Procedure Before/After FeesConsent Form Post-Operative Instructions Consultants Testimonials Frequently Asked Questions
Facial fat grafting, or fat transfer to the face, is a surgical technique that involves extracting fat from one area of the body, processing it, and then injecting it into the face. This natural fat helps add volume to aging facial features and simultaneously rejuvenates the skin.
As we age, our bodies produce less collagen, which leads to sagging and wrinkles. Facial fat grafting is an effective way to fill in defects, improve contouring, and restore volume to sunken areas of the face. Compared to non-surgical treatments like dermal fillers, a facial fat graft provides longer-lasting results and a more organic approach, as it uses your own body's fat cells.
Around 50 to 70 percent of fat cells survive the transfer process, creating a permanent effect. In contrast, the results of dermal fillers tend to fade after six months, and there are limits to how much can be injected at once.
Facial fat grafting is a minimally invasive procedure, which means that recovery time is minimal. It can also be combined with other procedures, such as a mini facelift or blepharoplasty, to further enhance the results.
Facial fat grafting is a successful treatment for common signs of facial aging, such as fine lines, eye bags, frown lines, and sunken cheeks. This procedure can transform a gaunt and tired face into a fresh, plump, and rejuvenated one. It restores volume to the cheeks, lips, and eyes, resulting in a more youthful appearance.
Fat transfer to the face can target various areas of the face. It is a popular choice for restoring sunken cheeks, which is a common side effect of aging that results from the depletion of bony and fat deposits. By transferring fat to the cheeks, prominent cheekbones associated with youth can be restored. Additionally, facial fat transfer can address hollowness in the temples and forehead that results from the aging process.
A fat transfer placed under the eyebrows can lift the brows and upper eyelids, resulting in a more youthful, wide-eyed look. For older individuals, facial fat grafting can effectively restore tissue loss and reshape a pointed chin.
Facial fat transfer can be combined with other treatments and may be considered alongside liposuction to contour other body parts such as the stomach or thighs. The excess fat extracted during liposuction can be repurposed for facial fat grafting instead of being discarded.
Anyone who desires to rejuvenate their face by restoring the lost volume, in addition to enhancing contour definition.
It is also important that patients have some surplus fat that can be harvested by liposuction in order to be injected into the face.
Patients with good health and healing potential are a very good candidates for fat grafting.
Fat is harvested from other parts of the body where there is a surplus or sometimes excess amount of fat. This is particularly in the lower abdomen, flanks and thighs. The fat is then prepped and processed and injected into the facial fat compartments. The added benefit of the liposuction is by reducing the unwanted fat in certain areas.
0.5 - 1 hours
Local Anaesthetic
Daycase
3-7 days
Bruising, swelling, temporary numbness, temporary skin irregularity
Infection, bad scarring, asymmetry, bleeding, permanent numbness
1 week, 3 months (after surgery)
2 weeks
Next day
Immediate
Nano fat refers to the process that converts the harvested fat which is much larger in size to a smaller and finer form. This process also allows the release of fat stem cells, which are pivotal to skin rejuvenation. This technique provides a much refined fat that is more suited to be injected into the superficial layer of the skin.
The main advantage of nano fat is skin rejuvenation by improving tone and texture. This is particularly useful when treating fine wrinkles and areas such as the neck and around the eyes.
Fat Graft (small area e.g. chin, part of the face)
From £3,290
The surgery is performed as a day case under local anaesthetic. It is expected to have some bruising and swelling in the first few days after surgery, especially in the areas of liposuction. This would be expected to settle after two weeks. Most patients would be able to commence their normal activities and work after two weeks. Downtime is similar if combined with a facelift procedure.
