Your Body's Natural Filler
Restore Volume with Your Own Living Tissue
A permanent alternative to synthetic fillers — using fat harvested from one area of your body to restore volume in another.
Fat Grafting at a Glance
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Overview
Fat grafting, or fat transfer, is a surgical procedure that harvests fat from one area of your body, purifies it, and injects it into another area to restore volume. It is a natural, long-lasting alternative to temporary fillers and can be used to contour the face, breasts, hands, or other areas where volume has been lost.
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Recovery
Recovery involves both the donor and recipient sites. You will experience swelling and bruising at both locations, which subsides over several weeks. Most patients return to work and light activities within a week, but a full recovery takes several months as the transferred fat establishes its blood supply.
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Results
Results are natural-looking and long-lasting. While some reabsorption occurs in the initial months, the fat that successfully integrates into its new location remains permanent — providing a soft, natural contour.
Fat Grafting
Am I a Good Candidate?
What Do Scars Look Like?
More Details About Fat Grafting
The Three-Step Process of Fat Grafting
The Three-Step Process
Fat grafting is an elegant surgical procedure that works by taking fat from where you have a surplus and moving it where you need more volume. The process begins with liposuction to gently harvest fat cells from the donor site. The harvested fat is then purified — separated from fluids and damaged cells to retain only the healthiest fat cells. Finally, the purified fat is precisely injected into the recipient site using a small cannula to create a smooth, natural-looking contour.
The Benefits of Using Your Own Tissue
One of the greatest advantages of fat grafting is that we use your body’s own living tissue. There is virtually no risk of an allergic reaction or rejection, which can sometimes be a concern with synthetic fillers or implants. The transferred fat integrates into its new location, establishes a blood supply, and provides a permanent, soft result that feels completely natural — unlike synthetic fillers, which the body eventually metabolizes.
Surgeon's Notes
Why some of the transferred fat goes away — and what that means for planning
The most important thing for fat grafting patients to understand: not all the transferred fat survives. Typically about 50–70% of the grafted fat establishes a permanent blood supply in its new location; the rest is reabsorbed by the body over the first 3–6 months. This is the central trade-off of using your own tissue instead of a synthetic filler — the fat that takes is permanent, but we have to overcorrect at the time of surgery to account for what will be reabsorbed. That's why patients look 'puffy' for the first few months and why we sometimes recommend a second session 6 months out to top up areas that didn't take as well. Setting that expectation upfront prevents disappointment.
Fat Grafting
Fat Grafting Recovery & Results Timeline
Please remember this is just a guide for Fat Grafting recovery. Every individual and recovery is unique. Your surgeon will provide you with personalized instructions and recovery times after your procedure.
Day 1 – 3
You will experience bruising, swelling, and soreness at both the donor and recipient sites. A compression garment may be worn at the donor site to help with healing.
1 – 2 Weeks
The majority of initial swelling will subside, and you can return to work and light, non-strenuous activities.
1 – 3 Months
Most swelling will have resolved, and the final contour begins to take shape. Some of the transferred fat may be reabsorbed during this time.
6 Months – 1 Year
The fat that has successfully integrated into the recipient site is now permanent, and the final results of your procedure are fully visible.
Your Surgeons
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Schedule a consultation to discuss Fat Grafting with our board-certified surgeons.