Fat injections give face young, natural look

A plastic surgeon at Baylor College of Medicine is helping women who desire a younger, softer looking face achieve that by extracting small amounts of tissue from excess fat areas on their body and injecting it to the area around their eyes.

"Injecting fat in the lower eyelid and related regions reduces the white, or scleral, part of the eye. This is an up-and-coming trend in aesthetic beauty," said Dr. Eser Yuksel, associate professor of plastic surgery in the Center for Aesthetic Surgery at BCM. "The less white that shows around the eye, the more positive the patient feels – especially those that have insecurities about having droopy, baggy eyes."

Often, unnatural-looking adjustments are made to the face, such as dramatic lifts of the eyebrow, said Yuksel.

"This injection procedure causes more subtle and natural elevation," said Yuksel. "The eyes really position well with the depth provided by the fullness of the eyebrow."

To perform the procedure, an injection is made with the patient's own tissue to the outer corners of the eye. "We can take the tissue from the fattier areas of the patient's body, such as back, abdomen or inner thigh."

It is a low-risk, minimally invasive procedure that can make a significant difference in a patient's outlook.

Because of the use of a patient's own fat, versus the use of artificial fillers, the complication rate is lower. "It's the patient's very own tissue. The body has already accepted it," Yuksel said.

Depending on the patient's age and desired look, the plastic surgeon will decide which area of the body will be the target for the tissue graft.

The fat is then removed under local anesthesia and harvested, Yuksel said. "There are some potential side effects associated with tissue removal, including swelling, but nothing serious."

"We have had very positive feedback from out patients," said Yuksel. "They are excited. They look younger and are very happy with it."

Yuksel emphasized setting up a consultation with a qualified plastic surgeon to discuss the procedure and the patient's desired look.

For more information or to set up a consultation at the BCM Center for Aesthetic Surgery, call 713-798-6141.