As we age, we begin to lose volume in our face. Facial restoration can make one look years younger.* This can be done either with fillers or facial fat grafting. With facial fat grafting, your own fat cells are harvested and then placed into your face to restore any lost volume.* The main advantage of facial fat grafting is that the results last longer unlike those from fillers which are just temporary.* Furthermore, since you are using your own fat cells, there’s minimal risk of an adverse reaction.* Many patients who don’t like the idea of putting something foreign into their body embrace facial fat grafting for exactly this reason. Dr. Harish Ghildiayl has had thorough training in facial anatomy so he knows where and how much volume is needed to give your face a natural looking, youthful contour.* Facial fat grafting may be performed alone or as part of a facelift.
Facial Fat Grafting Technique
The first step with facial fat grafting is to liposuction fat cells from a donor site, typically your inner and/or outer thighs and stomach. These harvested fat cells are then transplanted back into the depleted areas of your face using very fine needles. The result is a plumper, more youthful-looking face.
Preparing for Facial Fat Grafting Surgery
As with any major surgery, all medications and supplements which cause an increased risk of bleeding should be stopped 2 weeks prior to surgery. Please see our list of medications and supplements to avoid. As always, make sure to check with your doctor before stopping any medications.
Quick Facts
- Length: 1-2 hours
- Anesthesia: General Anesthesia
- Inpt/Outpt: Outpatient
- Side effects: Bruising, swelling
- Recovery: 1 week
Facial Fat Grafting Improvements
Facial fat grafting is able to improve lost volume in:*
Recovery from Facial Fat Grafting Surgery
Right after surgery, you will experience a moderate amount of swelling and bruising, but this will begin to subside within 48-72 hours. Patients typically require 1 week off of work for recovery.
Because facial fat grafting is a less invasive type of surgery, you’ll be able to return to normal activities more quickly than you would with a more invasive procedure like a facelift.* You should take it easy for the first week after surgery, but Dr. Sieber wants you up and walking multiple times a day. After 2 weeks, you may resume more rigorous exercise and by 4 weeks, you will be released for full activity.
You will notice your results immediately after your facial fat grafting procedure. However, you may experience mild swelling for a few weeks after surgery. This should be totally resolved within 6-8 weeks after surgery.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much of the injected fat survives in the long term?
Typically, 50-75% of the fat injected will survive.* Depending on how much volume you need restored, some patients may require multiple fat grafting sessions to completely restore a more youthful contour to the face.
Why would I choose to have fat grafting performed instead of fillers?
Facial fat grafting results in complete volume restoration while fillers are only temporary*. Although there is initially more downtime associated with facial fat grafting, it doesn’t have to be repeated every few months as is done with filler.