Fat grafting (lipofilling)

Dr Afshin Yousefpour’s structural and biomechanical expertise in the service of overall facial rejuvenation.

Facial ageing is not only a matter of skin: it is above all three-dimensional. It combines loss of the deep fat volumes (cheeks, temples, under-eye area) with laxity or localised fat build-up in the lower face and under the chin (jowls, double chin).

Combining liposculpture (targeted removal of excess fat) with lipofilling (micro-injection of purified autologous fat cells) restores the oval of the face and redefines the jawline without a frozen look.

The protocol, step by step.

1. Step 1

   Fat harvesting

   A discreet donor area (abdomen or thighs) under tumescent local anaesthesia.

2. Step 2

   Graft preparation

   Gentle centrifugation, decantation or sterile filtration to isolate the living fat cells.

3. Step 3

   The procedure

   Liposuction alone or combined with lipofilling, under enhanced local anaesthesia (gentle sedation) or light general anaesthesia depending on the extent, for 1 to 2 hours.

4. Step 4

   Support and recovery

   A face and neck support band (press-lift) is advised for 3 to 5 days. Back to work and social life after 5 to 8 days, once the main swelling and bruising have settled.

Dr Afshin Yousefpour’s expert approach

A specialist in cranio-maxillofacial anatomy, Dr Yousefpour knows the deep tissue planes, vascular pathways and fat compartments of the face in depth. This precision ensures:

• High-precision submental micro-liposuction: fine aspiration with a blunt micro-cannula to lighten the neck, redefine the chin-neck angle and remove a double chin without damaging the nerves.

• Micro-fat: restoring structural volumes (cheeks, tear trough, temples, nasolabial folds, jaw contours).

• Nano-fat: a fat emulsion rich in mesenchymal stem cells and growth factors to smooth fine lines around the mouth and regenerate skin elasticity.

• Natural tissue integration: injection in multi-layered micro-tunnels to optimise revascularisation of the fat grafts and make the result last.

• 100 % autologous material: the fat comes from your own body (abdomen, inner thighs or knees), with no risk of rejection or allergic reaction.

How does lipofilling differ from hyaluronic acid injections?

Hyaluronic acid is a synthetic, resorbable product that needs repeat injections every 9 to 18 months. Lipofilling uses your own living fat tissue. Once the graft has taken (around the 3rd month), the volume achieved is permanent and also brings stem cells that visibly improve skin quality.

How long does facial lipofilling last?

About 20 to 30 % of the injected fat is naturally reabsorbed over the first 8 to 12 weeks. The remaining volume is permanently integrated and will follow your natural weight changes over the years. Dr Yousefpour calibrates the amount injected precisely, allowing for this natural reabsorption.

Is double chin and neck liposuction painful?

The procedure is only mildly painful. Afterwards, patients mainly describe numbness or stiffness in the neck, easily relieved with simple painkillers.

Are the harvesting and injection scars visible?

No. The micro-cannulas used are 1 to 2 millimetres in diameter. The tiny incisions are hidden in natural creases (under the chin, behind the ear, the navel) and become imperceptible over time.

Medical information: nature and principles of the procedure

The procedure harvests autologous fat from a donor area and re-injects it into the areas of the face that need volume (lipofilling) and/or removes excess fat under the chin and along the jaw (liposculpture). Dr Afshin Yousefpour tailors the procedure to the structural analysis of your face.

Normal recovery

• Swelling of the face and neck that may last 1 to 3 weeks.

• Bruising at the harvesting and injection sites, fading within 10 to 15 days.

• Temporary numbness or firmness of the skin.

• Partial natural reabsorption (20 to 30 %) of the transferred volume during the first three months.

Documented risks and complications

Every surgical procedure carries risks, although they are rare in the hands of a specialist surgeon:

• Haematoma or seroma: a collection of blood or lymph that may need to be drained.

• Infection: rare on the face, prevented by strict sterile technique and treated with antibiotics if needed.

• Surface irregularities or asymmetry: contour irregularities or residual asymmetry that may be touched up later.

• Oil cysts or fat necrosis: small lumps under the skin from incomplete reabsorption of a fat graft.

• Temporary sensory or motor nerve injury: temporary weakness of the marginal branch of the facial nerve or tingling in the chin area, usually recovering on its own within a few weeks.

• Vascular complication: exceptional, caused by accidental intravascular injection, prevented by the strict use of blunt-tipped cannulas.

Information and informed consent

Before the procedure, Dr Afshin Yousefpour informs you clearly and fully about the nature, benefits, alternatives and risks of face and neck liposculpture and lipofilling. Enough time to reflect allows you to ask all your questions.

The consent document also states that any revision surgery or touch-ups are paid entirely by the patient and that aesthetic services are subject to 21 % Belgian VAT.