Surgeons who perform facial rejuvenation procedures have long recognized the importance of volume enhancement. For over a century a filler material has been sought to restructure the face but with varying success. Recent techniques with fat grafting have given us more predictable, reproducible and longer lasting results. Fat is the ideal soft tissue filler substance because it is from your own body and you can never have an allergic reaction.

How does Lipografting work?

Lipografting is a process by which fat cells from one area of the body are used to build aesthetic structural changes in the face and body. Aging is accompanied mostly by loss of volume or fullness from the face. The skin remains essentially the same size but without the underlying soft tissue framework and structure the skin develops wrinkles and often deep grooves. As the missing framework of the area is filled with living fat cells the wrinkles and deep grooves will improve.

Fat is delicate tissue composed of living cells which can live or die when transplanted. The Lipografting technique used by Dr. Tzikas removes fat cells, purifies and injects the delicate tissue in order to give a more predictable, lasting result. Fat cells are extremely fragile and previous techniques using high volume pressures for harvesting would destroy the majority of the transplant. In the Lipografting technique, low gentle syringe volume pressure is used to remove fat tissue from areas of excess. Fat is then purified and cleansed in a non-traumatic method thereby removing oils and liquid containing enzymes that are harmful to living fat cells. The refined harvested material that is obtained is almost pure fat. The purified fat cells are then injected through a tiny needle puncture of the skin with a soft tipped cannula developed by Dr. Tzikas starting in the areas of the facial musculature and the surrounding deep structure of the face. By placing very small amounts of fat into different layers, living fat cells will be separated from each other by the recipient tissues with capillaries that circulate blood. Therefore, each fat cell will be nourished by the normal blood supply and will survive in the new environment.

Dr. Tzikas also harvests more fat than is used in the initial procedure. He is able to freeze the excess fat and if a touch up is needed within a twelve month period, the frozen fat is still viable to inject and there is no need to harvest any additional.

Is Lipografting permanent?

Dr. Tzikas has been performing fat grafting since 1992 and has performed over 2500 procedures. Most previous techniques traumatized and killed the fragile fat cells and resulted in unpredictable patient outcomes. The Lipografting method used by Dr. Tzikas achieves long-term, consistent and predictable results. The transplanted fat will look and feel like normal tissue in the area that it is injected and will be long-lasting or “permanent” living tissue. The aging of the face will continue in a normal manner and the grafted fat will also age normally.

Lipografting is more than simply a technique for filling parts of the face or body. It is truly the most artistic procedure performed in Dr. Tzikas’ practice because it is like sculpting and restructuring the face. The patient is always asked to bring in photographs of their youthful face in order to evaluate their individual aging process. Every patient that reviews their old facial photos will conclude that they have lost volume and the fullness of youth from their face. Fat is placed in aesthetically appealing proportions that will revitalize the face in the most harmonious and natural way. The appearance that is achieved is softer but it is not a fat face. A softer result in certain parts of the face creates a more healthy and youthful appearance.

Can Lipografting be performed as an alternative to a facelift?

The most important aspect of aging is a loss of volume and soft tissue structure of the face. Lipografting is often used as a replacement for tightening of the face. Pulling the face tight can sometimes result in a flattened, stretched or unnatural appearance. Lipografting will create a tighter and softer appearance to the face by increasing the volume of the subcutaneous tissue. Lipografting can be used in someone that wants to postpone a facelift or in someone that has had previous facelift surgery and wants to soften the appearance of the face. Dr. Tzikas also includes Lipografting in every facelift procedure that he performs because the combination is much more natural appearing than a facelift alone.

What type of anesthetic is used?

Lipografting is performed in the office on an outpatient basis using local anesthesia with mild sedation. Both the areas from which the fat is taken and the recipient area are anesthetized with local anesthesia. The procedure takes approximately between 2 to 2 ½ hours to complete. Patients are not aware of the procedure and are able to leave the office surgical facility after a short recovery.

Is the recovery period long?

Patients following Lipografting will experience swelling in the area of the injections that usually subsides within 7 to 14 days. Discomfort is rarely experienced in the augmented areas but can be present in the donor area for a few days. Bruising is also rare but if it occurs it will resolve in one to two weeks. A homeopathic medication is given around the time of surgery, which decreases the risk of bruising tremendously. Patients are also instructed to avoid several items prior to their procedure in order to avoid an increased risk of bruising.

What other areas can be treated?

Lipografting is used mainly to restore lost or missing soft tissue of the face and body in order to create a healthier and more attractive appearance. Here are some of the more common uses Dr. Tzikas has made of Lipografting:

• Rejuvenating by restoring fullness and softness to atrophied, aging faces and hands
• Shaping facial elements (lips, cheeks, eyelids, jaw lines, brows, noses, foreheads)
• Correcting acne or other depressed scars
• Restoring tissues removed by surgeries (too much liposuction, facelifts, eyelid procedures, etc.)