Member Articles on Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery:

The fat in one’s face supports skin against gravity and provides shape, definition and turgor to the skin. After fat injections, skin appears tighter, more defined and healthy. A youthful appearance is associated with fullness in the middle third of the face (round full cheeks without hollowing of the temporal region). As one ages, there is more volume or fullness in the lower third of the face: in essence, the jaw and neck.

Autologous fat transplantation (AFT) helps to restore the natural balance between the amount of facial skin and the subcutaneous supportive tissues. It also provides a more youthful fat distribution. When done early in the aging process, it helps to support the skin against gravity, slowing the visible signs of aging. In later years, AFT provides shape, contour and skin turgor when performed in conjunction with a facelift. This is a philosophically correct process in which missing fat is replaced with fat of the same type, obtained from another area of the patient’s body. (Doctor and patient choose the donor site at the time of consultation.) This is a very technique-dependent surgical procedure which Dr. Kornstein has performed since 1989.The method he employs allows transplanted fat to survive approximately five years, although he has had patients report results lasting as long as nine years or more. Patients have remarked that they have a restored youthful appearance and look better and healthier to themselves, their loved ones and friends.

The postoperative recovery may entail a mild amount of bruising-- approximately 15-20% of patients bruise after surgery. Initial swelling can be considerable due to the nature of this technique. Dr. Kornstein will explain that the injection procedure required to ensure long term survival of the fat is one that provokes a moderate degree of swelling. We manage this swelling with homeopathic medications, application of cold compresses and the use of magnet therapy. A patient can typically return to work after ten days, but may require some camouflage makeup.