FAT AND BEAUTY ARE NOW ANALOGOUS

DR. JEFFREY RAVAL EMPLOYS THE SAME FAT TRANSFER HE USES TO REJUVENATE PATIENTS' FACES AS HE TURNS BACK THE CLOCK ON THE AGING OF HANDS AND EARLOBES

Physiologically speaking, there are three chronological standards used to determine a person’s age: chronological, bone structure and dental structure. In the cosmetic world, one could say it’s the hands. In a culture where retained youthfulness is priceless, women have been at a loss as to what to do to keep their hands looking as young as their visage, no matter how many procedures a woman might have done to her face.

A secondary concern many women have is over their thinning earlobes, another naturally occurring sign of aging.

Now that worry is behind us. And oddly, it’s because of the fat that we’ve accumulated and invest hours in trying to shed.

Facial Plastic Surgeon Jeffrey Raval, MD, FACS is using fat transfers, the same procedure used to plump up the face, rejuvenating it, and returning it to its youthful fullness, to successfully reverse the appearance of aging hands and to plump up earlobes. The procedure, generally performed at the same time a patient undergoes a facial fat transfer, adds no more downtime to the patient’s recovery. The result is hands that appear to be 10 or more years younger than they did immediately prior to the transfer and earlobes that are lovely even unadorned (without earrings).

Triple board certified in Reconstructive and Facial Plastic Surgery, Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery and Cosmetic Facial Surgery, Dr. Raval has performed fat transfers, also called autologous fat transplantation or micro-lipoinjection, successfully for the past two years. The transfer of fat cells effectively recontours the face and hands. The hollow areas under the eyes and sunken cheeks are filled in which effectively raises the jowl line too. On the hands, the injected fat fills in the areas of lost collagen returning the back of the hand to its youthful plumpness disguising the boniness and veins that come with age.

“A fat transfer,” explains Dr. Raval, “is a procedure that can forestall a patient’s need for an entire face lift.” Not only does the increased fat reintroduce fullness into the face and hands, but it eliminates wrinkles too. Many patients return for their post-op checkups and tell the Doctor they’ve suddenly had a rush on compliments, friends and co-workers commenting that they’ve never looked better. For patients with little extra time to spare, the fat transfer functions as an intermediate step but also a time-save as there is really no downtime involved and they can be up and going after surgery with the caveat that they don’t lift heavy objects or participate in extreme sports for at least two weeks—activities that could inspire blood rushing to the face and unwanted brusing.

The patient is slightly sedated for the in-office procedure and the areas treated are anesthetized. Prior to treatment, Dr. Raval assess where to harvest the fat for transfer: the tummy around the naval, the thighs and buttocks are optimum because the fat in these areas is generally more compact. The first step is removal of the fat by liposuction. Using a small needle attached to a syringe, Dr. Raval harvests fat taking great care to do so evenly and proportionally. The fat is temporarily stored in sealed canules, stainless steel tubes in which it is processed, spun at high rates of speed to separate excess fluids from the essential fat cells.

Then Dr. Raval re-injects the fat, using another needle, into areas of the face that have been predefined prior to surgery with a marker pen as needing plumping up. These are the areas that have over time lost their fullness due to the natural breakdown of underlying elastin fibers and reduced collagen production—two factors that are an unavoidable part of the aging process.

Following the procedure, Dr. Raval positions adhesive bandages over the treated areas on the face for five days, preferable he says, to earlier expert recommendations of leaving the bandages on for only three days. “I’ve found over time that leaving the bandages on for the longer period—five days—nets far better results and that is why I now recommend the five days,” Dr. Raval notes. Bandages can remain on the hands for just three days, he adds. The earlobes require no anesthesia and no bandages.

Immediately after the procedure, the patient is able to get up and around. There is no real downtime, but most patients prefer to stay at home vs. going out in public with the bandages. Some swelling may last up to 36 hours and for that a series of steroid medications is prescribed. Any additional discomfort after the procedure can be fully managed with prescription medication, although most patients claim there is no need for pain medications. Some patients experience slight bruising, but even that can be covered with make-up. Because this procedure it is a transfer of one’s fat cells from one area to another vs. the injection of foreign materials into the body, there is no risk of allergic reaction.

Because some of the transferred fat is reabsorbed into the body naturally, Dr. Raval recommends a repeat transfer within the year. The results: a refreshed, younger appearance of both face and hands can last up to three years.

Jeffrey Raval, MD is a graduate of the University of Michigan Medical School and did his residency and internship at the Department of Otolaryngology at Washington University Barnes Jewish Hospital. He completed his fellowship in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in the Department of Otolaryngology, is triple board certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic Surgery and Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery. He is Section Head of Otolaryngology at Swedish Hospital in Englewood and is the Medical Director of Matrix Spa in Denver. His is a practicing partner at Associates of Otolaryngology with offices at Harvard Park Medical Center and in Lone Tree and volunteers at Denver Inner City Health. He can be reached at 303.744.1961.