Body Fat Transfers; New Option for Saggy Droopy Eyes

By Brandie Umar - Executive Director of Content | July 26th, 2011

Have you ever been told that you look tired even when you're not? When actually the only thing you are tired of are the dark, hollow, sagging, loose skin under your eyes? If only you could get rid of those you would save money in concealing make-up and have a more youthful appearance.

Now thanks to body fat transfers, a non surgical plastic surgery procedure you can improve this problematic area of your face with out under going major plastic surgery like lower eyelid lift surgery (canthoplasty or canthopexy), which can be expensive and require a lengthy recovery time.

You will be happy to find out there is a new innovative surgical technique that can make the effects of eye lid treatments last a few years longer. A new study suggests under-eye fat transfer can last for at least three years.

The procedure involves transferring fat from the belly and thighs, injecting it below the lower eyelid-puffing up the area that has been affected by facial aging- giving it a more natural, youthful look that lasts a few years more! However with every new scientific discovery comes risks and side effects.

Dermal fillers have long helped to fill, pull, and smooth out the areas around the eyes. Botox and Dysport are among these options, however the effects that a fat transfer provides seems to be a better option for patients who seek a longer lasting effect without the surgery.

The most common complications of the under-eye fat transfer surgery may include swelling lasting more than a couple of weeks. Some patients also reported “asymmetries,” where one under eye was bigger than the other. According to Dr. Jason Meier, the cost of the surgery might throw off some patients, saying the procedure is a few times more expensive than typical commercial injections.

Nonetheless, the cost of the traditional multiple facial injections offset the cost of the under-eye fat transfer surgery, as patient undergoes the procedure once every few years. Researchers who worked on this study said the procedure may take an hour or more; and it costs from $3,500 to $4,000. That didn’t seem to stop many patients from undergoing the surgery with many of them expressed their satisfaction with the procedure, reporting the findings matched their expectations, in terms of how long the results will last after the surgery. "Fat transfer is an excellent, permanent option for patients who want a natural, rejuvenated look in the under-eye area," Dr. Jason Meier, who didn’t take part in the research, told Reuters Health.

Eyelid procedures correct both upper and lower eyelids. The result of eyelid surgery is a more youthful and rejuvenated appearance.

Eyelid treatments are mostly performed for cosmetic purposes to give the patient a more youthful, natural look and wipe away the effects of the daily grind. Tragic injuries, congenital malformation, skin disease are also significant medical reasons why eyelid procedure is required. Eyelid lift surgery (blepharoplasty) is designed to solve these problems by removing excess fat, tissue, or muscle from your eyelids and, as a result, shedding years off your appearance. Blepharoplasty is a common cosmetic treatment that works on diminishing droopy eyelids.

Dr. Meier said the fat-transfer procedure is becoming more common, and that it's "appealing to many patients because this is a natural way of using their own body fat."

Find a Fat Transfer Surgeon today to learn costs, options, and whether or not your a good candidate.

Latest Health News