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Facial Surgery
 Plastic surgery facial autograft muscle injection FAMI
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Facial Autograft Muscle Injection - FAMIFacial Autograft Muscle Injection (FAMI) - Introduction
Cosmetic plastic surgery is still an undesirable procedure for a niche of image-conscious people. They prefer a non-surgical procedure due to the fear of surgery, or lack of efficient surgeons, or less confidence in plastic surgery. Many patients want to have a fresher appearance without looking ‘done.’ Facial Autograft Muscle Injection (FAMI) was invented for that, to soften an aging appearance without undergoing a surgery.
Facial Autograft Muscle Injection (FAMI) - History
FAMI, or facial autograft muscle injection, was developed by Dr. Roger E. Amar in 1991. FAMI is a non-surgical, outpatient procedure that helps a patient look more refreshed and youthful by injecting fat into sunken areas of the skin. As a patient ages, the skin remains the same size as the layers underneath atrophy, leaving a sunken and droopy appearance. FAMI works to correct this. As opposed to a face lift, the FAMI procedure will work to soften the gaunt look of the patient, rather than accentuate it.
What is Facial Autograft Muscle Injection (FAMI)?
FAMI is sometimes mistaken for ‘Fat Autograft Muscle Injection’ as the procedure works to rejuvenate the muscles by using the patient’s own fat cells. This fat contains stem cells and fibroblasts that help to plump up sunken areas of the skin. Not only does FAMI produce results that do not look surgical, but also refines the face to look more anatomically correct for the particular patient. FAMI is very much geared toward making a particular patient look the best that he/she can.
Facial Autograft Muscle Injection (FAMI) - Procedure
As a non-surgical facelift procedure, FAMI involves two stages. The first stage includes the removal of fat from the lower body of the patient in a procedure that is similar to liposuction—called lipo-harvesting. This procedure is more refined as it separates the larger fat cells from the fibroblasts, the stem cells and the smaller fat cells. The second stage of FAMI includes the injection of the harvested material into the facial muscles with special instruments.
So how is FAMI different from regular fat transplantation? FAMI works with specially designed cannulas that place the fat within the facial expression in a non-traumatic way, following the lines of the patient’s face. Fat transfer procedures can produce results that do not last. Since the fat is injected into spaces above the muscles, blood flow is poor and results can be asymmetrical and short-lived.
Facial Autograft Muscle Injection (FAMI) – Who is it for?
Candidates that are best suited for FAMI include those men or women who are in good physical and mental health. Patients who are experiencing a gaunt look as age sets in are also considered for FAMI. Some patients who have already had facelifts can benefit from the FAMI procedure as the hollowness in the face can not be corrected by the facelift procedure alone. Also, the drawn look of a facelift can be softened by a FAMI procedure. And FAMI is not limited to the cheeks; lips, chin, nose, and lower eye lids can also be helped by FAMI.
Facial Autograft Muscle Injection (FAMI) – Benefits
The FAMI procedure is much safer than a regular cosmetic surgery procedure as it does not involve incisions which can lead to nerve damage and infection. Of course, this is not to say that FAMI is without risks. Some patients may experience complication, but these are few and far between. FAMI has been performed for many years without side effects. There is no risk of allergic reaction as the injected fat is the patient’s. Scarring is minimal as injections are used instead of incisions in FAMI.
Facial Autograft Muscle Injection (FAMI) – Aftereffects And Care
Recovery after FAMI will include some swelling and bruising from the injections. This can last for up to two weeks. Most patients are able to return to their normal activities within five days or so. As the swelling subsides, the results become more visible. The physician will recommend cold compresses following the procedure, and may even recommend that the face be kept elevated for a short period of time. It is imperative that the patient follow the physician’s instructions prior to and following the FAMI procedure for best results.
FAMI can be repeated as necessary to other areas of the face. The fat that has already been placed in the muscles will not move. Studies have shown that blood flow is already present in those areas that have received the FAMI treatment within two days of the injections.