Slimmer hips combined with a facelift is the latest cosmetic surgery procedure to hit the UK. The $20,000 operation involves taking stem cells from the hips and injecting them into the face to lessen wrinkles and create a more youthful appearance.

This cosmetic surgery operation will probably appeal to many as it kills two birds with one stone and only requires local anaesthetic. Better still, most patients will not require an overnight stay in hospital and the results last for up to nine years.

This new cosmetic surgery procedure is the idea of French plastic surgeon Roger Amar who hopes that the new surgery will help solve the dilemma some women face to have a facelift or liposuction?

The procedure takes around two and a half hours to complete. Firstly, fat will be removed from around the hip area. This fat is rich in stem cells which are cells capable of turning into other cells types. These stem cells are separated from the fat cells and are injected into the face. These stem cells are then said to help rejuvenate the skin, helping to create a more youthful appearance.

This kind of procedure is likely to prove popular, particularly with those considering a face lift. This operation is quicker than a traditional face lift, does not require general anaesthetic, and has a much quicker recovery time patients who have the FAMI surgery (Fat Auto-Graft Muscle Injection) can return to work after just ten days compared to around two to three weeks for those having had face lifts.

However, this new operation is more expensive than a standard face lift which may put a dampener on the idea for some. It is also not suitable for everyone those who are not likely to be good candidates include those who have already had a face lift, and those who have already had fillers implanted into the face.

Using stem cells in cosmetic surgery is the latest hot trend and with face lifts being the third most popular form of plastic surgery in the UK, it is easy to see why surgeons are keen to produce a surgery that merges the two together.