Fat transfer is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure. It uses your fat to enhance your cheeks, jaw line, chin, butt or other body parts. Fat transfer can provide a plumper, more youthful look and repair scars. Dermatologists also perform fat transfer for reconstructive surgery.

There are several terms used to describe the transfer of fat from one part of the body to another. Some examples include fat grafting, autologous fat transfer, fat injection and lipofilling. All these terms describe the technique of using fat as a natural filler to improve the appearance of the face.
Fat transfer aims to rejuvenate the face by enhancing the volume, altering the contours and reducing the appearance of wrinkles. It helps to restore the fullness of the facial tissues that are lost with aging. It has also been shown to improve the quality and the texture of the skin. Facial rejuvenation with fat transfer is used commonly in areas such as the cheeks, jawline, chin, temples and for wrinkles around the mouth (marionette lines, nasolabial lines).
Fat transfer rejuvenates the face by changing the volume and contour but only minimally lifts or tightens tissues. Patients with significant laxity or sagging of facial and neck skin may benefit more from a face lift and/or neck lift. You will discuss the options for facial rejuvenation that are best suited to you and your goals during your consultation with your dermatologist.

Who is a good candidate for facial rejuvenation with fat transfer?

Facial rejuvenation with fat transfer is an excellent option for patients who would like to enhance the volume of specific areas in the face or restore volume that has been lost with aging. The fat injected into these areas increases the volume and improves contour to result in a more youthful appearance. Fat transfer is also useful to replenish lost volume causing wrinkles and hollowing. Fat transferred to deep smile lines, corners of the mouth, hollowed eyes and sagging cheeks can restore the volume and improve the effects of aging.
You’re a good candidate for fat transfer if you:
● Are close to your ideal weight.
● Are in good health.
● Don’t smoke or can quit smoking.
● Have enough fat on your body, especially if enhancing a larger area like the hips or butt.
● Want subtle, natural-looking results and have realistic expectations.

After removing excess fat from your abdomen, belly, hips or thighs, a dermatologist can transfer it to several areas. For example:
● buttocks (Brazilian butt lift)
● face
● hips
● lips (lip augmentation)
● cheeks
● Under eye

Facial rejuvenation with fat transfer surgery is performed as an outpatient procedure and you will go home the same day of surgery. The surgery is performed under local anesthesia.
The fat is taken from any areas on your body where you have extra fat and transferred to another area in your body, specifically the face for facial rejuvenation. The most common areas for taking the fat are the abdomen, thighs and love handles. The fat is used as a natural filler. It is donated from your body and transferred back into your body so there is no risk of disease transmission or rejection.
There is a certain amount of fat transferred that melts away (known as resorption) because the fat tissue is depending on a blood supply provided in the location where it is injected. Given this expected loss, an extra amount of volume of fat is injected at the time of surgery to overcorrect. This is to compensate for the resorption that will occur. The majority of the resorption is expected to occur in the first 6-8 weeks following surgery. After this, all volume that remains is expected to be permanent. To harvest (take) the fat, a small incision is made near the area that has excess fat to donate and liposuction is performed. To transfer (inject) the fat, a small incision is made in the face near the area that requires volume, contour and rejuvenation. The incisions are strategically placed in natural creases to minimize their appearance and they should be unnoticeable once healed.

Fat transfer can add natural-looking volume to different parts of your body and create a more youthful appearance. Specifically, fat transfer can:
● create higher cheekbones.
● enhance your waist-hip ratio or create an hourglass shape.
● fill in wrinkles on your face, such as below your eyes.
● increase the size of your buttocks.
● reduce wrinkles on your hands.
● repair facial scars.

Fat transfer isn’t a weight-loss procedure, so you won’t see a dramatic change in the area where your dermatologist removes the fat. The goal of fat transfer is to remove enough fat cells to plump up the desired area.

After your surgery, you will be able to go home on the same day accompanied by a family member or friend once all the effects of the anesthesia have worn off. During the day, you should rest at home and not do physical activity that will raise your heart rate or blood pressure for one week following surgery. You can do light leisure activities like reading or using the computer. At night, you should sleep with your head elevated on pillows or sleep in a reclining chair. Keeping your head elevated helps to reduce the swelling of your face. You can expect mild pain and may feel bruised in the areas that the fat was taken from. You will be prescribed pain medication. You should expect some bruising and swelling in the first 1-2 weeks. This bruising and swelling will gradually improve each week. You can expect to gradually increase your activities 1-2 weeks after surgery. You should not do any strenuous activities (raise your heart rate or blood pressure) until 4-6 weeks have passed since your surgery.

Fat transfer can help rejuvenate your face by decreasing visible signs of aging in the face which may include deep lines below the eyelids and from around the nose to the corner of the mouth as well as improving the shape of the cheeks. Although there is some resorption of fat, the results of a fat transfer are permanent. However, a fat transfer does not stop the aging process.

As with any surgery, there are some common complications that may occur. These include bleeding (hematoma formation), infection, poor wound healing, unfavorable scarring, pain (that may persist after the incisions have healed), facial asymmetry, facial nerve injury, skin loss, numbness/skin sensation changes, irregularities in the area where the fat was harvested, and the need for revision surgery.

Healing after fat transfer for facial rejuvenation surgery is a gradual process. There are typically only minimal incisions but there will be some bruising and swelling that settles generally in 2 weeks following surgery. Some mild swelling may persist for several months, and it may take up to a year for your results to fully appear.

When performed by a trained, experienced dermatologist , fat transfer is effective at giving you a natural-looking, youthful look.

Results from fat transfer are permanent. However, not all fat cells survive the procedure, so you may not achieve the volume you want. It takes about 6 months for the injected fat cells to develop a new blood supply and to see final results.

The number of sessions depends on the size of the treated area and your desired volume. Enhancing face or a butt may require multiple fat transfer surgeries.

Fat transfer surgery is safe. It’s important to work with a dermatologist who has extensive experience performing fat transfer because it requires a high degree of skill. As with any cosmetic surgery, risks are possible.

You’ll receive specific instructions on how to prepare for your procedure, such as:
● Avoid herbal supplements.
● don’t take aspirin or ibuprofen.
● drink plenty of water so you’re well hydrated.
● stop smoking.

Before fat transfer surgery, you typically receive local anesthesia. You’re awake during the procedure but don’t feel any pain.
You might receive general anesthesia, where you are asleep during the procedure, if:
● The treated area is larger.
● You’re having additional cosmetic surgeries at the same time.

Fat transfer surgery can take anywhere from an hour to more than four hours. Timing depends on your specific case. For example, cheek fat transfer takes about an hour. Butt fat transfer can take between 3 and 4 hours.
During fat transfer surgery, your dermatologist :
1. Use liposuction to remove excess fat from one area of your body.
2. Purifies the fat.
3. Inject the fat in tiny droplets into the desired area.

After fat transfer surgery, it’s common to experience side effects in both the donor area and treated area. These side effects may include:
● Bruising.
● Swelling.
● Tenderness or soreness.
You may need to wear a compression garment to help with healing and get the best results.

Your recovery time depends on the location of the fat transfer. It can take up to several weeks for some side effects, such as swelling, to subside.

Some people can return to work and regular activities after a week, while others need 2 weeks or more. Talk to your dermatologist about recovery and what to expect for your specific fat transfer procedure.

After a fat transfer procedure, call your dermatologist immediately if you experience:

● A high fever.
● Dizziness that doesn’t go away.
● Excessive bleeding.
● Redness and heat at the incision site.
● Severe nausea and vomiting.
● Sharp pain that comes on suddenly or doesn’t subside.
● Fluid leaking from your incisions.