Facial fat grafting offers a more natural way to restore lost volume, smooth wrinkles, and enhance facial contours using a patient’s own fat. This minimally invasive procedure transfers fat from other areas of the body to rejuvenate the face with long-lasting results. Because it uses the body’s own tissue, fat grafting provides a soft, natural appearance with a low risk of reaction. Ideal for those seeking subtle, youthful enhancement, fat transfer can improve facial fullness, symmetry, and overall skin quality.
What Is Facial Fat Transfer?
Facial fat grafting restores lost volume, smooths wrinkles, and enhances contours using a patient’s own fat. Fat is harvested from areas like the abdomen or thighs, purified, and carefully injected into the cheeks, temples, under-eye area, or jawline. This technique provides natural-looking, long-lasting results while improving skin quality. Since it uses the patient’s own tissue, there’s no risk of rejection, making it a safe and effective option for facial rejuvenation.
What Are the Benefits of Fat Grafting?
Fat grafting can be an excellent method for the long-term enhancement of facial volume. It is well recognized that loss of volume is a part of the aging process. Facial fat transfer can provide many benefits, including:
- Restoring Lost Volume – Helps replenish areas that have lost fullness due to aging or weight loss.
- Smoothing Wrinkles and Folds – Helps reduce the appearance of deep lines and creases.
- Natural-Looking Results – This technique uses the patient’s own fat to create a smooth, natural appearance.
- Long-Lasting Effects – Unlike fillers, results can be more permanent as transferred fat integrates with existing tissues.
- Dual Benefit of Liposuction – Removes unwanted fat from another area of the body.
- Minimal Risk of Allergic Reaction – Since it uses the patient’s own fat, there’s little to no risk of rejection or allergic response.
- Improves Skin Quality – Fat contains stem cells that may enhance skin texture and elasticity.
- Customized Contouring – Can be used to enhance specific facial features like cheeks, temples, and jawline.
- Less Maintenance Than Fillers – Reduces the need for frequent touch-ups compared to synthetic dermal fillers.
- Minimally Invasive – A less invasive alternative to implants or a surgical facelift.
- Complements Surgical Procedures — For patients seeking more comprehensive rejuvenation, fat transfer can be paired with other facial rejuvenation surgeries.
How Is the Fat Grafting Procedure Performed?
The fat grafting procedure starts by harvesting fat from a donor site, usually the abdomen or flanks. The fat is then specially processed under sterile conditions to remove fluid, oils and blood cells, leaving pure fat graft which can be made into micro- or nano-fat. This is then reinjected as needed for facial augmentation with blunt cannulas, much as an injectable filler may be used. An additional benefit of fat grafting is that the purified fat is rich in stem cells and growth factors, which can help to improve skin quality.
Most patients can have fat grafting procedures done in the office under local anesthesia and some mild sedation. There is usually a few days of swelling and mild bruising so there is some recovery time but the long-term results are worth the minimal downtime.
Fat Injections Before and After Photos
How Long Do Facial Fat Grafting Results Last?
Fat transfer to the face provides long-lasting results, with many patients experiencing improvement for years. While some of the transferred fat may be reabsorbed by the body in the first few months, using modern techniques over 85% of transferred fat survives and integrates with facial tissues. The fat that successfully integrates remains permanently. The longevity of results depends on factors such as the patient’s metabolism, lifestyle, and aging process. Maintaining a stable weight can help preserve the outcome. Unlike temporary dermal fillers, fat grafting offers a natural, enduring solution for facial volume loss and contour enhancement. Touch-up treatments may be needed over time to maintain optimal results.
