Facial Contouring after Permanent Filler Removal with Combined Facelift and Fat Grafting: A Case Series

Abstract

Background: Aesthetic procedures for addressing aging range from simple injection of dermal fillers to facelift surgery. The last few decades have witnessed the development of diverse techniques to minimize facial wrinkles, volumize the face, and restore a youthful appearance. For example, fillers are a group of compounds used for cosmetic and reconstructive purposes, especially related to the face. Therefore, this study aimed to demonstrate specific cases where problematic dermal fillers were evacuated in combination with facelift procedures and fat grafting. It therefore demonstrates means to manage and treat permanent filler complications with a multidisciplinary evidence-based approach to achieve functional and cosmetic outcomes. Methods: Between January 2020 and August 2022, 50 patients were subjected to drainage of permanent dermal filler followed by facelift and fat grafting with a minimum 6-month follow-up recorded. Results: A total of 50 female patients between 30 and 56 years of age underwent permanent dermal filler removal in conjunction with facelift and fat grafting. The surgery was successful in all cases, but four cases of seroma and four cases of facial mandibular nerve neuropraxia, five cases of scar hypertrophy, two cases of wound infection and one case of pixie ear deformity were encountered during the follow-up. Conclusion: In this study, we present the characteristics of combining facelift and fat grafting procedures after surgical drainage of permanent dermal fillers to achieve aesthetically favorable results.