Facial Fat Transfer
Facial aging is a multi-layered process that involves more than the gradual appearance of surface wrinkles or sagging skin. Beneath the surface, the deep fat pads that give a youthful face its soft, rounded contours slowly deflate, shift downward, and atrophy. This loss of facial volume can cause the temples to hollow out, the cheeks to flatten, and deep shadows to form along the lower lids and jawline. While temporary dermal fillers require ongoing maintenance, fat transfer provides a permanent improvement, using your own tissue to restore fullness from the inside out.
At Kennedy Facial Plastic Surgery, we approach volume restoration as a blend of clinical science and aesthetic artistry. Dr. Paige Kennedy uses a precise, conservative approach to carefully layer harvested fat into areas of volume loss, restoring the soft, natural appearance of youth. If you are ready to learn how a fat transfer procedure can permanently refresh your look, we invite you to book a personal consultation at our boutique facial rejuvenation practice in Breaux Bridge.
Restores lost volume to the cheeks, temples, or undereyes; smooths deep nasolabial folds and marionette lines.
The fat grafting procedure consists of liposuction to collect excess fat cells, purification of this donor tissue, and precise fat injections to restore volume in key facial areas.
Most patients resume normal, light activities within 1-2 weeks.
Provides lifelong volume restoration that integrates naturally with your facial anatomy.
Facial fat transfer offers a natural way to rebuild facial volume, sculpt smoother, more youthful contours, minimize fine lines and deep creases, and rejuvenate your skin through the power of natural growth factors. contours. Also referred to as facial fat grafting, this cosmetic surgery repurposes excess fat cells from another area of the body to restore volume in areas of the aging face prone to volume loss, such as the cheeks, temples, under-eyes, or nasolabial folds.
Donor fat is collected using liposuction and then carefully layered into the desired areas using precise injections, allowing for precise control over your results. Because this living fat is rich in stem cells and growth factors, it also helps improve skin quality, tone, and texture over time.
Dr. Kennedy and her team perform the fat grafting procedure with a focus on comfort, safety, and precision. The treatment can be carried out comfortably under local anesthesia with sedation, or with general anesthesia if it is being combined with other surgical procedures like a deep plane facelift or neck lift. The fat transfer process is performed in three steps:
Harvesting the Fat
Dr. Kennedy begins by collecting excess fat from your selected donor site, typically the abdomen, flanks, or inner thighs. Using a low-pressure liposuction cannula, she carefully extracts the necessary fat to maintain the structural integrity of individual fat cells.
Purification and Processing
Once the fat is safely harvested, it is purified to separate viable fat cells from other components, leaving a highly concentrated, pure tissue graft ready.
Micro-Injection and Grafting
Dr. Kennedy then uses a narrow cannula to layer micro-droplets of the purified fat across different tissue planes. This technique ensures that the transferred fat has access to a healthy blood supply, allowing it to become permanently integrated into the recipient area.
This versatile surgical procedure can be used to treat almost any area of the face where volume loss has compromised your youthful contours. One of the most common areas treated is the midface, where fat grafting plumps up sunken cheeks and rebuilds a soft, youthful curve over the cheekbones. It also addresses the delicate tear trough region beneath the eyes, smoothing out the dark, hollow shadows that can make you look
Facial fat transfer is also effective for smoothing the temples and the lateral brow, which frequently deflate with age to create a skeletal or weathered appearance. It softens deep structural creases around the mouth, filling in heavy nasolabial folds and marionette lines that frame the lips. By artistically distributing the fat, Dr. Kennedy restores the smooth, uninterrupted transitions across your entire facial anatomy, ensuring your features look beautifully cohesive from every single angle.
Facial fat grafting addresses the changes often caused by natural facial aging or significant weight loss. Rather than simply pulling loose skin tight, the procedure treats the true root cause of a gaunt or drawn expression by replacing the missing cushion beneath the skin. Common treatment areas include:
Patients appreciate that facial fat grafting is an autologous procedure, meaning it uses their own living tissue rather than synthetic materials. This means there is no risk of allergic reaction, and the results are incredibly natural. Unlike dermal fillers, facial fat transfer offers permanent improvement in your facial contours. Once the injected fat cells successfully establish a new blood supply in the recipient area, they remain in place, providing a soft, natural-looking enhancement that moves with your facial expressions.
The high concentration of natural stem cells and growth factors within the grafted fat cells stimulates healthy collagen production, improving your skin's radiance and texture over time. Fat grafting also offers a subtle dual benefit, allowing you to slim down a stubborn pocket of excess fat from a donor area like the abdomen or thighs during the fat harvesting step. The results age naturally with your body, expanding and contracting slightly with your natural weight fluctuations to preserve your facial harmony over the long term.
If you are unhappy with the appearance of hollow temples, flat cheeks, or deep facial folds caused by facial aging or significant weight loss, you may be a good candidate for this facial rejuvenation technique. Candidates must have sufficient excess fat in a suitable donor area to allow safe harvesting.
Certain clinical factors mean you should delay or avoid fat transfer surgery. If you are planning significant future weight loss, you should postpone the procedure, as losing weight after surgery will cause the transferred fat cells to shrink, altering your final results. During your personal consultation, Dr. Kennedy will evaluate your facial anatomy and medical history to ensure that fat transfer is a safe and suitable option for you.
Fat transfer recovery is minimal, with many patients feeling comfortable returning to work and normal social routines within 7 to 10 days, using light camouflage makeup. After your outpatient procedure, you will return home in the care of a loved one with specific instructions for your aftercare. Temporary swelling, bruising, and discomfort are expected in both the recipient areas and the donor site.
During the first few weeks, you should rest with your head elevated to help reduce swelling and promote healthy circulation. If a compression garment is provided for your donor site, it's important to wear it as directed to support smooth body contouring and minimize fluid retention. You must avoid putting direct pressure on your face, sleeping on your stomach, or performing heavy lifting and strenuous activity for several weeks to allow the newly injected fat cells to establish their blood supply undisturbed.
The final results of your facial fat grafting procedure will reveal themselves over the 3-6 months following your surgery. It is normal for your body to naturally resorb a portion of the transferred fat during the initial weeks. Dr. Kennedy calculates the appropriate amount of fat to place in the recipient area to offset the natural loss of some fat cells. Once the remaining fat cells are established, they are there for good, leaving you with naturally plush, youthful facial contours.
While your face will continue to age naturally over time, you will always look significantly younger and more vibrant than you would have without the intervention. Maintaining a stable weight, avoiding drastic weight loss, and investing in a medical-grade skincare routine will help preserve your radiant results for years to come.
Dr. Paige Kennedy is a double-board-certified facial plastic surgeon specializing in today's most advanced surgical techniques. A Castle Connolly Top Doctor, she completed competitive postgraduate training at top surgery centers in Houston, Austin, and Chicago. Her clinical expertise is coupled with a deep commitment to providing her patients with the best care available. She is proud to now practice in the community that nurtured her, bringing world-class care to patients from Acadiana and beyond, including those who travel from out of state to benefit from her care. Learn about your options for facial rejuvenation with fat grafting by scheduling your personal consultation with Dr. Kennedy today.
The results of a facial fat transfer are considered permanent because the cells that successfully survive the initial grafting process become a living, integrated part of your facial anatomy. Unlike temporary dermal fillers that dissolve over a few months, these fat cells remain in place permanently. However, because they are living cells, they will expand and contract with your natural weight fluctuations, making it important to maintain a stable weight to preserve your facial balance.
Dr. Kennedy uses very narrow cannulas for facial injections. The entry points are tiny pinpricks that heal without leaving any noticeable scarring on your face. The incisions at the body donor site are also very small, typically just a few millimeters long, and are placed in discreet, hidden creases. We provide clear aftercare guidelines to ensure all extraction and injection points heal smoothly and discreetly.
Yes, combining facial fat grafting with other surgical procedures, such as a deep plane facelift, neck lift, or upper blepharoplasty, is common and often recommended. A combination approach addresses both skin laxity and volume loss simultaneously, providing the most natural-looking and comprehensive rejuvenation possible. Dr. Kennedy will build a customized treatment plan that aligns with your lifestyle and personal goals.
Because the transferred fat behaves like any other fat in your body, significant weight loss after surgery will cause the grafted fat cells to shrink, which can reduce your facial fullness and alter your final results. Conversely, significant weight gain can cause the cells to expand, potentially creating an over-filled appearance. To keep your facial proportions balanced, it is recommended to reach and maintain your stable baseline weight before scheduling your procedure.
Dermal fillers are an excellent non-surgical treatment for minor hollowing, but they are temporary, require ongoing maintenance visits, and can occasionally migrate if used in very large quantities. Facial fat transfer uses your own living tissue, offers permanent results from a single outpatient procedure, and carries no risk of an allergic reaction. Fat grafting is also far more effective for treating comprehensive, large-scale facial volume loss across the cheeks, temples, and jawline.
Most patients find the recovery process very manageable, describing mild soreness and tightness rather than pain. The donor area typically feels similar to the muscle soreness experienced after an intense workout, while the face feels temporarily puffy. Any post-operative discomfort is managed with mild over-the-counter pain relievers or prescribed medication during the first few days of your healing window.
The total cost of your fat grafting procedure can vary based on several factors, including the number of facial areas treated, the complexity of the fat harvesting process, and whether it is performed under local or general anesthesia. Because every treatment plan is customized to your needs, we provide a transparent cost breakdown during your personal consultation.
As with any surgical procedure, potential complications include temporary swelling and bruising, minor asymmetry, under-correction, or localized infection. Extremely rare but serious risks, such as a fat embolism or permanent tissue irregularity, are minimized significantly when your procedure is performed by an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon. Dr. Kennedy uses precise, conservative techniques and close follow-up care to prioritize your safety and ensure optimal healing.
