Fat Grafting

At South Bay Aesthetics Plastic Surgery, we specialize in fat grafting, a modern approach to volumizing and contouring that enhances your features using your own body fat. This innovative technique provides natural, long-lasting results without the need for synthetic fillers or implants. 

Patients across the South Bay — including El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Torrance, Hawthorne, Gardena, Lawndale, Lomita, Carson, San Pedro, and Long Beach — trust our team for safe, artful, and personalized results.

What Is Fat Grafting?

Fat grafting, also known as fat transfer surgery, involves harvesting fat from one area of the body and transferring it to another to restore lost volume, improve contours, or rejuvenate the face. This technique is often used to:

• Add youthful fullness to the cheeks and midface
• Smooth hollows beneath the eyes
• Enhance lips or temples
• Improve breast or buttock volume
• Refine scars or irregularities after surgery

Because the fat is taken from your own body, the results are natural in both look and feel. Unlike dermal fillers or implants, fat grafting integrates seamlessly with your tissue, making it one of the most versatile options in cosmetic surgery.

How Fat Transfer Works

Facial fat grafting is a carefully staged process designed to ensure the highest survival rate of transferred fat cells and the smoothest, most natural-looking results. The procedure can be broken into three phases:

Harvesting

Fat is gently removed from donor areas of the body (commonly the abdomen, flanks, or thighs) using a specialized liposuction technique. Unlike traditional liposuction, which may use stronger suction, the harvesting process for fat transfer is performed with lower pressure to protect the delicate fat cells. This careful extraction ensures that as many viable fat cells as possible are preserved for transfer.

Purification

Once harvested, the fat undergoes a refinement process. The tissue is spun, filtered, or washed to remove impurities such as excess fluids, oils, and damaged cells. This step is crucial, as only the healthiest fat cells will integrate successfully into the new area. By isolating high-quality fat, your surgeon maximizes both the safety and longevity of your results.

Injection

The purified fat is then strategically re-injected into the face using micro-cannulas. Rather than placing the fat in one large deposit, the surgeon meticulously layers tiny amounts throughout different tissue planes. This technique promotes better blood supply to each fat parcel, which increases the survival rate of the graft. It also allows for precise sculpting of areas such as the cheeks, under-eye hollows, lips, jawline, or temples, ensuring natural, balanced contours.

Benefits of Fat Grafting

Patients choose facial fat grafting for its unique advantages:

Natural Results

Because the procedure uses your own fat, the results look and feel authentic rather than artificial. The restored volume blends seamlessly with your existing tissue, enhancing your features in a subtle, natural way.

Dual Benefit

Fat grafting improves two areas of the body at once, reducing unwanted fat from donor sites while restoring youthful fullness to the face. Many patients appreciate the contouring effect liposuction provides in addition to their facial rejuvenation.

Long-Lasting Improvement

While dermal fillers fade within months, transferred fat that survives the grafting process becomes a living part of your tissue. This means results can last for years, making fat transfer a cost-effective, long-term solution.

Versatility

Fat can be used to treat a wide range of facial concerns, including sunken cheeks, hollow temples, under-eye shadows, and thinning lips. This versatility allows your surgeon to customize treatment and restore balance across multiple areas of the face.

Reduced Risk

Since fat comes from your own body, the risk of allergic reactions or rejection is extremely low. Patients also avoid potential complications associated with synthetic fillers or implants.

Fat Grafting vs. Other Treatments

When deciding between fat transfer surgery and other cosmetic options, it’s important to understand the strengths and limitations of each. Below is a breakdown of how these treatments compare in terms of goals, results, and longevity.

Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers are excellent for patients seeking quick, non-surgical facial rejuvenation. Results appear immediately but are temporary, typically lasting 6 to 18 months before retreatment is needed.

Implants

Facial implants are used to add more dramatic and permanent volume to areas such as the chin or cheeks. While effective, they involve placing foreign materials in the body and may feel less natural compared to fat grafting.

Laser or Skin Tightening Treatments

Laser treatments and devices like Ultherapy or Thermage focus on stimulating collagen to improve skin elasticity. These treatments provide tightening effects but cannot restore lost facial volume.

What to Expect Before, During & After Fat Grafting

Consultation

Your journey begins with a comprehensive consultation at our South Bay office. We will evaluate your facial structure, areas of volume loss, skin quality, and available donor fat to determine if fat transfer is the right approach. This appointment also allows you to ask questions, discuss your concerns, and receive a personalized plan tailored to your goals.

The Procedure

On the day of surgery, you’ll check in at our accredited outpatient facility and be guided through every step by our experienced clinical team. The procedure usually takes one to two hours, depending on the extent of fat harvesting and the number of facial areas treated. 

Using gentle liposuction, fat is collected from a donor site, carefully purified, and then re-injected into the face in precise micro-layers. Fat grafting is performed under local anesthesia with sedation or, in some cases, general anesthesia for patient comfort.

After the Procedure

Once complete, you’ll spend a short time in recovery before being discharged the same day with detailed aftercare instructions. Swelling and bruising are normal in both the donor and recipient sites, and a responsible adult should drive you home and remain with you for the first 24 hours. Most patients return to work and social activities within a week, while the final, refined results become visible over the following months as the grafted fat settles.

Recovery Timeline for Fat Grafting

Days 1–3

Swelling, bruising, and mild soreness are common at both the donor site and the areas where fat was injected. Cold compresses, elevation while resting, and prescribed medications help manage discomfort during this stage.

Week 1

Most patients notice gradual improvement in swelling, though puffiness in the face may still be visible. Light activities such as walking are encouraged, but strenuous exercise and heavy lifting should be avoided.

Week 2

Bruising begins to fade, and residual swelling decreases further. Many patients feel comfortable returning to work, social events, or virtual meetings, especially with the help of light makeup to conceal any discoloration.

Weeks 3–4

Swelling continues to resolve, and the grafted fat starts to integrate with surrounding tissues. Patients typically resume normal daily activities, though your surgeon may still advise avoiding high-impact workouts until healing is complete.

3+ Months

Final results become more visible as the surviving fat cells establish a stable blood supply. The face looks softer and more balanced, and results appear natural as the new tissue blends seamlessly with your own.

Who Is a Candidate for Fat Transfer Surgery?

Facial fat grafting is best suited for patients who want to restore youthful volume and improve balance in areas such as the cheeks, under-eyes, temples, lips, or jawline. Good candidates typically have small areas of excess fat available for harvesting (often from the abdomen, thighs, or flanks) and prefer a natural alternative to synthetic fillers or implants.

Ideal patients are in good overall health, maintain a stable weight, and have realistic expectations about the outcome. Non-smokers or those willing to stop smoking tend to heal better, which improves graft survival. During your consultation, Dr. Verbin will evaluate your facial structure, donor sites, and aesthetic goals to create a customized plan for safe, natural-looking results.

Cost of Fat Grafting

The cost of facial fat grafting varies based on several factors, including the areas being treated, the amount of fat needed, and whether it is performed as a stand-alone procedure or combined with other surgeries. Because every patient’s anatomy and goals are unique, your treatment plan will be customized after a detailed consultation.

In general, pricing reflects the surgeon’s expertise, the time required for fat harvesting and transfer, and the resources of an accredited surgical facility. While fat grafting may involve a higher initial investment compared to temporary fillers, many patients find it more cost-effective in the long run due to its long-lasting results. Our team will provide a detailed estimate during your consultation and can also review available financing options to make your procedure more accessible.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fat Grafting