Facial Fat Transfer

Fat grafting to the face replaces volume in key areas that are prone to loss with age. As we get older, the face loses fat and soft tissue volume in a fairly predictable pattern, even when the skin itself has not changed much. Facial fat transfer takes a small amount of your own fat from another part of the body, prepares it and places it into the areas of the face that have lost volume, such as the cheeks, temples and the area around the eyes.

Because it uses your own tissue, fat transfer avoids any reliance on a foreign material and is permanent. It is more often used alongside other facial surgeries, such as a face lift or eyelid surgery, to address volume loss as part of a balanced result. The amount of fat that survives after grafting varies between people, which is an important point to understand before you proceed, because it affects how predictable the result is. However, the fat that survives has a permanent effect.

The fat is harvested with fine liposuction from an area such as the abdomen or legs, then prepared and injected in small amounts into predetermined areas of the face that are volume deplete. Placing the fat in multiple very small portions throughout the tissues helps it establish a blood supply, which is vital to fat graft to survival. Because not all of the fat survives, the face is deliberately filled a little more than the final result at first, and the volume settles as the body reabsorbs the portion that does not take.

Facial fat transfer may suit you if your face has lost volume or has hollow as a result of ageing or weight loss. Fat transfer is best suited to individuals who have a relatively stable weight. It is less suitable if your weight fluctuates significantly (10kg or more), because gaining or losing weight can increase or decrease the volume of the grafted fat. It addresses volume rather than loose skin, so for some people it works best alongside a surgical lift where excess or loose skin is removed. Dr Ricketts will tell you honestly whether fat transfer alone, or in combination with other surgery, is the right approach for you.

At your consultation, Dr Ricketts assesses where your face has lost volume and discusses where the fat transfer would be placed. We talk through where the fat would be taken from, what is realistic in terms of survival of the graft, the recovery process during this period and the risks. She gives you written information, and there is no obligation to proceed.

Facial fat transfer is usually performed under general and is often a day case. On the day Dr Ricketts confirms the plan, including the area from which the fat will be taken. She will carefully mark the areas on the face to receive the fat graft with you in the upright position. Our team supports you through your admission and recovery before you go home with clear and written instructions and a support person.

Facial fat transfer is often performed as a day case. In the first one to two weeks, expect swelling and bruising of the face, and some bruising at the area where the fat was harvested. Because the face is initially filled a little more than the final result to allow for the fat that will not survive, the early appearance is fuller than the final outcome, which is normal and settles over about four to six weeks.

Swelling settles over several weeks, and the volume that remains at around three months reflects the permanent take of the fat graft, and long term result. It is expected that up to 50-70% of the fat may not survive. Strenuous activity is restricted for three to four weeks to maximise how much of the graft takes, so adhering to post operative instructions is critical. Dr Ricketts will see you for reviews and guide you on activity. Healing and the survival of the graft vary between individuals, and the outcomes one person experiences do not necessarily reflect what another will experience.

Dr Sophie Ricketts is a specialist plastic surgeon based in Richmond, Melbourne, with a focused practice in facial surgery, including facial fat transfer. She is a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Surgeons (FRACS) and a member of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS), the peak professional bodies for plastic surgery in Australia. You can also find her on RealSelf. Each of these listings is maintained by independent organisations and provides patients with a straightforward way to check the qualifications, training, and scope of practice of the listed providers before booking a consultation.