Fat Grafting to the Face

About Fat Grafting to the Face

As the face ages, fat pads shrink and shift, skin thins, and pigmentation changes. Cheeks flatten, temples hollow, and folds around the mouth deepen. Facial fat transfer addresses these changes at their source by replacing lost volume with living tissue rather than synthetic material. The technique is suitable for cosmetic refreshment and for reconstructive cases such as scarring, burns, or congenital asymmetry.

We harvest fat gently from areas where you have a small surplus, usually the abdomen, flanks, or thighs, using low-pressure liposuction. The fat is processed to remove fluid and damaged cells, then re-injected through micro-cannulas in carefully layered passes. This approach protects the graft and supports facial rejuvenation that looks natural in motion.

Suitable candidates for face volume restoration are healthy adults with realistic expectations and enough donor fat to harvest. During consultation Dr. Agarwal reviews medical history, photographs the face from multiple angles, and explains where volume will be added. Some patients combine fat grafting with a lift, eyelid surgery, or skin treatments for a more complete result.

Fat grafting is typically performed under sedation or general anaesthesia in our day-care theatre in Lucknow. The session usually takes one to two hours depending on the number of areas treated. Most patients go home the same day with mild swelling and bruising, which settles over two to three weeks.

Because fat is a living graft, around half to two-thirds of the transferred volume usually survives long term. We slightly overcorrect to account for this. Patients are asked to maintain a stable weight, protect the skin from sun, and avoid nicotine for several weeks. Our natural fillers treatment results refine over three to six months as swelling resolves and the graft settles.

What to expect

• Full assessment of facial volume, skin quality, and donor sites
• Photographs and a written treatment plan
• Liposuction harvest from abdomen, flanks, or thighs
• Gentle processing of fat and layered re-injection through micro-cannulas
• Day-care procedure under sedation or general anaesthesia
• Specific written aftercare for both the donor and the face
• Follow-up reviews at one week, one month, and three months

Recovery

• Same-day discharge in most cases
• Swelling and bruising peak at 48 hours and settle over two to three weeks
• Sleep with the head slightly elevated for the first few nights
• Avoid heavy exercise for two to three weeks
• Maintain a stable weight to preserve results
• Strict sun protection helps long-term graft and skin quality