: Before & After Photos

The first facelift was performed in 1901 by a German surgeon in Berlin.  An elderly Polish aristocrat asked him to “lift my cheeks.” He did the operation by making incisions in front of and behind the ears. The lift involved pulling on the skin, and the removing the excess. While the technique changed somewhat over the next 70 years, the “skin” facelift was the procedure for facial rejuvenation until the early 1970’s. 

Tord Skoog, a Swedish plastic surgeon, was frustrated by the results of skin facelifts. Skin stretches, so when the skin lift was performed conservatively, the skin stretched quickly, resulting in a loss of the benefit. More aggressive pulls on the skin lasted longer, but the skin became stretched, and unnatural lines appeared – the famous “wind tunnel” effect. Skoog was performing a facelift one day and he lifted the skin but went deeper – he lifted the skin and the underlying muscle/fascia layer that overlies the parotid saliva gland. He called this new layer the pre-parotid fascia, and in 1972 the “deep plane” lift was born.

Four years later, two French plastic surgery residents, Mitz and Peyronie, went to the anatomy lab and began to dissect cadavers. They determined that the “pre-parotid fascia” was actually a distinct layer separate from the parotid gland, and they called it the “Superficial Musculo-Aponeurotic System” or SMAS.

Depressed or sunken cheeks can have an adverse effect on how you perceive yourself. I have both men and women who come into my office and say they are unhappy with their facial structure. Filling in your cheeks can give you a better profile and a more balanced overall appearance. Patients who are looking to add long-term volume to their features yet aren’t ready for a full facelift, may want to consider a fat transfer procedure.

How It Works

Fat grafting (or fat transfer) is a minimally-invasive in-office procedure that’s done in a simple 3-step visit. First, a small amount of autologous fat (fat from your own body) is removed from a predetermined area (typically the abdomen, thighs, flanks, upper arms, or hips) via liposuction. Next, one of our skilled technicians will process and cleanse the fat while you wait. Lastly, the fat is injected under the cheekbone to give you a fuller-looking facial appearance. Fat transfer may be a bit more time-consuming to perform than pre-packaged dermal fillers, but the results are much longer lasting.

Fat Grafting Results

How your body reacts to fat transfer plays a significant role in the outcome of your procedure. Because fat is living tissue, it’s naturally reabsorbed into your body and develops a new blood supply. Fat cells are incredibly temperamental. During your fat grafting procedure, I add extra volume to compensate for fat cells that may not survive the injection process. Final results can be seen in as little as 3-months. Fat transfer is considered a permanent procedure, however, weight gain (or loss) can affect the outcome.

Am I a Good Candidate?

You may be right for fat grafting if you would like to enhance the appearance of your facial features and have a suitable donor site. Some patients may be a better fit for dermal fillers such as Sculptra©, Restylane©, or Juvederm© products. At your initial consultation, I will perform a full facial evaluation and talk to you about your expectations. Together, we can create an individualized plan to help you achieve your desired results.

Ready to look and feel your best? Schedule a consult to talk about your options today. Consultations are available in both our San Francisco and Walnut Creek offices.You may schedule for either location by calling (415) 879-8735.  Renee or Laurie will help you with the scheduling and answer any pre-consultation questions you may have!