Filler or lipofilling?

Fillers are filling materials – typically hyaluronic acid or collagen – that are injected in the affected area to fill wrinkles or to increase the volume of some parts of the face (cheekbones, lips, chin).

Lipofilling, instead, is a surgical technique that consists in removing fat (in a non-traumatic way, thanks to a micro cannula) from some fat deposit areas (abdomen, glutes, thighs), in purifying it and in injecting it in the areas to be filled, for a volumizing or wrinkle-filling effect.

Therefore, the 2 treatments are used to reach the same goal: wrinkles elimination or increase in the volume of certain face (or body) areas. There are some differences though.

The difference between filler and lipofilling

Basically, the main differences are 4:

1. Kind of treatment: filler is a minimally-invasive treatment (injections) that generally lasts from 15 to 30 minutes; it’s an outpatient procedure that does not require anesthesia but only the application of an anesthetic cream to reduce the discomfort. Lipofilling, instead, is a surgical procedure, performed under local anesthesia (and possible sedation) in an adequate operating room, that lasts about 45 minutes; the patient is discharged the very same day.
2. Injected substance: they are both low-risk treatments, but, with reference to lipofilling, the risk of reactions or intolerance is almost zero, because it consists of injections of the patient’s own fat.
3. Recovery time: with reference to filler, the recovery time is almost immediate; only a couple of hours after the treatment, the patient can use make up. Concerning lipofilling, no medication or stitches are needed; nevertheless, a mild edema and possible bruises may appear after the surgery; but they all disappear within a few days.
4. Results: the filler result is immediate and lasts from 6 to 12 months, depending on the substance used and on the patient’s features; in facts, the injected substance is completely resorbed after this period and the effect wears off; with reference to lips filler, the result fades away after 4-6 months. The lipofilling result is almost immediate, but it’s consolidated at best after a few weeks. On the other side, it’s a semi-permanent result, because only a part of the injected fat is resorbed and the other part remains permanently.

In both cases, we make the same recommendations: only an accurate medical consultation, performed by an expert and specialized doctor, can lead to choose the best surgical option for each patient. It’s also important that the treatment is performed in adequate medical facilities by highly specialized doctors with a huge specific experience.

Learn more about filler and lipofilling

Clinica del Viso is a medical clinic, specialized exclusively in face surgery and face esthetic medicine– notably, in blepharoplasty – thanks to:

– a specialist plastic surgeon (Dr. Christophe Buratto)

– a surgery room specifically designed for face surgery and with the most advanced equipment

– a qualified, consolidated and empathetic surgical and assistance staff.