When it comes to facial fat transfer, the Chicago area’s Dr. John Q. Cook often talks with patients who are surprised to learn that the treatment can benefit more than just older women and men. In fact, volume loss in the face can begin to show in a person’s 20s, as the cumulative effect of natural changes in the skin and tissues, sun damage, and the effects of environmental stressors become increasingly apparent.
“An 18-year-old typically has a fantastically firm and full cheek, with contours that blend smoothly up to the lower eyelid,” Dr. Cook explains. “That fullness and transition can be disrupted within the next decade of a person’s life, with hollowness developing as collagen and fat levels dwindle.”
Without outside help, those unwanted cosmetic changes will only continue to progress.
Although lab-made injectable fillers remain a popular option, they are not the only—or even best—available strategy for restoring lost volume. Fat transfer, which involves harvesting healthy fat cells from the abdomen or a similar area and moving them to key areas of the face, is a growing trend.
While fat transfer can benefit patients of just about all demographics, Dr. Cook believes the treatment has particular benefits for younger patients. Because the injections contain a patient’s own fat cells and regenerative materials, they can be an ideal technique for anyone who wants to address signs of aging, but who is not ready for significant facial surgery.
Facial fat injections restore naturally soft and full curves in the cheeks, lips, and other areas of volume loss. Dr. Cook has been providing this treatment for about two decades, ever since he realized the strategy’s potential for beautiful results that can outshine and even outlast other options, thanks to the use of a patient’s own cells.
Aging is inevitable, but no one has to accept the visible changes that happen to their face if they don’t want to. This is true even for patients in their 30s and 20s.
To schedule a consultation or get more information about facial fat transfer, contact Dr. John Q. Cook at Whole Beauty® Institute by calling his Winnetka office at 847-446-7562, his Chicago office at 312-751-2112, or sending a message online.