Many patients are surprised to learn that a facelift alone may not address every sign of facial aging. While a facelift can elevate sagging tissues and improve jawline definition, it does not replace the facial volume that naturally diminishes over time. That’s why facial fat grafting is often combined with facelift surgery to create more comprehensive, natural-looking rejuvenation.
At Ladner Facial Plastic Surgery in Denver and Beverly Hills, double board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Keith Ladner evaluates both facial volume and tissue position when developing a treatment plan. With more than 15 years of experience focused exclusively on the face and neck, he takes a comprehensive approach designed to restore youthful facial balance while maintaining natural-looking results.
A Facelift Repositions Tissue
One of the primary goals of a facelift is to elevate and reposition facial tissues that have descended over time. This can improve the appearance of jowls, restore jawline definition, and create a smoother transition between the face and neck.
While these improvements can be significant, a facelift does not replace volume lost during the aging process. Areas such as the cheeks and temples may still appear hollow if volume loss is not addressed.
Why Volume Matters
Facial volume plays an important role in creating youthful contours. As fat diminishes over time, the face can appear flatter, more angular, or less supported. This volume loss often contributes to an aged appearance, even when skin laxity is corrected.
Facial fat grafting restores fullness using your body’s own tissue. By strategically placing fat in areas affected by age-related volume loss, Dr. Ladner can enhance facial contours while preserving natural proportions.
Many facelift patients seeking treatment for jowls, neck laxity, or loss of jawline definition also benefit from volume restoration in the cheeks and midface. Addressing both concerns simultaneously often creates a more harmonious rejuvenation by improving facial contours from multiple angles.
Because Dr. Ladner specializes exclusively in facial plastic surgery, he is able to evaluate facial aging from both a structural and volumetric perspective rather than focusing on skin laxity alone.
A More Complete Rejuvenation Strategy
When a facelift and fat grafting are performed together, they address two separate components of facial aging. The facelift repositions tissue that has descended, while fat grafting restores volume that has disappeared.
While a facelift restores youthful tissue position, it cannot recreate volume lost over time. This is particularly noticeable in the cheeks, temples, and under-eye area, where age-related deflation can contribute to a hollow or tired appearance. By combining lifting and volume restoration when appropriate, Dr. Ladner can address multiple components of facial aging during a single treatment plan.
This combination often creates a more balanced result than either procedure alone. Rather than focusing on a single aspect of aging, both facial structure and facial volume are evaluated as part of a comprehensive plan.
Natural-Looking Results Through Facial Balance
The goal of facial rejuvenation is not simply tighter skin. Instead, it is to restore harmony among the facial features while preserving natural expression and individuality. By combining facial fat grafting with facelift surgery when appropriate, Dr. Ladner can address multiple signs of aging simultaneously.
FAQs
Does everyone need fat grafting with a facelift?
Not necessarily. Some patients maintain good facial volume and may achieve excellent results with a facelift alone. During your consultation, Dr. Ladner evaluates both facial volume and tissue position to determine the most appropriate treatment plan.
How long does facial fat grafting last?
A portion of the transferred fat becomes permanently incorporated into the surrounding tissue. While some fat is naturally reabsorbed during healing, the remaining fat can provide long-lasting facial rejuvenation.
Can fat grafting make me look overfilled?
When performed conservatively and strategically, facial fat grafting is designed to restore youthful contours rather than create an overfilled appearance.
What areas are commonly treated with facial fat grafting?
Common treatment areas include the cheeks, temples, under-eye hollows, nasolabial folds, and other areas affected by age-related volume loss.
If you’re considering facial rejuvenation in Denver, Greenwood Village, or Beverly Hills, a consultation with Dr. Keith Ladner can help determine whether a facelift, facial fat grafting, or a combination approach is right for you. During your consultation, Dr. Ladner can also review facelift and facial fat grafting before-and-after photos to help you understand what may be possible based on your anatomy and goals. Contact (303) 253-7686 for the Denver office or (213) 457-7740 for Beverly Hills to schedule your visit.
