Hot Shots.(skin care and treatment )

FAT TRANSFER

FAT TRANSFER What It Does: Fat taken from one's own body is reinjected into another area to add fullness in the lips, cheeks, or under the eyes, as well as to flatten wrinkles. No skin testing is required. The FDA has no jurisdiction over this procedure because the material comes from the patient's own body. Experts disagree over the best ways to purify and inject it, and the duration of results. The Procedure: The removal of fat via liposuction -- usually from the patient's abdomen or thighs -- is surgery and requires local anesthesia at least, and deeper anesthesia when large amounts of fat are removed. Ideally, the suctioned material is immediately spun in a centrifuge to remove oil, blood, and local anesthetic, and reinjected within an hour into the face under local anesthesia. Freezing leftover fat for subsequent use is controversial. Opponents of the practice believe freezing causes the cells to die and worry that lab error could result in patients inadvertently receiving another person's fat, thereby risking transmission of diseases or viruses. The Recovery: Swelling, bruising, and discomfort at the liposuction and injection sites are common. If only a small amount of fat is liposuctioned, recovery takes a day or two, with Tylenol for the pain. Injecting the purified fat into the face can cause severe swelling, especially in lips, and major bruising under the eyes. According to New York City plastic surgeon Sydney Coleman, who has developed a number of fat-injection techniques, "A patient can expect to look like a monster for a week, especially if lips are involved." The Risks: Uneven absorption, which may be beyond the doctor's control, can result in an unbalanced look. The Results: Increased fullness will be more apparent after the swelling subsides -- which can be days or weeks depending on the extent of the procedure. Fat injections can sometimes be permanent, but living tissue is unpredictable: Some people's results last only a few months, others' last a year. The Cost: Starting at around $2,000 for fat injections in two smile lines and lips; if extensive liposuction is involved, the cost can rise to $30,000.

RADIESSE

RADIESSE What It Does: Formerly known as Radiance, this white paste made of synthetic ceramic particles was FDA-approved this year for bone augmentation, opening the door for off-label use to fill smile lines, acne scars, and sunken cheeks. Even though some doctors are injecting Radiesse in the lips, it is not always recommended, because it can cause visible lumps that may have to be surgically removed. The Procedure: Radiesse is injected in a row of droplets in the deeper layers of skin and then massaged. Since the injections can ...