflammatory medication.
The procedure
Average duration: between 30 minutes and 2 hours.
- The first step is to accurately identify the areas from which the fat will be removed, as well as the reinjection areas.
- The fatty tissue is removed through a micro-incision hidden in the natural folds, using a very fine suction cannula.
- The fat is then centrifuged for a few minutes to separate the intact fat cells from the elements that cannot be grafted.
- The fatty tissue is reinjected through 1 to 2 mm incisions using micro-cannulas.
After the procedure
In general, the postoperative pain of a fat injection is minimal. An oedema (swelling) appears during the first 48 hours after the procedure and will usually take 2 to 3 weeks to completely disappear. Ecchymoses (bruises) appear in the first few hours: they will be resorbed within 10 to 20 days after the procedure. The operated areas must not be exposed to the sun or UV rays for at least 4 weeks.
The result
A term of 3 to 6 months is necessary to appreciate the result of a lipostructure. In so far as the fat cells have actually taken hold, these cells remain alive as long as the tissues into which they have been grafted remain alive. However, the result will gradually deteriorate, due to the natural ageing process of these same tissues. In a few cases, localised imperfections may be observed, but can be additionally treated: a small lipostructure “touch-up” under simple local anaesthesia from the 6th month after the procedure.