Fat Transfer

Fat transfer moves your own processed fat from one body area to add volume in another.

A clinician removes a small amount of fat through liposuction, prepares it, and places small deposits where more softness or contour is wanted. In the face, this may include cheeks, temples, lips, or the hollow beneath the eyes. The treatment is surgical and needs an individual assessment of facial structure, skin quality, and available donor fat.

Expect swelling and bruising in both the donor area and the treated area. Mild soreness, tightness, or uneven early fullness can make the first phase look unsettled. Your clinician will explain wound care, activity restrictions, sleeping position when relevant, and when cosmetics can be used. Follow-up visits let the team check healing and discuss changes that need attention.

Possible problems include infection, bleeding, persistent swelling, contour irregularity, asymmetry, visible lumps, and changes in sensation. Some transferred fat may not establish a blood supply and can be absorbed, leaving less volume than expected. How often complications occur depends on the treatment area, technique, health history, and aftercare; a clinician can discuss the risks that apply to you without promising a particular outcome.

Fat transfer can soften volume loss but cannot correct every cause of a hollow, crease, or thin lip. Early fullness settles as swelling reduces and some grafted fat is absorbed. Fat that integrates with surrounding tissue may remain, while ageing, weight change, and natural facial movement can still alter the appearance. A touch-up may be considered after healing if the result does not meet the agreed plan.

A consultation should cover your priorities, medical conditions, medicines, smoking or nicotine use, previous procedures, and whether a surgical approach suits the concern.

This option may suit an adult seeking volume restoration who has sufficient donor fat and can plan for surgical recovery. It may be discussed for tear trough hollows or thin lips when the clinician considers the anatomy appropriate. It is not automatically suitable for every person with facial volume concerns, especially where active skin disease, infection, unstable health conditions, or unrealistic expectations are present.

The process begins with a medical review and examination. Photographs or markings may be used to plan the donor and recipient areas. Anaesthesia choices depend on the extent of treatment. After harvesting and preparing fat, the clinician places it in controlled layers, then gives written care instructions and arranges review.

Recovery differs between treatment plans. Contact the clinic promptly for worsening pain, spreading redness, fever, unusual drainage, or a sudden change in colour.

Tell the clinician about blood-thinning medicines, supplements, allergies, past scarring concerns, and any history of clotting problems. Avoid changing prescribed medicines on your own. A qualified clinician can explain anaesthetic considerations, donor-site risks, and the specific warning signs that warrant urgent review.

Dermal fillers can add volume without harvesting fat and may suit people who prefer a non-surgical approach. Lip fillers focus specifically on lip shape and volume. The choice depends on the area, desired change, prior treatment, and willingness to accept different recovery and maintenance patterns.

Look for a licensed clinician experienced in both liposuction and facial volume restoration. Ask who performs each part of the procedure, where it takes place, how aftercare is arranged, and how the team handles concerns after you leave.