Key takeaways
Facial fat transfer case: thin, hollow cheeks. Since hyaluronic acid and Aesthefill don't last long, after an assessment with Dr. Kuo-Chun Liao she had fat harvested and transferred to the cheeks and upper eye hollows. Afterward there was bruising and mild numbness at the liposuction site, and she wore compression garments. Six weeks later the hollows were filled and the result looked natural.
Contents
"I'm Mimi, I'm 40, and I'm an investment advisor. My cheeks were too thin, which made me look stern, so I wanted fat transferred to my cheeks. And to look good in photos, I decided to fill my upper eye hollows at the same time..."
Most of the time when I took photos I had to edit out the shadows on my face. However I posed, I looked gaunt, and I couldn't keep using beauty filters, because they look fake. So if I used the regular camera, I had to retouch the shadows on my cheeks afterward. And most people who met me thought I looked stern. With makeup I'd use tons of highlighter. It was really tiring!
Choosing my own fat over hyaluronic acid
Hollow cheeks had bothered me for a long time. I'd thought about trying hyaluronic acid or Aesthefill, but after a lot of research online I felt that spending NT$50,000 to 100,000 for something that disappears in a year or two wasn't worth it, so I dropped the idea. In the end I chose facial fat transfer, because in terms of safety my own fat seemed a relatively safe option that doesn't fade as fast. Some fat can still be lost, but I keep it from disappearing through diet and by not dieting. I was also afraid that with injected fillers (like hyaluronic acid) the two sides might fade differently, and I think fillers may sag as women get older.
The best value! Sculptra, Ellansé and Aesthefill prices, pros and cons compared
I consulted several clinics; here's why I chose NAISS...
It was only a month from consultation to surgery, but I consulted quite a few clinics. I came to NAISS because a former colleague had treatment here and recommended it. What made me choose NAISS CLINIC in the end was the clinic's manager. Besides facial fat transfer, I also asked about breast augmentation, and from the start of the consultation to the end, it took nearly five hours. I was really surprised anyone would explain things in such detail at a consultation.
I'd assumed clinics treat people who come in for consultations as just asking around, but at our very first consultation at NAISS we got a 3D simulation. The other clinics we went to afterward didn't offer that, or only had the doctor explain in detail once you'd committed to surgery. After comparing, it was the clinic's setting here, plus how thoroughly everything was explained, that made me choose NAISS CLINIC.
Very happy with the result, so natural no one can tell
I wasn't very nervous on the day, because I'd had general anesthesia before for a health checkup, and I'd looked up reviews of Dr. Kuo-Chun Liao and his technique online, so I felt very reassured. Aftercare was wearing compression pants and massaging with some body oil I bought. Bruising started on day one; I iced it a bit at home and otherwise just waited for the swelling to go down. After the anesthesia my legs felt a little numb, and that was the only discomfort
It's been six weeks now. I don't wear the compression pants at work during the day, but I still wear them to sleep. Many people find compression garments uncomfortable, but I used to work at a department store counter and wore support stockings, so I'm used to them. My face has recovered very naturally. The areas that used to be hollow are filled in, and I'm very happy. People around me can't tell, either. They thought my face used to look sunken, and now it just looks natural; they don't know what I had done, and it doesn't look like I had anything done at all
If a friend wants to do it later...
So far, before, during and after surgery, everything has been fine, so if a friend has something similar, like hollow cheeks, I'd recommend fat transfer. When choosing a clinic, pay attention to the setting, how carefully things are explained, and the staff's service.
Lots of minimally invasive treatments can improve hollow cheeks now, so I think finding the one that suits you is important. If you want fat transfer, you can do it earlier. I only did it at my current age and feel it was a bit late, so if you want it, as long as you find the right doctor and the right method, you really can go ahead sooner!
This story reflects one patient's experience. Results and recovery vary from person to person; please consult a doctor in person about your own treatment plan.
