When it comes to looking as naturally youthful as possible, you might focus on eliminating the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. But believe it or not, there’s another component to looking so
naturally young, you’ll leave your friends and family members guessing…
Facial volume!
Look back at a picture of yourself from high school or in your early twenties. Notice how the apples of your cheeks look rounded? That’s because your facial fat – a key signifier of youth – was in its prime. However, as we age, facial fat begins to break down, resulting in a loss of essential volume. What’s more, this fat tends to migrate south, which can directly contribute to the appearance of jowls.
That’s why it’s recommended that patients who want to look naturally young should invest in facial volume enhancements. At the moment, there are a two ways to augment the face – facial implants and fat grafting. Let’s explore the differences between the two now:
- Facial Implants: These silicone-based implants are placed along the cheeks and chin to help augment your face’s shape. Facial implants are an excellent solution for people who may be unhappy with the shape of their jawline or who are looking for extra volume in their cheeks. Facial implants last for a long time, and they are excellent for augmenting and shaping certain areas of the face, mainly the cheeks & chin.
- Fat Grafting: This procedure involves using the power of your own fat to carefully augment your cheeks. Fat is harvested from another area of the body (typically the stomach or thighs), cleansed, and then injected back into the face. Facial fat grafting allows for precise shaping; additionally, there’s no risk for rejection, as your body recognizes your fat as its own. Fat grafting allows for fat to be placed in areas where an implant is impossible or unreasonable to place. These areas include: lower eyelids, upper eyelids, and temple. Fat has more versatility in the face.
Want to learn more about facial implants and fat grafting? Call 310.791.2233 to schedule your consultation with board certified surgeons, specializing in plastic and cosmetic surgery of the face and body, Dr. Alex Liu & Dr. Eric Ahn, at Awaken Aesthetics in Torrance, CA. Together, you and your doctor can determine which procedure best fits your needs.