Dr. Jeffrey C. Dawes brings an unparalleled combination of expertise, precision, and dedication to patient care, making him a leading choice for facial fat grafting in Calgary, Alberta. As a board-certified plastic surgeon with over a decade of experience, Dr. Dawes is renowned for his meticulous approach to aesthetic surgery, prioritizing natural, harmonious results. His extensive training includes 17 years of post-secondary education, highlighted by an MD degree from the University of Calgary, where he was valedictorian of his medical class. With advanced skills honed through a competitive aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery program, Dr. Dawes possesses the depth of knowledge necessary to achieve excellent outcomes in facial rejuvenation.
In addition to his technical expertise, Dr. Dawes is deeply committed to patient care, fostering a supportive environment where every patient feels informed and valued. His practice emphasizes individualized treatment plans to align with each patient’s goals, ensuring a tailored approach to facial contouring and restoring volume with facial fat grafting. Dr. Dawes is supported by a knowledgeable and approachable team dedicated to quality and privacy, guiding patients through every step of their journey.
Minimally invasive option for full facial rejuvenation
During the natural aging process, we tend to lose volume in our faces. This loss of volume contributes to a less youthful appearance. Volume replacement with your own fat can help counteract this process and restore a more youthful appearance. Facial fat grafting is a minimally invasive option for full facial rejuvenation.
When selecting a plastic surgeon to perform fat grafting in Calgary, it is extremely important you choose a surgeon who truly understands the anatomy of the face. Whether considering a surgical or a non-surgical procedure for your face, the key is to obtain a result that preserves your natural beauty. Rather than produce drastic change, Dr. Dawes will subtly enhance and refine your facial features.
See What Our Patients Have To Say!
"I can't say enough good things about my experience with Dr. Dawes and his staff. From the moment you walk through the doors of the clinic, you feel welcomed and comfortable. I had initially planned to meet with three surgeons, but after my consultation, I felt that the experience, level of care, and trust Dr. Dawes conveyed so rapidly would be very difficult to match..."
Is Facial Fat Grafting for Me?
As the face deflates further, nasolabial folds (laugh lines), marionette lines (lines beside the mouth) and bags under the eyes may become more prominent. The way to reverse these signs of aging is by replacing the fat that has been lost during the natural aging process. This fat is harvested from a donor site (such as the abdomen, waist, inner thighs or knees) utilizing a small cannula. The fat is purified, placed into small syringes and re-injected into predetermined areas of the face. Fat grafting provides long-lasting structural filler that does not involve any incisions or lifting of the skin. The goal is to use your own fat to restore a more youthful facial contour (not over-filled) and improve your skin quality. Facial fat grafting replaces the need for filler injections if you are looking for a more long-term solution.
How Is Facial Fat Grafting Performed?
Fat grafting can be performed under local anesthesia or under a general anesthetic. Fat transfer allows for larger volumes of augmentation to create permanent results. Dr. Dawes uses a gentle technique to harvest fat manually (using a grafting suction cannula). This technique ensures a precise and long-lasting result. Dr. Dawes understands the importance of a long-lasting natural result and does not believe in over-filling for an exaggerated result.
Problem areas that typically respond well to fat grafting:
- Hollowing of the temples
- Hollowing in the upper eyelid region
- Deep shadows under the lower eyelids
- Loss of height in cheek bones
- Deep nasolabial folds (smile lines)
- Marionette lines (lines extending down from the corner of the mouth)
- Thinning of the lip
- Shadows along the jowl and jawline
Recovery Expectations
You may experience swelling and/or bruising for a few days to weeks. Many individuals go back to work within a few days after their facial fat grafting procedure.
Facial Fat Grafting FAQs
Side effects can include swelling, bruising, numbness or tenderness to the treated area. Dr. Dawes will discuss in details all of the potential risks associated with your fat grafting surgery during your consultation.
Patients who are concerned about hollowness in the cheeks, under the eyes, or have depressions on the face. Dr Dawes will determine which surgical technique and approach should be used in order to guarantee the best outcome.
Fat grafting is a more permanent option than temporary fillers. For patients who are looking for a more long-term and natural solution to facial volume loss, fat grafting may be right for you.
It is possible that patients who gain a substantial amount of weight can gain fat in fat grafted areas.
While dermal fillers are effective and convenient, they do need to be repeated every 8-12 months. Fat grafting is a more permanent solution. However, fat grafting is not appropriate for everyone – particularly those seeking more definition on what Dr. Dawes refers to as ‘structural changes’.
While fat grafting can be a more permanent solution, it may not be appropriate for those requiring more definition or ‘structural’ changes. Also, if patients gain significant weight, they can gain it in fat grafted areas.
Follow your surgeon’s pre-procedure instructions carefully. This may include stopping medications or supplements that increase bleeding, like aspirin, ibuprofen, or vitamin E, about one to two weeks before the procedure. If you smoke, you’ll need to quit several weeks in advance, as smoking can impair healing and affect results. Maintain a healthy diet and hydration in the days leading up to the surgery. Your surgeon may also require lab tests or medical clearance to ensure you’re healthy for the procedure.
The facial fat grafting procedure typically takes one-and-a-half to three hours, depending on the treatment areas and the volume of fat required. The procedure includes harvesting, processing, and injecting fat into the targeted facial areas. If combined with other procedures, the overall duration may be longer.
Fat is usually harvested from areas of the body with excess fat deposits, such as the abdomen, thighs, flanks, or buttocks. The surgeon uses liposuction to gently remove the fat, which is processed and purified before being injected into the face.
You will notice some improvement immediately after the procedure, but the final results typically become apparent after about three to six months. This timeframe allows swelling to subside and the body to establish a blood supply to the grafted fat, ensuring survival.
Maintaining a stable weight is crucial, as major weight fluctuations can impact the outcome of the grafted fat. Avoid smoking and practice good skincare to preserve the quality of your skin. Daily sunscreen use protects your face from sun exposure, as UV damage can accelerate aging and affect your results. Regular follow-up appointments can also ensure your results remain.
Facial fat grafting usually results in minimal visible scarring, as the fat is harvested through small, discreet incisions and injected with fine cannulas. Any scars from the harvesting sites typically fade and are easily concealed.
Plastic Surgery in Calgary, AB
At the office of Jeffrey C. Dawes, M.D. FRSCS, we have helped many patients achieve exceptional results, and we are confident we can do the same for you. To schedule a facial fat grafting consultation at our Calgary office, call: 403-571-3141 or click the button below:
