Following massive weight loss, the face may benefit from the addition of volume in patients left with a hollow or sunken appearance. Excess sagging facial skin is another common problem that is best treated with a facelift. However, a facelift cannot add volume to fill sunken cheeks.
The best way to restore volume to the face is through fat transfer. This involves using liposuction to take fat from an area that has an excess and then injecting it into the cheeks. Facial re-contouring is sometimes done in the office but is more often combined with another, more major body contouring procedure performed in the operating room. Patients who have lost tissue volume in the face receive the greatest benefit from both a facelift and fat transfer.
