Loss of facial volume is one of the most overlooked causes of aging, leading to hollows, sagging skin, and deeper wrinkles. While dermal fillers offer a temporary fix, facial fat transfer provides a natural, long-lasting solution by restoring lost volume with your own fat cells. This technique enhances facial contours, smooths wrinkles, and rejuvenates your appearance without synthetic fillers or repeated treatments.

This procedure restores fullness to areas like the cheeks, temples, and under-eye hollows while also improving skin quality. Because it uses your own fat, the results look and feel completely natural while offering the added benefit of long-term improvement. Keep reading to learn exactly how this treatment works and why it’s an excellent option for facial rejuvenation.

To learn more about facial fat transfer in Austin, Texas, you can schedule a consultation with Dr. Malena Amato and Dr. Marie Somogyi at (512) 501-1010.

What Is Facial Fat Transfer in Austin, TX?

Facial fat transfer, also known as fat grafting, is a cosmetic procedure that restores facial fullness by using excess fat from your own body. Fat is removed from certain areas through liposuction and then injected into parts of the face that have lost volume. Since it is your fat that’s used, there is little risk of allergic reaction or rejection, making it a safe procedure to receive.

How Does Facial Fat Transfer Work?

The process begins with liposuction, where a small amount of fat is carefully removed from areas like the belly, back, or thighs. This gives the added bonus of slimming those areas where fat is difficult to shift. Once removed, the fat is purified to remove excess fluids and damaged cells, ensuring only the healthiest fat is used. It is then injected into specific facial areas where needed. This precise technique helps the transferred fat establish a new blood supply, producing long-lasting, natural-looking results.

Which Areas Can Be Treated With Fat Transfer?

Facial fat transfer can rejuvenate multiple areas of the face, restoring lost volume and improving contours. Along with the cheeks, temples, and under-eye hollows, it can fill in deep lines around the mouth, soften forehead wrinkles, and enhance the jawline. It’s also an option for plumping thin lips, creating a fuller, more youthful appearance.

What Are The Benefits Of Facial Fat Transfer?

There are several benefits to facial fat transfer. By using your body’s own fat, it minimizes the risk of allergic reactions or rejection. Many patients experience long lasting improvements in facial volume and contour. This procedure can be combined with other treatments, such as facelifts or eyelid revisions, to enhance overall facial harmony. 

How Long Does Facial Fat Transfer Last?

The results of facial fat transfer are typically long-lasting, with many patients enjoying their refreshed appearance for years. While the transferred fat cells establish a new blood supply and integrate into the face, some of the fat may be reabsorbed by the body, especially in areas like the lips or around the mouth. In these cases, a second procedure may help achieve the best long-term results, though most patients don’t need follow-up treatment for a decade or longer.

What Is The Best Age For Facial Fat Transfer?

Since facial fat loss is a gradual process, the best age for the procedure depends on when volume loss becomes significant enough to affect facial contours. Facial fat transfer is most commonly performed on people aged 30 and older, as this is when natural fat loss in the face becomes more noticeable. By age 35, most people have lost about 10% of their facial fat, with another 10% disappearing each decade. 

How Does Facial Fat Transfer Compare to Dermal Fillers?

While they both restore lost volume, they differ in longevity and composition. Fat transfer uses your own fat for permanent, natural-looking results, while fillers are made from hyaluronic acid and typically last 6 to 18 months. Though fat transfer requires a minor surgical procedure, it avoids repeated filler injections and offers long-term facial rejuvenation.

What Happens After Facial Fat Transfer in Austin, TX?

Swelling and bruising are common after facial fat transfer, typically lasting one to two weeks, though mild swelling may persist longer. Right after the procedure, the face may look fuller than expected due to both swelling and the extra fat injected to compensate for natural absorption. Around 25% of the transferred fat is reabsorbed by the body, and the final results take shape over two to three months as the swelling subsides and the fat integrates into the tissues. Improvements can continue for up to one year as the skin and fat fully settle.

Is Facial Fat Transfer Right for You?

Most healthy adults can safely and effectively have a facial fat transfer, but if you have a low body fat percentage, you may not have enough fat for the procedure. In this case, derma fillers may be the better choice. Since it is a minimally invasive surgery, proper preparation is essential, including stopping smoking and adjusting certain medications if needed. To find out if this treatment is right for you, contact our clinic to schedule a consultation