Facial fat transfer · Fat grafting
Facial fat transfer: Compare practices from our network
Facial fat transfer uses your own fat, taken by liposuction, to restore volume lost with age in areas such as the cheeks, temples and under the eyes.
Our network
Facial fat transfer providers from Adoreal's partner network.
London · United Kingdom
N1 Plastic Surgery
Fat transfer to fill deep folds and hollows under the eyes, and facelift with fat transfer to restore volume in the cheeks, temples and under the eyes.
London · United Kingdom
N1 Plastic Surgery
Fat transfer to fill deep folds and hollows under the eyes, and facelift with fat transfer to restore volume in the cheeks, temples and under the eyes.
Ready to see who performs facial fat transfer near you?
Compare ProvidersDecision support
How to choose a facial fat transfer surgeon
Board certification is the starting point. The details below are worth weighing carefully when you're choosing the surgeon who's right for your goals.
Here's what to look for before you decide:
Ask how they plan for fat that does not survive.
Part of the transferred fat is always reabsorbed, and how much varies between patients. A surgeon who explains whether they slightly overfill, when the result can be judged, and how a touch-up would work is giving you realistic expectations rather than a promise.
Technique matters more in the face than almost anywhere.
Fat is placed in tiny amounts, in several layers, through fine cannulas, so that it can establish a blood supply and settle smoothly. Ask how they place it and how they avoid lumps. Fat is less forgiving than filler, and a careful answer is a good sign.
Volume or lift: they should tell you which you need.
Fat transfer replaces lost volume, but it does not lift sagging skin. A surgeon who tells you when a facelift, or a combination, would serve you better is planning for the result you want rather than the treatment you asked about.
Fat or fillers should be an honest comparison.
Fillers usually need refreshing every six to twelve months but are more predictable. Fat can last for years but settles less predictably. A surgeon who sets out both, for your face and your goals, respects your ability to choose.
Ask about safety technique.
Serious complications such as fat embolism are very rare. Blunt cannulas and careful technique help keep fat out of blood vessels. A surgeon who explains how they reduce this risk, and welcomes the question, is one worth trusting.
Before your consultation, prepare this question
“How much of the fat do you expect to survive in my face, and would I be better served by a facelift, fillers or a combination?”
A surgeon who answers both parts honestly, including when fat is not the right choice, is planning around your face rather than a technique.
Find a Facial Fat Transfer ProviderAbout the treatment
About facial fat transfer
Facial fat transfer, also called facial fat grafting or lipofilling, restores volume using your own fat. Fat is removed by liposuction from areas such as the abdomen, flanks or thighs, purified, and then injected through fine cannulas in tiny amounts and several layers, with no visible incisions on the face.
Loss of volume is one part of facial aging; sagging is another. A facelift repositions tissue that has descended, and fat transfer replaces volume that has been lost, which is why the two are often combined. Compared with dermal fillers, fat is your own tissue and can last for years, but it is less predictable because part of it is reabsorbed.
Areas commonly treated
- Cheeks and midface, to restore fullness that has flattened with age.
- Temples, where hollowing can make the face look drawn.
- Under-eye hollows, softening the transition between lower lid and cheek.
- Folds, lips and jawline, including deep folds around the mouth.
What is facial fat transfer?
Facial fat transfer restores lost volume with your own fat, taken by liposuction, purified and injected in tiny amounts through fine cannulas.
It treats hollowing rather than sagging, and is often combined with a facelift.
Areas commonly treated
Your surgeon focuses on where volume has been lost:
Cheeks and midface, to restore fullness.
Temples, where hollowing can make the face look drawn.
Under-eye hollows, softening the lid-cheek transition.
Folds, lips and jawline, including deep folds around the mouth.
Who it suits
Facial fat transfer generally suits volume loss in someone in good health:
Hollowing in the cheeks, temples or under the eyes
Enough donor fat
A stable weight
Non-smoker, or willing to stop
Realistic expectations about absorption
The treatment, step by step
01. Consultation. Volume loss, skin and donor areas assessed, and fat, fillers or a combination discussed.
02. Preparations. Medication and smoking advice, and downtime planned.
03. Anesthesia. Local with sedation, or general when combined with other surgery.
04. Harvesting. Fat removed by liposuction through small incisions.
05. Purification. Fat separated from blood and fluid.
06. Injection. Tiny amounts placed in several layers with fine, blunt cannulas.
Recovery and aftercare
Swelling and bruising are normal in the face and at the donor site.
Avoid massage and direct pressure on treated areas, often for around six weeks
Visible bruising and swelling usually resolve within about two weeks
Return to normal routines after about one week
Keep your weight stable
The lasting result is judged at around six months.
Risks and side effects
Facial fat transfer carries the risks of both liposuction and fat grafting:
Swelling and bruising, common and temporary.
Partial fat reabsorption, expected, and sometimes needing a touch-up.
Lumps or unevenness, where fat does not settle smoothly.
Asymmetry, sometimes corrected with a touch-up.
Infection, uncommon.
Fat embolism, very rare but serious.
When to seek medical attention
- Unusual swelling, pain, or discharge from the incision sites
- Significant bleeding or signs of infection
- Breathing difficulty or chest pain
- Any sudden or concerning change in your overall health
Contact your surgeon's practice directly, or seek emergency care, if you experience any of the above.
Common questions
Facial fat transfer questions, answered.
If your question isn't here, ask us directly. A real person answers, and we won't push you toward anything.
Talk to us →How is fat transfer different from dermal fillers?
Fillers are injected products that usually need refreshing every six to twelve months. Fat transfer uses your own tissue, needs liposuction to harvest it, and fat that survives can last for years. It is, however, less predictable, because part of it is reabsorbed.
Which areas can be treated?
Commonly the cheeks, temples, under-eye hollows, lips, jawline and deep folds around the mouth. Some practices also use it for acne scars, and for the backs of the hands.
How much of the fat survives?
It varies. Figures quoted by surgeons range from around half to most of the transferred fat. What survives establishes a blood supply, and the lasting result is clearer at around six months.
Will I need more than one session?
Sometimes. Because some fat is reabsorbed, a touch-up is occasionally needed once the graft has settled, typically no earlier than about six months.
Can it be combined with a facelift?
Yes, and it often is. A facelift repositions sagging tissue, while fat transfer restores the volume that has been lost. It is also combined with eyelid surgery. Combining affects anesthesia time and recovery, so discuss it at consultation.
Where is the fat taken from?
Usually the abdomen, flanks or thighs, through small incisions. The donor area can be sore and swollen for some weeks.
How long is the downtime?
Most people return to desk work and normal activities after about one week, sometimes two. Visible bruising and swelling usually resolve within about two weeks, with minor swelling for a few weeks more.
Will there be scars?
The fat is injected through very small openings, so there are no visible incisions on the face. Small scars at the donor site usually fade.
How long do the results last?
Fat that survives is living tissue and can last for years, often longer than fillers. Your face continues to age, and significant weight change can alter the result.
What are the main risks?
Swelling and bruising, reabsorption of part of the fat, lumps or unevenness, asymmetry and infection. Fat embolism, where fat enters a blood vessel, is very rare but serious.
