What should you know about fat transfer after care?

Fat transfer moves fat from a donor site to another area, such as the face, lips, or hollows. Both sites need care: the donor area may be bruised or swollen, while the grafted area may look fuller before settling. Early asymmetry can reflect swelling, but the surgical team should assess changes that are sudden, severe, or progressively worsening.

The transferred tissue needs a calm healing environment. Pressure, rubbing, heat, strenuous activity, and sleeping positions may affect the treated area, so restrictions vary with the location. A result develops over time and should be judged at the follow-up schedule rather than during the first changes in swelling.

Keep dressings and small access sites clean and dry exactly as instructed. Take prescribed medicines as directed, wear compression only where advised, and sleep in the position recommended by your surgeon. Avoid pressing on facial grafts, vigorous exercise, smoking, and unapproved creams or supplements while healing.

Attend every review, even if the area appears well. Bring questions about washing, work, travel, makeup, dental care, and return to exercise. For comparison, [Dermal Fillers](/treatments/injectables/dermal-fillers/) and [Lip Fillers](/treatments/injectables/lip-filler/) use different materials and have different aftercare instructions.

Contact your surgical team promptly for increasing pain, spreading redness, warmth, pus, fever, wound separation, or swelling that worsens after initial improvement. Seek urgent care for breathing difficulty, chest pain, fainting, sudden visual symptoms, or rapidly changing skin color. Do not wait for a routine review when these symptoms appear.

Which site needs compression, and which site must be protected from pressure? When can I wash, sleep normally, exercise, travel, and use makeup? Which medicines or supplements should I avoid? What amount of swelling is expected for my area? Who should I contact outside office hours?