The Fat Transfer to Face Procedure
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
What is facial fat grafting?
Facial fat grafting (also called fat transfer or lipofilling) involves harvesting a small amount of fat from the patient’s own body – typically the abdomen, thighs, or flanks – processing it and injecting it into areas of the face that have lost volume with age. Common treatment areas include the temples, cheeks, tear troughs, nasolabial folds, and lips.
Is facial fat grafting better than dermal fillers?
Fat grafting offers a natural, longer-lasting alternative to dermal fillers. Because the transplanted fat is the patient’s own tissue, there is no risk of allergic reaction. A proportion of the transferred fat – typically 50 to 80% – survives permanently. Dermal fillers are temporary (lasting six to eighteen months, depending on the product), require no harvesting procedure, and allow more immediate adjustment. The choice depends on the patient’s goals, the volume required, and whether a surgical or non-surgical approach is preferred.
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.
Where is the fat harvested from?
Fat is typically harvested from areas of the body where it is plentiful and easily accessed, such as the abdomen, inner thighs, or flanks. Harvesting is performed using fine liposuction cannulas, and the small harvest site heals quickly with minimal scarring.
How much of the transferred fat survives?
Fat survival varies among individuals and techniques, but on average, 50 to 80% of transferred fat persists over the long term after the initial resorption period (approximately three to six months). To account for this, surgeons typically over-correct slightly. Repeat sessions may be performed if additional volume is desired.
Is fat grafting safe?
Fat grafting to the face is a well-established procedure with a strong safety profile. The use of the patient’s own tissue eliminates the risk of foreign body reaction. Risks include uneven resorption, small areas of fat necrosis, contour irregularities, infection, and asymmetry. Mr Juling Ong uses a careful injection technique to minimise these risks.
Can fat grafting be combined with a facelift?
Yes, and this combination is increasingly common and clinically logical. A facelift addresses skin laxity and soft-tissue descent; fat grafting replaces volume loss, which also contributes to facial ageing. Combining the two addresses both dimensions of the ageing face and typically produces the most comprehensive rejuvenation result.
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 skin texture.
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.
