(fat grafting,
fat filler)
—
Facial fat grafting uses your own body fat to restore volume in areas that have hollowed with age or weight loss. It is often used to plump the cheeks, temples, and under-eyes. Unlike synthetic fillers, fat grafting can produce long-lasting, natural-looking volume using tissue from your own body.
At Appleby Plastic Surgery, we have extensive experience with facial fat transfer for structural rejuvenation that complements your features.
Facial fat transfer
For a fat transfer, we gently harvest a small amount of fat from your abdomen, hips, or thighs using a mini liposuction technique. The fat is then purified and injected into areas of the face where volume has diminished.
fat transfer is commonly used to plump these areas:
works—
how it
Cheeks and midface
Under-eye hollows
temples
Smile lines or jawline
Nasolabial folds
Chin
lips
In general, here’s what most fat transfer patients experience:
Slight overfilling initially, which settles as fat cells stabilize
Compression garment for the harvest site, if needed
Most patients return to light activity in 3 to 5 days.
expect—
what to
Your surgeon and nurse will walk you through your personalized recovery plan.
& recovery
timeline —
stage
what to expect
Consultation
We’ll evaluate facial volume loss and skin quality, and determine if fat transfer is right for you.
Surgery
A 1- to 2-hour procedure using gentle fat harvesting and precise facial injections.
First week
Swelling and minor bruising. Most patients resume social activity in 5 to 7 days.
4–6 weeks
Results settle as fat integrates into the tissue. Volume softens and looks natural.
Full result
Final volume is visible at 3 to 6 months. Most results are long-lasting.
Procedure —
fat transfer
Seamless care
to ensure your entire experience, from consult to recovery, is positive.
Precision-focused results
A final result that meets our high standards and achieves your goal.
to handle complex cases and deliver results that restore confidence.
Technical mastery
collaborating to craft your ideal outcome.
Team of top-tier surgeons
Our clinic was designed to make your experience easier—from streamlined consults to overnight care, and everything in between.
appleby—
why choose
Fillers are synthetic and temporary (lasting 6 to 18 months); in comparison, fat grafting uses your own tissue, and it lasts longer.
Will I need more than one session?
In some cases, a second round of fat grafting is recommended to refine results, especially for under-eye or temple volume.
Where does the fat come from?
We typically use fat from the abdomen, hips, or thighs. We gently collect this fat using a small cannula.
How long do results last?
Yes. Many patients pair facial fat grafting with Blepharoplasty, Brow Lift, or Neck Liposuction.
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How does it compare to fillers?
Fat grafting offers long-term volume enhancement. The fat that survives after healing typically lasts for years.