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How Can I Correct This Naseolabial Fold Problem on One Side of my Face?
msmmi in sf in Pleasanton, CA asks:
2 months ago I had 4 qaud eye lift, brow lift, full facelift and lipo of the neck. I had some nasolabial folds before surgery, and the doctor assured me these procedures would correct the problem. However, the fold on one side is still there, and never seemed to get better. I feel the malar fat pad may not have been lifted as much as it should have been. I am not into fillers that don’t last, after spending all this money for a more lasting fix. what should be done?
Photo Courtesy of RealSelf.com
It is now two months after the procedure and there has been a number of procedures performed, including your eyelift and brow lift and facelift, liposuction and neck lift. These are a lot of procedures and even though it has been two months there is still some reasonable amount of healing that needs to occur. Most people desire resolution of all their swelling and healing problems by a week or a month, but essentially three and six months or more is required.
Therefore assessing the nasolabial folds is somewhat premature at this phase, but a number of things can be discussed at this time. Facelift procedures can soften the nasolabial folds, but rarely get rid of the significant concerns of the nasolabial folds. Fillers are the best answer. There are a number of fillers; the temporary ones are beneficial. If you are interested in a “lasting fix” then more permanent type fillers are helpful, including Artifill and Sculptra, as well as fat grafting. Fat grafting tends to be the best answer in many instances due to its reliability and the fact that it comes from your own body to begin with.
So the best answer to your question is to wait a little bit of time, at least three months if not six months, and assess things and consider fillers after that period of time. Fat grafting would be my first option, Sculptra would be a second answer.
Cell-enriched fat grafting-future possibilities
”Cell-enriched fat injections” or fat grafting is a new technique that shows some promise.
Today’s traditional fat-grafting techniques are quite successful as they provide a more permanent option for facial rejuvenation when compared to the traditional well known filler technique applications such as juvederm(r), restylane(r), and radiesse(r). However, one of the down sides of fat-grafting is that often, only 30% of cells transplanted survive. This still is a reasonable success rate but obviously there is needed room for improvement.
“Cell-enriched fat grafting” enters this niche to try to improve on the grafting take. The enrichment of an individual patient’s own fat with stem regenerative cells can provide potential significant enhancement of success and efficiency for facial filler rejuvenation. Fat is taken from the patient’s stomach primarily, but can also be obtained from thighs, and flank. Regenerative and stem cells are taken from the fat and concentrated, and these extracted cells are then combined with some of the patient’s own fat tissue, which forms a cell-enriched fat graft that is subsequently injected into the specific area of concern.
There is future promise for stem cell grafting for patients in the US; this is a promising technology as theoretically, more concentrated regenerative stem cells are superior in efficacy to concentrated fat due to the greater concentration. We know from past experience over the last 2 decades, that the more concentrated the fat for fat grafting, the better success. Now additional engineering on this important cosmetic use is on the horizon.
Nonetheless, as always with new technologies, caution is suggested. There are many kinks to unravel as the studies become more available.
Cytori therapeutics (www.cytori.com, CYTX), recently received additional patents which involve the preparation of adipose-derived stem and regenerative cells. Cytori is a leading medical technology company, that is focused on achieving full potential of adult regenerative cells from adipose tissue applications.
Dr. David Santos- FacialBeauty.com
