Fat Transfer to the Face
Whether it’s due to the ageing process or losing significant amounts of weight, the face can lose the fatty tissue that forms the rounded, full appearance of youth. During facial fat grafting, Mr Juling Ong will strategically use the body’s own naturally occurring fat from the abdomen or inner thighs to restore the lost volume in the face. The skin is naturally lifted, improving sagging in the lower face.
Facial fat grafting is becoming a popular alternative to hyaluronic acid facial fillers as a more natural, organic procedure. Typically, up to 70 per cent of the transplanted fat cells will successfully graft so results should be more long-lasting than temporary fillers.
Surgery Time
Up to 2 hours
Anaesthetic
Local / General Anaesthetic
Hospital Stay
Day case
Time Off Work
A few days if required
Full Recovery
1 – 2 weeks
During your consultation with Mr Juling Ong will assess the degree of volume loss in the face and also the potential donor sites and the volume of fat that will need to be taken to achieve the results you are hoping for.
Donor sites typically are the abdomen, flanks and outer and inner thighs. Approximately twice the volume of fat has to be harvested as half its volume is lost during the purifying process. Although there are minimal side effects, these will be discussed in full during the consultation.
The fat is removed from the donor area via liposuction and then prepared in a centrifuge. This separates out any blood and oily fluids, leaving the purest form of fat that can then by injected into the face.
Mr Juling Ong will recontour the face with the fat, precisely transplanting the cells in very thin layers to help improve the smoothness and quality of the final result. The procedure is performed as a day case procedure and recovery is usually very quick.
Frequently Asked Questions
How best can I prepare for my facial fat grafting procedure?
Getting to your ideal body weight is preferred as further weight fluctuations after your procedure can affect your results. Mr Juling Ong also advises facial fat grafting patients to stop smoking as soon as possible as it seems that fat grafting is less successful in people who smoke.
How soon will I see the results of my fat transfer to the face?
Results are instant, but there will be some swelling and bruising and some of the fat cells will fail to graft which is completely expected. So, the final results will be visible after a couple of months.
Your face should appear fuller and softer and there is often a reported improvement in the texture of the skin.
Is fat transfer to the face permanent?
Hyaluronic acid facial fillers can last between six months to over a year, so facial fat grafting is becoming popular as a longer-lasting solution to facial ageing. Between 50 and 70 per cent of transferred fat will successfully graft to the new area and should remain there permanently, although it will also be affected by the ageing process.
Each patient responds differently and lifestyle factors such as weight fluctuations and smoking can all affect your results and how long they last.
During your consultation, Mr Juling Ong will explain all potential risks and discuss your treatment options in full. Please call us on 020 7927 6528 or email us at info@julingong.com to arrange an appointment.
