Facial Fat Transfer

Consultations offered at our four convenient locations in La Jolla, San Diego, Newport Beach and Beverly Hills

A facial fat transfer is a procedure that can rejuvenate your facial volume with your body’s own fat. It takes fat from one area of the body and transfers it to another to restore your facial volume, accentuate its natural sculpt, or augment your facial features. (1)

La Jolla Plastic Surgery & Dermatology is one of San Diego’s premier aesthetic practices and One of the Top Hair Loss Clinics in the World. We are the only hair restoration practice in the country under the co-direction of both a triple board-certified plastic surgeon AND a board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Richard Chaffoo and Dr. Susan Stuart, respectively.

Dr. Chaffoo is one of the co-founders and medical directors of La Jolla Plastic Surgery & Dermatology. He is one of America’s Few Triple Board-Certified Plastic Surgeons and a superspecialist in hair restoration. When he is not helping his own patients, he teaches other physicians how to perform hair transplant procedures. His lecture circuit includes cities such as Madrid, Oslo, Warsaw, Cancun, and Rome.

Dr. Stuart is a board-certified dermatologist and hair restoration expert, as well as a co-founder of La Jolla Plastic Surgery & Dermatology. Dr. Stuart formerly served as the president of the San Diego Dermatological Society and is the current chief of the Division of Dermatology at Scripps Memorial Hospital. She is the go-to dermatologist for several media publications and outlets, including InStyle and The Huffington Post.

If you are ready to get started, please contact us online. Alternatively, you may call the office most convenient for you:

About Facial Fat Transfers

Facial fat transfers utilize liposuction to improve and accentuate your natural facial features. They follow a process called autologous fat grafting, which consists of transferring fat from one area of the body to another. Many medical professionals consider autologous fat to be one of the best filler materials for facial rejuvenation, as it is fully biocompatible, readily available, produces soft results, and has long-lasting effects. (1)

Benefits

You can enjoy several benefits when undergoing facial fat grafting yourself. They include:

  • Use of Natural Materials: This procedure uses liposuction to transfer your pre-existing fat, bypassing the need for dermal fillers or implants.
  • Dual-Contouring: When Dr. Chaffoo removes fat to transfer, the procedure leaves the donor area slimmer and more toned.
  • Higher Safety Profile: Because the procedure uses your body’s own fat, you do not need to worry about having an allergic reaction.
  • Wide Application: Dr. Chaffoo can administer fat to address several facial concerns, including thinning lips, facial hollowing, deepening creases, and more.
  • Seamless Results: The results of this procedure can move naturally with your facial expressions and mannerisms.

Candidates

It may be time to consider facial fat grafting if you have found yourself frustrated by various signs of aging that have seemingly continued to worsen, such as:

  • Deep Wrinkles
  • Facial Hollowing
  • Malar Bags
  • Nasolabial Folds
  • Marionette Lines
  • Thinning Lips
  • A Retruded Chin
  • Jowls
  • Poorly-Defined Features
  • Contour Irregularities
  • Facial Asymmetry
  • Scarring (1)

If you are interested in undergoing a facial fat transfer, you should be in good general health and maintain realistic expectations regarding what is achievable. You should already be at a stable or maintainable weight and have good skin elasticity. It is also important that you lead a nicotine-free lifestyle or are willing to quit.

Personal Consultation

The first step to transforming your appearance is a consultation with Dr. Chaffoo. During this meeting, he will review your medical history, discuss your personal concerns, and learn more about your ideal results. He will also assess your natural anatomy and fat distribution.

Dr. Chaffoo will use this information to confirm your candidacy and create a personalized solution just for you. He will also take the time to answer or address any questions you may have.

If you are ready to get started, please contact us online. Alternatively, you may call the office most convenient for you:

Preparation

Once you have decided to proceed with your facial fat transfer, Dr. Chaffoo and his team will provide you with a full set of pre-operative instructions to help you prepare. These may vary depending on your lifestyle habits and personalized treatment plan, but you can expect him to direct you to:

  • Avoid Certain Medications: Under the proper medical guidance, stop taking any medications or supplements that may contain blood-thinning properties.
  • Prepare a Ride: Have a trusted friend or family member transport you home after your procedure, and if needed, stay with you for the first 24 hours of your recovery.
  • Arrange Time Away: Prepare to take a step away from your personal and professional responsibilities.
  • Maintain Your Diet: Eat a healthy and balanced diet leading up to your procedure.
  • Fill Your Prescriptions: Acquire any medications you will need throughout your recovery.
  • Stop Smoking: Refrain from consuming any nicotine at least 6 weeks before your procedure.

Procedure

Dr. Chaffoo can perform facial fat transfers at any of our offices on an outpatient basis. When you arrive for your procedure, a member of our team will greet you and lead you to a private surgical suite. Here, you will meet with Dr. Chaffoo one last time. He will reconfirm each detail of your treatment plan before cleansing your skin. You will then receive general anesthesia.

Dr. Chaffoo will make a small incision near the designated donor area. He will inject a tumescent solution into the fat deposit, which will swell the fat cells and make them easier to remove. (2) He will then use a small cannula to carefully break down and remove your fat, leaving the donor area more slender and contoured.

Dr. Chaffoo will carefully purify the fat. This step will separate the healthy fat from its other cellular components. (2) He will then take the purified fat and reinject it into the face, carefully targeting the areas experiencing thinning or hollowing.

Recovery

After your facial fat transfer, you may experience some swelling, bruising, or general discomfort around the treated areas. These effects will decrease on their own, but you may also manage them with prescribed medications and plenty of rest. Dr. Chaffoo will also have you wear a specialized compression garment to prevent further swelling.

You may return to most of your routine after resting for approximately one to two weeks. However, you will need to continue avoiding anything arduous until Dr. Chaffoo approves. He may also have you return for follow-up appointments as you heal to monitor your progress.

Dr. Chaffoo and his team will give you a detailed set of post-operative directions to guide you through your recovery.

Results

You will likely see immediate improvements after your procedure, but the full, refined results will become more apparent as residual swelling subsides. As they do, you will be able to enjoy a plumper, more refreshed appearance. Your face will appear more sculpted overall, and certain features may appear more defined and proportionate.

It is important to understand that your body may absorb some of the fat that Dr. Chaffoo transferred, but the remaining fat will stay there permanently. We recommend maintaining a stable weight and a healthy lifestyle to preserve the effects of your procedure, as weight fluctuations may affect the long-term appearance of your results.

Cost of Facial Fat Transfers

Dr. Chaffoo will discuss your financial obligations with you once he has established your treatment plan. The pricing of your procedure will depend on varying aspects, such as the extent of your corrections, the amount of fat Dr. Chaffoo transfers, the overall complexity, and more.

For further information, please contact us online or call the office most convenient for you:

FAQ

What concerns can facial fat transfers address?

Facial fat transfers can accentuate your natural facial contours and address visible signs of aging. These can include concerns such as wrinkles, deepening lines, hollowing, volume loss, and others.

Where can Dr. Chaffoo take fat from?

Dr. Chaffoo can perform liposuction to take fat from most areas of the body with enough natural fat. He will predetermine the donor location with you during your consultation, but many patients choose their abdomen, thighs, or flanks.

How much fat will Dr. Chaffoo transfer during my procedure?

The amount of fat Dr. Chaffoo transfers will vary depending on the feature or region he is addressing, the corrections he makes, and your natural anatomy. During your consultation, he will discuss the details of your procedure with you so you know what to expect.

How long will it take for me to recover from my facial fat transfer?

Your exact recovery timeline will vary, but many of Dr. Chaffoo’s patients return to their routines after resting for approximately one to two weeks. However, you must avoid strenuous or demanding activities until Dr. Chaffoo gives clearance.

Do facial fat transfers leave significant scars?

Every surgical procedure will leave some scarring. For facial fat transfers, scarring is minimal, as the only incision Dr. Chaffoo makes will be to remove your fat. As you continue to heal and recover, any scarring will fade until barely perceptible.

References

  1. Vasavada A, Raggio BS. Autologous Fat Grafting for Facial Rejuvenation. Nih.gov. Published July 31, 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557860/#article-21546.s4
  2. Simonacci F, Bertozzi N, Grieco MP, Grignaffini E, Raposio E. Procedure, applications, and outcomes of autologous fat grafting. Annals of Medicine and Surgery. 2017;20:49-60. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amsu.2017.06.059