What should you know about body fat transfer surgery?

The procedure combines liposuction with grafting. A surgeon removes fat from a suitable donor area, prepares it, and injects small amounts into the planned recipient site. It may be used for facial contouring, hollow areas, or selected body-shape goals. Some transferred fat may be absorbed during healing, so the final contour can differ from the early postoperative appearance. Results also depend on tissue quality, technique, healing, and changes in body weight.

During consultation, discuss the donor and recipient areas, scars, anaesthesia, expected swelling, and whether another option such as dermal fillers would better match your goal. Share your medical history, smoking status, medicines, and previous surgery. Arrange help for the first recovery period and follow instructions about wound care, compression, activity, and pressure on the grafted area. Bruising, swelling, soreness, and temporary unevenness are common parts of healing.

Call the surgical team for worsening pain, increasing redness, foul drainage, wound separation, or swelling that appears suddenly on one side. Urgent assessment is needed for chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, severe weakness, or a high fever. Do not wait for a routine review if you feel acutely unwell after surgery.

Ask where fat will be taken from, where it will be placed, what changes are realistic, how scars and asymmetry are handled, and how activity will be limited. Ask whether lip fillers or dermal fillers offer a less invasive alternative for your specific area.