Facial fat grafting: what it is
Quick facts
- Definition
- Transfer of the patient's own fat to areas of the face that have lost volume.
- Steps
- Harvesting, processing and reinjection of the fat.
- Particularity
- Part of the grafted fat may be reabsorbed, in a variable proportion.
- Relevance in HOF
- An alternative or complement to filler, assessed by a qualified professional.
Facial fat grafting (also called fat transfer) consists of taking fat from one area of the patient's body, processing it and injecting it into areas of the face that have lost volume, such as the temples, cheekbone, tear troughs and folds. Because the material is the patient's own, it is not an industrial product; in return, it involves surgical harvesting and recovery in two areas.
How does the process work?
In broad terms, there are three steps:
- Harvesting the fat from a donor area, using thin cannulas.
- Processing, which separates the fat cells from fluid and debris.
- Reinjection in small amounts into the areas to be treated.
Details vary between services and are the qualified professional's decision, after assessment. The fat can also be processed into finer forms, such as nanofat, used in areas of delicate skin with a focus on skin quality.
How does fat grafting differ from hyaluronic acid filler?
| Aspect | Fat grafting | Hyaluronic acid |
|---|---|---|
| Material | The patient's own fat | Industrial product |
| Procedure | Surgical, with a donor area | Outpatient, in the office |
| Reversibility | No enzyme dissolves it | Can be dissolved with hyaluronidase |
| Predictability of volume | Lower, because of variable reabsorption | Higher in immediate volume |
| Recovery | Swelling and bruising in two areas | Localized swelling and bruising |
The lack of easy reversibility is a point of concern. If the result is excessive or asymmetric, the options are limited and may require another intervention.
When does it make sense to consider it?
Fat grafting is usually discussed for broader volume loss, in the midface and the temples, and for patients who prefer autologous material. For mild, localized loss, hyaluronic acid or a collagen biostimulator may be simpler. The choice depends on anatomy, skin, history, expectations and the availability of fat.
In Harmy
The app simulates marked areas (such as Cheekbone, Temple and Tear Trough) by volume in ml, without distinguishing the product or the technique. The projection does not specifically represent fat grafting or its partial reabsorption, and should be presented as an illustrative simulation.
Also called: fat transfer, lipofilling, autologous fat transfer.
Frequently asked questions
Is facial fat grafting permanent?
Part of the fat that takes usually stays, but the proportion that survives varies between patients and areas, and the face keeps aging. There is no way to guarantee how much will remain.