FACIAL FAT TRANSFER
What is Facial fat transfer?
Facial fat transfer is a regenerative procedure that restores lost facial volume using your body's own fat. By transferring fat from areas such as the abdomen or thighs to the face, this treatment enhances facial contours, softens hollow areas and creates natural-looking rejuvenation without synthetic fillers.
As well as restoring volume, transferred fat contains regenerative cells that may help improve skin quality, making facial fat transfer an excellent option for patients seeking long-lasting facial rejuvenation. Dr Sultan carefully tailors every treatment to your facial anatomy, achieving subtle, balanced results that enhance your natural features.
Key Information
Price: From £3500
Areas: Cheeks, temples, under-eyes, jawline, chin, nasolabial folds, marionette lines
Time: 120 - 180 minutes
Recovery: 7-14 Days
Pain: Mild–Moderate (performed under local anaesthetic with sedation if appropriate)
Frequency: Usually one treatment
Additional information
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Facial fat transfer is designed to restore volume that has naturally diminished with age while maintaining a soft, natural appearance.
Treatment may be suitable if you wish to:
Restore hollow cheeks
Improve temple hollowing
Refresh tired-looking under-eyes
Soften deep facial folds
Improve facial symmetry
Enhance facial contours
Achieve long-lasting volume restoration
Improve skin quality through regenerative fat grafting
Reduce reliance on repeated dermal filler treatments
Because your own fat is used, the results integrate naturally with the surrounding tissues and can provide long-term facial rejuvenation.
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Facial fat transfer involves harvesting a small amount of fat from another area of your body—commonly the abdomen, flanks or thighs - using gentle liposuction techniques.
The fat is then carefully purified before being strategically injected into areas of facial volume loss using fine cannulas.
Once transferred, a proportion of the fat establishes a new blood supply and becomes a permanent part of the treated area. The surviving fat cells provide long-lasting volume while the regenerative cells within the graft may contribute to improved skin quality and tissue health.
Because some transferred fat is naturally reabsorbed during healing, Dr Sultan carefully plans treatment to achieve balanced, predictable results.
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Facial fat transfer is commonly used to restore volume in the:
Cheeks
Temples
Tear troughs
Mid-face
Nasolabial folds
Marionette lines
Chin
Jawline
It may also be used to improve overall facial harmony by restoring youthful facial proportions.
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Facial fat transfer is often combined with other facial rejuvenation procedures for comprehensive results.
These include:
FaceTite® to tighten loose skin.
Morpheus8® to improve skin quality and stimulate collagen.
Sculptra® for additional collagen stimulation where appropriate.
Anti-wrinkle injections to soften dynamic lines.
Medical-grade skincare to support healing and maintain skin health.
Your treatment plan will be tailored to your individual anatomy and long-term aesthetic goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Following facial fat transfer you should:
Keep both the donor and treatment areas clean and dry.
Avoid excessive pressure or massage on the treated areas unless advised.
Sleep with your head elevated during the first week.
Avoid strenuous exercise for approximately two weeks.
Wear any compression garment provided for the donor area as instructed.
Stay well hydrated and maintain a healthy lifestyle to support healing.
Avoid smoking, as this may reduce fat graft survival.
Attend all scheduled follow-up appointments.
Swelling and bruising are expected following treatment and gradually improve over the following weeks.
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Facial fat transfer is generally considered safe when performed by an experienced medical practitioner.
Common temporary side effects include:
Swelling
Bruising
Tenderness
Temporary numbness
Mild discomfort
Less common risks include:
Infection
Asymmetry
Fat reabsorption
Irregular contour
Oil cyst formation
Fat necrosis
Delayed healing
Rare complications include:
Vascular compromise
Fat embolism
Persistent contour irregularities requiring further treatment
During your consultation, Dr Sultan will discuss the benefits, potential risks and expected outcomes to help you make an informed decision.
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Prior to arrival
Before treatment:
Attend a comprehensive consultation.
Medical photographs will be taken.
Your medical history and donor areas will be assessed.
Avoid smoking where possible before treatment.
Discuss any blood-thinning medication with your prescribing doctor.
Follow any fasting instructions if sedation has been arranged.
On arrival
After marking both the donor and treatment areas, local anaesthetic is administered.
A small amount of fat is harvested using gentle liposuction techniques before being processed and purified. The prepared fat is then carefully injected into the planned facial areas using advanced micro-fat grafting techniques to achieve smooth, natural contours.
Treatment typically takes between two and three hours.
Results
Some of the transferred fat will naturally be reabsorbed during the healing process.
Initial swelling settles over several weeks, while final results are typically seen after 3–6 months, once the surviving fat has established a stable blood supply.
Results can be long-lasting, particularly when body weight remains stable.
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Facial fat transfer may be suitable for patients who:
Have age-related facial volume loss
Prefer natural volume restoration
Want long-lasting results
Have sufficient donor fat available
Are in good general health
Have realistic expectations
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Facial fat transfer may not be suitable for:
Patients who are pregnant
Patients who are breastfeeding
Patients with uncontrolled medical conditions
Patients with active skin infections
Patients with insufficient donor fat
Heavy smokers unwilling to stop during the healing period
Patients with unrealistic expectations
A detailed consultation with Dr Sultan will determine whether facial fat transfer is the most appropriate treatment or whether an alternative procedure would better achieve your goals.
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Successful facial fat transfer relies on precise technique, careful planning and an in-depth understanding of facial anatomy. Dr Sultan takes a surgical approach to fat grafting, carefully harvesting, processing and placing fat to maximise graft survival while preserving natural facial proportions.
Rather than simply replacing lost volume, the treatment is designed to restore youthful facial contours in a way that complements your individual features. Every procedure is tailored to the patient, with the aim of delivering refined, balanced and long-lasting results.