Fat Autograft Muscle Injection (FAMI)

BACKGROUND: Restoration of depleted facial volume is becoming increasingly recognized by cosmetic surgeons as a necessary component of facial rejuvenation. Autologous fat has been used for years, but asymmetry and transient duration have been problematic. OBJECTIVE: To describe a new procedure called fat autograft muscle injection (FAMI), which is designed to maximize the survival of the adipocyte by placement within the muscles of facial expression. METHODS: The technique involves gentle harvesting of fat and centrifugation for 3 minutes. Fat is transferred to 1 cc syringes and attached to one of nine different cannulas shaped to conform to musculoskeletal contours. The muscle is injected with 1 to 3 cc of fat in a retrograde fashion from the insertion to origin or vice versa. Each syringe is emptied in one to three passes. The full face or regions of the face may be treated. RESULTS: FAMI offers soft, natural rejuvenation of depleted facial volume.