What Is Facial Fat Transfer?
Facial fat transfer is a surgical procedure that transfers fat from one area of the body to selected areas of the face. It is also called facial fat grafting, and sometimes fat injections. Fat is usually harvested with liposuction, processed into microfat or nanofat, and placed through small cannulas into the planned facial areas.
Facial fat transfer may be considered when the main change is facial volume loss rather than tissue descent. If the main change is jowls, jawline change, neck laxity or lower-face descent, facelift surgery, a deep plane facelift, a lower facelift or neck surgery may be more appropriate, alone or in combination with fat transfer.
Facial Fat Grafting for Volume Loss
Facial fat grafting may be discussed when selected areas of the face have lost volume. This can occur with age, genetics, weight change or other factors. The face carries fat in superficial and deep compartments, and changes in these compartments contribute to flattening of the cheeks, hollowing at the temples and tear troughs, and deepening folds around the mouth.
The aim of fat grafting is to add volume to specific areas identified during assessment, rather than to lift descended facial tissues. Assessment considers the pattern of volume loss, the condition of the skin, whether tissue descent is also present, and which areas are likely to respond to grafting. Commonly assessed areas include the cheeks, temples, tear troughs, pre-jowl area, lips and chin.
Facial Volume Loss After GLP-1 Weight-Loss Medications
Some patients describe facial volume loss after significant weight loss, including weight loss associated with GLP-1 weight-loss medications. Facial fat transfer may be discussed when volume loss is the main change, but suitability depends on anatomy, skin quality, tissue descent, weight stability, medical history and the areas being assessed. Weight stability matters in particular, because further weight change can alter the volume of grafted fat.
If weight loss has also contributed to tissue descent, loose skin or neck changes, fat transfer alone may not be sufficient. A facelift, neck lift or combined approach may be discussed after assessment.
Facial Descent vs Facial Deflation
Facial descent and facial deflation are different changes. Descent refers to tissues moving downward, which may contribute to jowls, jawline changes or neck changes. Deflation refers to volume loss in selected facial areas. Some patients have one, and some have both, which is why assessment covers tissue position as well as volume.
| Change | Usually assessed with |
|---|---|
| Volume loss in the cheeks or temples | Facial fat transfer |
| Jowls or lower-face descent | Lower facelift, deep plane facelift or the other facelift options |
| Neck laxity or bands | Neck lift or deep neck lift |
| Changes across several facial areas | Vertical Restore Facelift |
| Under-eye anatomy | Lower blepharoplasty or carefully planned fat transfer |
Facial Fat Transfer vs Dermal Fillers
Facial fat transfer and dermal fillers are different options. Facial fat transfer is a surgical procedure using the patient’s own fat, usually performed under general anaesthesia in an accredited private hospital. Dermal filler is a non-surgical treatment using injectable material in a clinic setting. The appropriate option depends on anatomy, goals, treatment area, medical history and tolerance for surgery.
| Feature | Facial fat transfer | Dermal fillers |
|---|---|---|
| Procedure type | Surgical | Non-surgical |
| Material | Patient’s own fat | Injectable filler material |
| Setting | Accredited private hospital | Clinic setting |
| Anaesthesia | Usually general anaesthesia | Usually local or topical anaesthetic |
| Volume retention | Fat survival varies between patients | Duration varies by filler type and area |
| Reversibility | Not readily reversible | Hyaluronic acid fillers may be dissolved |
| Cost pattern | Higher upfront cost | Repeat treatments may be required |
Neither option is universally preferable; each has a different risk, setting and maintenance profile, discussed at consultation.
Microfat vs Nanofat
Microfat and nanofat are processed differently and are used for different purposes. Microfat contains small parcels of fat used to add volume to selected areas. Nanofat is mechanically emulsified and does not add volume in the same way; it may be discussed for selected superficial applications, but the response varies between patients and is not assured.
| Feature | Microfat | Nanofat |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Small parcels of processed fat | Mechanically emulsified fat |
| Common role | Volume support in selected areas | Selected superficial applications |
| Limitations | Survival varies between patients | Does not provide structural volume like microfat |
The Procedure: Harvest, Process and Inject
Facial fat transfer is performed under general anaesthesia in an accredited private hospital, in three stages.
Harvest
Fat is harvested from a donor site such as the abdomen, flanks or thighs, selected at consultation based on available fat and patient preference. A gentle liposuction technique is used through small access points, and bruising and swelling at the donor site may occur.
Processing
The harvested fat is processed to separate viable fat from fluid and other components. Depending on the planned treatment areas, the fat is prepared as microfat, nanofat or both.
Placement
The processed fat is placed in small parcels through fine cannulas, layered across the planned areas. Placement accounts for the expected settling of some of the transferred fat, and the balance between under-correction and over-correction is a planning judgement discussed at consultation rather than an exact calibration.
Common Facial Fat Transfer Areas
Treatment areas are selected during consultation. Commonly discussed areas include the cheeks, temples, tear troughs, pre-jowl sulcus, nasolabial folds, lips and chin.
Some areas need particular caution. The tear troughs have thin overlying skin, which can make irregularities or prolonged swelling more visible; under-eye changes are sometimes better assessed for lower blepharoplasty, alone or with carefully planned grafting. Where the area around the mouth is part of the discussion, lip lift surgery may also be raised as a separate consideration.
Facial Fat Transfer With Facelift Surgery
Facial fat transfer may be combined with facelift surgery when both volume loss and tissue descent are present. The facelift repositions descended tissue, while fat transfer may add volume to selected areas within the same operation.
Fat transfer is commonly discussed alongside a deep plane facelift, a lower facelift, a short scar facelift or a ponytail facelift, and it is one of the components of a Vertical Restore Facelift. Performed with a facelift, fat grafting adds about 30 minutes of theatre time and about $4,163 to the facelift fee, as set out on the facelift cost page. Whether combined surgery is appropriate is assessed during consultation, and the facelift surgery hub covers how Dr Turner plans each facelift.
Who May Be Suitable for Facial Fat Transfer?
Facial fat transfer may be considered for selected patients with facial volume loss where fat grafting is appropriate for the areas being assessed. Suitability depends on anatomy, skin quality, tissue descent, donor-site fat availability, medical history, smoking status and expectations.
Considerations assessed at consultation include:
- Facial volume loss as the main change, rather than tissue descent.
- Stable weight, since weight change can alter the volume of grafted fat.
- Adequate donor fat at the harvest sites.
- General health and suitability for general anaesthesia.
- Smoking status: stopping all nicotine, including vapes, is required before and after surgery.
- Willingness to accept variable fat survival, including the possibility that a top-up procedure may be discussed.
- Assessment for facelift or neck surgery if descent is also present.
A referral from your GP or another registered medical practitioner is required. Two consultations with Dr Turner are required before surgery, the first of which can be by video and the second in person, and a seven-day cooling-off period applies before surgery can be booked or a deposit paid. Dr Turner screens for psychological factors such as body dysmorphic disorder and refers for further assessment where indicated.
Facial Fat Transfer Recovery Timeline
Recovery after facial fat transfer varies depending on the areas treated, the donor site, whether other procedures are included and individual healing. Swelling and bruising may occur in both the face and the donor area.
- First 24 to 48 hours. Usually day surgery when performed on its own, with head elevation maintained and discomfort managed with simple analgesia. Donor-site soreness is common.
- Days four to seven. Facial swelling and bruising often peak during the first week.
- Weeks one to two. Swelling begins to settle, and many patients plan one to two weeks away from work for standalone fat transfer, depending on the areas treated and individual healing.
- Weeks three to four. Visible bruising often resolves, and light exercise resumes with surgeon approval.
- Three to six months. Volume retention continues to settle over this period, and later-stage volume changes vary between patients.
When fat transfer is performed with a facelift, the facelift recovery applies: an overnight hospital stay, with reviews at day 3 and day 7.
Fat Survival and Volume Retention
Fat survival varies between patients and treatment areas. Some transferred fat is reabsorbed during the initial settling period. The retained volume can be influenced by smoking status, general health, harvest technique, processing, placement and post-operative healing.
Survival estimates are often discussed in broad ranges rather than fixed figures, and individual retention can vary in either direction. Fat that survives the initial settling period may persist, although later-stage volume changes, including those from weight change and ageing, vary between patients. Dr Turner discusses this during consultation, including whether staged treatment or a later top-up may be appropriate for the areas being assessed.
Risks and Complications
All surgery carries risks. Risks relevant to facial fat transfer, discussed in detail at consultation, may include:
- Bleeding and bruising. In both the face and the donor area.
- Infection. Uncommon but possible at either site.
- Swelling. May be prolonged, particularly under the eyes.
- Fat resorption. Some or, uncommonly, most of the transferred fat may not survive.
- Under-correction or over-correction. Related to the variability of fat survival.
- Lumpiness or contour irregularity. In the treated areas, more visible where the skin is thin.
- Fat cysts or oil cysts. Uncommon, related to grafted fat that does not survive.
- Donor-site contour irregularity. At the liposuction harvest site.
- Asymmetry. Between sides or between treated areas.
- Vascular complications. Rare but recognised risks of fat injection into the face, discussed at consultation.
- Anaesthetic risks. Associated with general anaesthesia.
- Need for further treatment. Including a top-up procedure where retention is less than expected.
- Dissatisfaction with the outcome. Where the result does not meet expectations.
Risk is reduced by stopping smoking and nicotine, optimising general health, careful technique at each stage, an accredited private hospital setting and structured follow-up. Further information is on the risks and complications page.
Facial Fat Transfer Cost in Sydney
Facial fat transfer performed on its own is quoted after consultation, because the fee depends on the number of areas treated, the donor-site harvest and the time in theatre. Fees reflect theatre time, surgical complexity and the procedures combined, and cover the surgeon, specialist anaesthetist, private hospital and scheduled post-operative reviews.
Performed with a facelift, fat grafting adds about 30 minutes of theatre time and about $4,163 to the facelift fee, because it shares the same anaesthetic and hospital admission. The facelift cost page sets out each combination, with a fee calculator. Medicare and private health insurance do not cover cosmetic surgery, and the $450 consultation fee is separate.
Facial Fat Transfer FAQs
What is facial fat transfer?
Facial fat transfer is a surgical procedure that transfers fat from one area of the body to selected areas of the face. Fat is harvested by liposuction, processed, and placed through small cannulas to add volume to areas identified at assessment, such as the cheeks, temples or pre-jowl area. Dr Scott J Turner performs facial fat transfer at Bondi Junction Private Hospital and Delmar Private Hospital, Dee Why.
Is facial fat transfer the same as facial fat grafting?
Yes. Facial fat transfer and facial fat grafting are two names for the same surgical procedure, and fat injections is a third term sometimes used. All describe harvesting a patient’s own fat, processing it, and placing it into selected facial areas to add volume. On this page the terms are used interchangeably.
Can facial fat grafting treat facial volume loss?
Facial fat grafting may be discussed when selected areas of the face have lost volume, which can occur with age, genetics or weight change. The aim is to add volume to specific areas identified during assessment rather than to lift descended tissue. Fat survival and volume retention vary between patients, and suitability is determined at consultation.
Can facial fat transfer help with facial volume loss after GLP-1 weight loss?
Facial fat transfer may be discussed for selected patients with facial volume loss after significant weight change, including weight loss associated with GLP-1 weight-loss medications. Suitability depends on anatomy, skin quality, weight stability, tissue descent, medical history and the areas being assessed. Where weight loss has also caused loose skin or descent, a facelift or neck procedure may be discussed instead or as well.
How much transferred fat survives?
Fat survival varies between patients and treatment areas. Some transferred fat is reabsorbed during the initial settling period, and published estimates discuss survival in broad ranges rather than fixed figures. Retained volume can be influenced by smoking status, general health, harvest technique, processing, placement and healing. Fat that survives the initial settling period may persist, and a top-up may be discussed in selected cases.
Can facial fat transfer be combined with facelift surgery?
Yes, where both volume loss and tissue descent are present. The facelift repositions descended tissue, while fat transfer may add volume to selected areas in the same operation, adding about 30 minutes of theatre time. Fat transfer is also one of the components of a Vertical Restore Facelift. Whether a combined approach is appropriate is assessed during consultation.
What is the recovery timeline for facial fat transfer?
Recovery varies depending on the areas treated, the donor site, whether other procedures are included and individual healing. Swelling and bruising may occur in both the face and the donor area, often peaking in the first week. Many patients plan one to two weeks away from work for standalone fat transfer. Volume retention continues to settle over three to six months.
What does facial fat transfer cost in Sydney?
Facial fat transfer performed on its own is quoted after consultation, because the fee depends on the areas treated, the donor-site harvest and the time in theatre. Performed with a facelift, fat grafting adds about 30 minutes of theatre time and about $4,163 to the facelift fee. Fees cover the surgeon, specialist anaesthetist, private hospital and scheduled post-operative reviews, and Medicare and private health rebates do not apply. Each combination is set out on the facelift cost page.
Related Guides
- Facelift options: Facelift Surgery Sydney, Deep Plane Facelift, Vertical Restore Facelift, Lower Facelift, Short Scar Facelift, Ponytail Facelift and SMAS Facelift vs Deep Plane
- Related procedures: Buccal Fat Removal, Lip Lift Surgery and Lower Blepharoplasty
- Reading more: Facelift Cost and Deep Plane Facelift Recovery Timeline
- About: Dr Scott J Turner, Specialist Plastic Surgeon
