Facial Fat Transfer

Fat transfer to face, also known as lipofilling, facial fat grafting and face fat transfer, is performed when more volume is preferred due to a loss of facial volume with the ageing process. With age, many people tend to gain fat in the body, but lose it in the face. This, combined with the loss of facial volume in the form of muscle and bone, makes the face look older. During youth, the face is usually heart-shaped in appearance; however, as people age, the heart shape falls to form a rectangular appearance. The distribution of facial fat loss varies from person to person. The surgeon is able to remove fat cells from donor areas such as the abdomen, hips or inner thighs and carefully transfer the fat to targeted areas of the face where more volume is required. Fat grafting is also ideal for those patients who have developed postoperative contour deformities from previous liposuction. Targeted fat injections can also add volume to fill in fine lines, wrinkles and deeper folds. Fat injections can also be used for scar revision. It is not possible to achieve 100% graft survival with fat transfer but with modern methods, the rate of fat survival can be as high as 80%. The viable fat will be permanent which results in a visible improvement in facial contour.

Fat transfer has been performed in various forms for over a 100 years but it is only in the last 20 to 30 years that the procedure has evolved to become highly effective and give consistently good results. The techniques for facial fat transfer have now become more standardised for fat removal, fat processing and fat re-injection. With the success of liposuction and fat transfer means body contouring surgery has become the most popular cosmetic procedure today.

Fat transfer to face is a more natural approach to facial rejuvenation and also much longer lasting when compared with HA dermal filler injections. Dermal fillers have to be repeated every 6-12 months to maintain the results however fat transfer is a one and done procedure with no requirement for further repeat treatments. When considered over the long-term, facial fat transfer may be a more economical option for facial rejuvenation. Although fat injections can be performed on its own, it is more commonly combined with facial rejuvenation procedures such as blepharoplasty, facelift, brow lift or laser resurfacing. The procedure adds facial volume by acting as a scaffold for the skin, recreating a vibrant and youthful appearance.

Expected results after face fat transfer

• Increased volume with a smoother appearance to areas injected with fat
• Improved facial contour
• Improvement in fine lines and wrinkles with the use of microfat
• Improvement in skin texture and quality with nanofat

By analysing the pattern of facial ageing in a 3-dimensional fashion, our skilled facial plastic surgeons can restore fat to areas of the face where volume has been lost. Fat injections can be performed around the entire face and temples, as well as to only specific areas.

Advantages of fat transfer to face compared with dermal fillers

• Fat transfer makes use of the body’s own natural fat for injection, dermal fillers use hyaluronic acid
• The fat injections technique does not carry the risk of an allergic reaction compared with soft tissue fillers
• The results achieved from fat injections last much longer compared to cosmetic injectables

All our surgeons are on the GMC specialist register. Our London clinic at 106 Crawford Street was recently inspected and rated as good across all 5 domains.

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What is included in my treatment package?

• As many preoperative consultations with your surgeon as you like to make sure the procedure is right for you
• Treatment at a specialist day surgery facility recently rated ‘Good’ by the CQC
• Enhanced same day discharge with the added benefits of recovering in your own home
• 24/7 clinical support from your surgeon for first 48 hours and our expert postoperative support team
• Your very own dedicated patient coordinator
• In-depth preoperative medical assessment to make sure you are fully fit for the rhinoplasty procedure
• Exceptionally high standards of postoperative care described as ‘outstanding’ by the CQC with regular telephone and face to face checks by our expert postoperative support team

RealSelf Top Doctors

RealSelf top doctor status is awarded to less than 10% of the RealSelf doctor community.  This status is earned by achieving consistently high patient satisfaction (from RealSelf reviews), getting excellent feedback on expert answers to patient questions, and after investing significant time in Q&A and other doctor activity. RealSelf top doctors are rated among the very best surgeons in the United Kingdom and USA.

1. Over 15 years experience with all types of face fat transfer surgery – macrofat, microfat and nanofat grafting
2. We regularly receive patients from overseas at our facial plastic surgery specialist centre
3. Our surgeons are UK trained NHS consultant plastic surgeons who live and work in the UK. We don’t work with ‘fly-in, fly-out’ surgeons from other countries. This is very important because whilst your surgeon takes all precautions to minimise complications, complications can and do occur and our surgeons are readily available to manage any issues if and when they arise.
4. We own and manage our own surgical facilities. Properly performed fat transfer surgery takes time and should not be rushed. We do not cram 5-6 procedures into one day like other providers. You want your surgeon to be well-rested and mentally and physically sharp to perform face fat transfer surgery to get the best results.

Trust a facial plastic surgeon for face fat transfer

A facial plastic surgeon is trained to undertake aesthetic surgical procedures in the facial region including fat transfer to face. They are dedicated face sub-specialists. Compared with general plastic surgeons, facial plastic surgeons are inherently better trained to perform delicate procedures in the eye region. The extra years of surgical training by facial specialists focused on the facial region results in an exceptionally high degree of skill. Fat transfer surgery is highly intricate and our surgeons are highly experienced to undertake surgery in the face region.

• Alok Misra
• Ertan Erel

Our surgeons are full members of:

Facial fat grafting is the process of moving fat from a donor area of the body to an area of the face. As you are using your own fat, this method leaves no chance of any hypersensitivity reactions. Facial fat grafting can help to restore volume to the face, making you appear more youthful and gives your face more balance. It is able to restore any volume that has been lost as a result of ageing or introduce volume that has never previously existed. Facial fat grafting even has positive effects on the skin – it has been shown to help repair damaged tissue and stimulates the skin, improving skin elasticity.

Benefits of fat transfer to face

• Fat injections to face delivers natural looking results
• Uses natural materials – not  chemicals or implants
• Performed as a day surgery with a minimal recovery time
• Adds contour to areas that may have lost volume in the ageing process
• Helps banish wrinkles and frown lines
• Also addresses facial imperfections like depressions or scars on the skin
• Improves the quality of the skin

Possible Side Effects of fat transfer to face

• Swelling and soreness may be experienced in the first few days following the surgery
• Infection on the incisions but can be avoided with good aftercare
• Some of the fat will be absorbed by the body

All patients should be in good health and have realistic expectations about what can be achieved with fat transfer to face

We do not treat patients below the age of 18 years of age.

Healing is better if patients refrain from or quit smoking. You will have to quit smoking prior to surgery as well as during the recovery period to maximise fat survival.

Fat transfer to face is ideal for patients who feel they have a loss of facial volume as a result of the ageing process. Fat transfer to face can help soften fine lines and wrinkles, and also add volume to the face for a more youthful and refreshed appearance. The procedure also addresses the loss of fat on the face that defines the contour of the cheeks and jawline. Our surgeons use facial fat grafting techniques to fill up the hollow areas to restore natural contours of the face that may have been lost during the ageing process.

It is important to have realistic expectations of what the procedure can achieve, and have a thorough understanding of the procedure. Some of the fat transferred may become reabsorbed, and in certain cases you may need to undertake a touch-up or repeat session to achieve the desired results.

Those who will not be suitable for fat injections include those who do not have enough fat in donor areas which can be transferred. Those who have an unstable weight may also be considered unsuitable. Active smokers are also not advised to undertake facial fat transfer due to adverse effects on transferred fat from the components of tobacco smoke.

Prior to the fat transfer to face, you will need to have a consultation with one of the surgeons. The consultation begins by having an opportunity to discuss your ideas, concerns and expectations about the fat injections procedure with your surgeon, and ask any relevant questions you may have. 

Your facial transfer surgeon will:

1. Take a focused history and examine you
2. Explain the fat grafting procedure
3. Take your needs and preferences into account when deciding on the most appropriate treatment option for you

Fat injections involves three steps:

1. Liposuction: fat is harvested from a donor area with liposuction. At Centre for Surgery, we use very fine cannulas and gentle suction to delicate extract fat cells. Unlike other methods of liposuction, manual lipo does not involve the use of heat, which eliminates the risk of damage to the delicate fat cells.
2. Processing: the collected fat is purified. This purification process separates the living cells from non-viable adipocytes and lipid. This ensures only tissue which will not be reabsorbed will be used.
3. Injections: fat is then injected back to the area to be treated and shaped to give you the ideal appearance.

Fat injections are performed as an outpatient surgery. This means you will be able to return home on the same day as your procedure, once the effects of the anaesthetic have worn off.

Following your surgery, you can expect some swelling and bruising which will fade away within a few days. Pain medication can be taken to ease any discomfort.

You may be given antibiotics to take during the recovery period. This will help to lower your risk of any infections occurring.

You will see the result almost immediately after the swelling has gone down. However, it may appear as if too much fat has been transferred, and at first, the results may appear swollen. This is because a certain percentage of the fat will naturally be absorbed by the body. It may take a few months for final results to be noticeable. 

You can return to work after a day or two after your surgery, but strenuous activities must be avoided for at least two weeks.

The result achieved from the fat injections procedure can last a long time as long as good aftercare routine is followed. You may wish to return for a smaller top-up procedure if the volume of the face has not increased enough, or too much fat was absorbed by the body. 

There are a number of potential risks associated with fat injections. At consultation, your surgeon will always take time to fully discuss the risks and complications associated with fat injections. All risks need to be outlined regardless of how rare they are. By choosing Centre for Surgery for your facial fat injections procedure, you can be confident in having highly experienced and expert surgeons to perform your procedure.