Facial fat grafting is a popular procedure to rejuvenate the face with a resultant natural look. A frequent sign of aging is loss of volume in the face, with an increase of jowling and a hollowed and aged appearance. There can be a general loss of facial fullness and increased laxity in the skin.

Patients with mild to moderate deflation of the face are excellent candidates for facial fat grafting. Typically the jawline, flattened cheeks, hollow temples, and below-the-eye areas can be significantly improved. Patients who have had a previous facelift can benefit from fat grafting as well.

Fat is harvested from one part of the body (abdomen, thighs, or buttocks) by using small liposuction cannulas. Next, the fat is processed to separate impurities and excess fluids. Small cannulas are then used to target areas of the face that are deflated and this will restore volume and improve contours. This procedure is the same injection technique that is used for commercial fillers. The difference is that the fat is your tissue and therefore natural. It does not cause any swelling and can be injected just about anywhere in the face. Unlike commercial fillers which resorb 100 %, some studies have shown that 30-70% of the fat that is grafted is still present at 5 years. For large-volume replacement, fat is ideal.

The procedure can be performed under local anesthesia, general anesthesia, or sedation. It can be combined with other cosmetic procedures. Bruising can occur but there is minimal swelling since it is your tissue. Occasionally the procedure will need to be repeated in 6 months depending on the amount of fat resorption.

Fat grafting of the face is a safe, minimal downtime technique to restore a natural more vibrant, and healthy appearance to the face.