If you have started noticing sagging skin, hollow cheeks, deeper facial folds, or a less defined jawline, you may wonder which treatment can best restore a youthful appearance. While both facelift and fat grafting can rejuvenate your face, they address different signs of aging.
On Manhattan’s Upper East Side, board-certified plastic surgeon and aesthetic fellowship-trained plastic surgeon Dr. Jeffrey Lisiecki helps patients understand their facial rejuvenation options through personalized consultations. In this article, we explain the differences between these procedures so you can make an informed decision about your rejuvenation journey.
Overview
Facelift
A facelift is a surgical procedure that addresses loose skin, sagging facial tissues, and age-related changes caused by gravity. During surgery, deeper facial structures are repositioned, excess skin is carefully removed, and the remaining skin is redraped to create smoother, more youthful contours. A facelift focuses on restoring facial definition rather than simply tightening the skin, making it an effective solution for moderate to advanced facial aging.
Facial fat grafting
Facial fat grafting restores volume that has diminished over time. The procedure involves removing fat from another area of your body through liposuction, processing the fat, and strategically injecting it into areas of your face that have become hollow or lack definition. Common treatment areas include the cheeks, temples, lips, and under-eye hollows, creating softer, fuller contours with your own tissue.
What concerns does each procedure treat?
Facelift
A facelift is best suited for concerns related to skin laxity and tissue descent. If you have jowls, deep nasolabial folds, loose skin along your jawline, or sagging in your lower face and neck, a facelift can reposition these tissues to create a firmer, more refreshed appearance. It helps correct structural aging rather than restore lost facial volume.
Facial fat grafting
Facial fat grafting primarily addresses age-related volume loss. If your cheeks appear flat, your temples have become hollow, your lips have thinned, or your under-eye area looks sunken, fat grafting can replenish these areas. While it may soften certain wrinkles by restoring fullness beneath the skin, it is not intended to tighten loose or sagging skin.
How are the procedures different?
Facelift
A facelift focuses on lifting and reshaping the underlying facial tissues while removing excess skin. Because it addresses structural changes associated with aging, it often provides the most comprehensive improvement for patients experiencing significant facial sagging. The results can restore smoother contours while maintaining a natural appearance.
Facial fat grafting
Facial fat grafting enhances facial contours by replacing lost volume rather than repositioning tissues. Since the transferred fat comes from your own body, it also offers the added benefit of contouring the donor area through liposuction. This makes fat grafting an appealing option for patients seeking fuller facial contours without relying on synthetic fillers.
Can I combine both techniques?
If you have both significant skin laxity and noticeable volume loss, a facelift alone may not fully address every aspect of facial aging. During your consultation, Dr. Lisiecki will evaluate your facial anatomy, skin quality, and goals to determine whether combining procedures would provide a more balanced, natural-looking outcome. While the facelift restores youthful facial structure, fat grafting replenishes volume in areas that appear hollow or deflated.
At his Upper East Side practice in Manhattan, board-certified plastic surgeon and aesthetic fellowship-trained plastic surgeon Dr. Jeffrey Lisiecki develops personalized treatment plans that address your unique concerns and help you achieve refreshed results. If you are considering facial rejuvenation, schedule a consultation to determine which approach is right for you.
