The American Society For Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Hosts Panel On Facial Fat Volumization At Its 2014 Annual Meeting

SAN FRANCISCO, April 28, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) hosted a panel of plastic surgeons at its 2014 Aesthetic meeting in San Francisco, CA today, who presented the latest findings on facial fat volumization – including when to use it, where to place it and how to remove it when necessary. While the addition of volume is not a new concept, (nearly a century ago paraffin was used experimentally to this end), the practice had been abandoned for decades until recently, when doctors discovered the myriad benefits of using one's own fat to fill out hollow and gaunt areas of the face and the secondary beneficial properties of doing so.

Val Lambros, MD, one of the panelists explained, "The use of fat to add volume to the face is the best thing to happen to plastic surgery since the debut of the facelift. It is truly the best substance imaginable when used appropriately and in reasonable quantities. You can yield spectacular results with fat, however it is a biological material, and can therefore grow if a patient gains weight or can sometimes disappear completely. If it is overdone this can result in complications, so knowing how to deal with those complications and potential side effects is critical," he continued.

The panelists highlighted best practices and also addressed the use of fat as a biologic therapy and as a facial rejuvenator through the harvesting of the stem cells. Steven R. Cohen, MD explained, "The stem cells in fat can impact dermal thickness, collagen production and the stimulation of new blood vessels – all key components of regeneration and restoration."

Fat has a subcutaneous impact on blood vessels, which in turn repairs tissue.  As a result, fat volumization helps to combat sun damage, smoker's lines, scarring and pigmentation. The human body is in a constant state of disintegration and repair, however the ability to repair is limited to a certain point after which the body is unable to replace lost cells quickly enough as we age. Fat and stem cells from fat appear to hold the key to slowing down the aging process by re-stimulating the body's ability to produce these critical cells.

The panelists agreed that fat and the stem cells harvested out of it are not necessarily the only components to be used in re-creating facial volume. Fillers and other injectables are still equally valuable on a case-by-case, (patient-to-patient) basis.

"There is always a battle between natural biology and synthetics, but as we learn more about how the body can be coaxed into regeneration, we can synergize the two to build scaffolding out of composite materials that are designed to attract healthy cells and encourage regrowth," Dr. Cohen explained.  

More information for media: The Aesthetic Meeting Media Page
Follow updates from the meeting on Twitter: #ASAPS14
PRESENTERS are available for interviews.
PLEASE CONTACT THE ASAPS COMMUNICATIONS STAFF.

About ASAPS
The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) is recognized as the world's leading organization devoted entirely to aesthetic plastic surgery and cosmetic medicine of the face and body. ASAPS is comprised of over 2,600 plastic surgeons; Active Members are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (USA) or by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and have extensive training in the complete spectrum of surgical and non-surgical aesthetic procedures. International Active Members are certified by equivalent boards of their respective countries. All members worldwide adhere to a strict Code of Ethics and must meet stringent membership requirements.

Website: www.surgery.org
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SOURCE American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery