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Fat Grafting Surgery for Replenishing Facial Volume 

Plastic surgeon John B. Harris, MD, in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, performs fat grafting under local anesthesia

For 35 years, Dr. Harris has performed structured fat grafting to replenish the facial volume lost due to weight loss or aging. He believes the most natural youthful results for facial rejuvenation comes from a combined approach of lifting and tightening the skin and tissue as well as replacing the lost volume beneath with structured fat grafting. The placement of small layers of grafted fat into the facial skin with a tiny blunt cannula, or tube, is shown to be a safe, effective, and long-lasting facial rejuvenation technique. 

Training in sculpting techniques allows Dr. Harris to artistically place fat grafts in the cheeks, jaw line, and nasolabial folds for smoother facial contours and a more youthful appearance. He reassures his patients that they will appear the way they used to look – not like a different person.

Structured fat grafting is often added to facelift procedures when Dr. Harris believes lifting and tightening alone cannot provide the best result.

Fat grafting under local anesthesia is offered as a stand-along procedure for patients who wish facial volumizing without the use of fillers. This can be performed with minimal downtime.

Dr. Harris believes that for many patients structured facial fat grafting has an additional benefit of improving the overall texture, thickness, and quality of skin.

Structured Fat Grafting
Looking in the mirror at age 63 I realized I needed a “lift’ of some kind. I did not want to be put under general anesthesia nor miss more than a few days of work. I felt like my options were limited. Dr. Harris explained a procedure he is doing in the office under just a numbing shot, and I would be back to work in a few days. Right, I thought! I am not a super-woman and not 40 years old! But if I could get the mini-facelift and not be drugged up for days and back to work in a week, I would do it. The entire process was “a piece of cake!” I am still amazed. I had the procedure on Thursday and on Monday I went back to work. I have no bruising, no swelling, and no pain, and I have had so many people tell me how incredible and natural I look. I told Dr. Harris that I would do this every couple of years if I needed to as I had such minimal down time, and the results are fabulous.
M. F.
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