What Is Facial Fat Grafting and How Does It Work?

Facial fat grafting combines two goals in one: restoring your facial volume while removing unwanted fat from another area of your body. It’s a minimally invasive option for patients who want lasting results that still look like them. 

At Bella Cosmetic Surgery in National Harbor, Maryland, board-certified plastic surgeons Dr. Michael Chiaramonte and Dr. Anya Costeloe specialize in this technique and tailor each procedure to match your unique features.

What Facial Fat Grafting Involves

Facial fat grafting, also known as autologous fat transfer, involves moving fat from one part of the body to areas of the face where volume has diminished over time. It is commonly used to restore fullness in areas like the cheeks, temples, under the eyes, nasolabial folds, and jawline.

The procedure is typically performed in three steps:

1. Fat Removal: We harvest a small amount of fat using liposuction, usually from the abdomen or thighs.
2. Fat Purification: The fat is processed to separate healthy fat cells from fluids and other impurities.
3. Fat Injection: We inject the purified fat carefully into specific areas of your face to restore volume and soften contours.

Because this procedure uses your own fat instead of synthetic materials, there is a lower risk of allergic reaction or rejection.

Benefits of Facial Fat Transfer

Facial fat grafting offers several key benefits:

• Natural-looking results: Because the procedure uses your own fat, the added volume blends with your facial features.
• Longer-lasting effects: Many patients find that fat transfer provides results that last longer than traditional dermal fillers.
• Dual benefit: The area where the fat is harvested, such as the abdomen or thighs, may look slimmer as a result of the liposuction used during the procedure.

Recovery and Results

Some swelling and bruising are expected after the procedure, but most people start feeling more like themselves within a week or two. Over time, the fat cells that take hold and develop a new blood supply will stay in place, giving you results that continue to improve in the months that follow. 

Dr. Chiaramonte and Dr. Costeloe will walk you through recovery with clear instructions and ongoing support.

Connect With a Surgeon Who Listens

To find out if facial fat grafting is right for you, call Bella Cosmetic Surgery at 301-567-6767 to schedule a consultation in National Harbor, MD. You’ll have the chance to talk through your concerns, ask questions, and work directly with a surgeon who genuinely listens to what you want.