This section of the forum is dedicated to discussions on various surgical techniques for facial rejuvenation, including fat transfer/fat grafting, browlift, blepharoplasty (cosmetic eyelid surgery), facelift, etc. Also, this category includes questions on hand rejuvenation via fat grafting. (Of note, Dr. Lam does not perform body rejuvenation except for hand fat grafting)
only that if you gain weight during pregnancy and you had a fat transfer before there is a chance that the transplanted areas could look too full during the weight gain. that is why i am very careful with my patients who are contemplating getting pregnant. it should reverse with the weight loss. i have actually never seen this problem but i have not actively explored my patients who might have become pregnant. i always present the worst case scenario so that you can make safe choices.
best,
sml
Samuel M. Lam, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Diplomate, American Board of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
Diplomate, American Board of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery
Diplomate, American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery
why is this? is it because the cells in the face are coming from areas which may get fatter than your face normally would during pregnancy?
also if you are filling in areas that are suffering volume loss anyway, why would they bloat so much during pregnancy? shouldn't your face be just balanced out?
say you get pregant 2 years after a graft, would the risk of bloating drop?
i think there is always a risk when you gain weight post fat transfer no matter how many years out so that is why i consult patients carefully. i use estrogen rich fat that can hold well. that is part of my success. that is also why i think i see beautiful skin changes down the road like a year out. i am very judicious in my use of fat. that is how i achieve pretty darn safe results for my patients. however, with significant weight gain (that is hard to describe exactly what but generally over 20 pounds or more) and pregnancy, i can't predict if you will look good. just think of it this way too: how does your face look when you gain 20 plus pounds? now, obviously, if you are very gaunt, perhaps good. but i am talking about average weight person.