Facial Fat Injection
Completely Natural Facial Rejuvenation and Lifting Using Your Own Tissue
The Power of Natural Regeneration
Facial fat injection medically known as autologous fat transfer and commonly referred to as fat grafting is a highly effective, satisfying medical procedure used to restore facial volume, lift sagging areas, and rejuvenate the skin.
As we age, our face loses volume, begins to sag, and the skin becomes wrinkled and worn. Fat transfer effectively addresses these problems. In recent years, it has become one of the most preferred natural filler and regenerative procedures in aesthetic medicine.
The greatest advantage of this treatment is that it uses the patient’s own fat tissue. Therefore, no foreign substance is injected into the body, there is no risk of allergic reaction, and the results are natural, long-lasting, and harmonious.
Fat tissue is also rich in stem cells a living, regenerative material. It not only restores lost volume and provides a lifting effect but also improves skin quality from within, resulting in a brighter, firmer, and healthier complexion.
How Is Facial Fat Injection Performed?
During the procedure, fat is gently harvested from areas of the body where excess fat is present most commonly the abdomen. The treatment is performed through small needle punctures without incisions or stitches, under sterile clinical conditions and local anesthesia. The process typically takes about 2–2.5 hours.
1. Fat Harvesting (Donor Area)
In the first step, fat is extracted from the abdomen, waist, inner thighs, or knees using a small cannula. This is not a surgical operation no cuts are made, only millimetric entry points are used.
2. Fat Processing and Purification
The collected fat is processed through specialized systems to purify and enrich it at the cellular level.
In modern techniques (such as micrograft or nanofat), the fat is filtered into micron-sized particles. During this step, the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) the stem-cell–rich portion is isolated and combined with the purified fat.
3. Injection to the Face
The purified, stem-cell enriched fat is then injected into the required facial areas using very fine cannulas. Common target regions include: under-eye hollows, cheeks, cheekbones, nasolabial folds, temples, perioral area, and jawline.
Who Is a Candidate for Facial Fat Grafting?
Facial fat transfer is ideal for individuals in their 30s and older who experience facial volume loss and sagging due to aging. Depending on facial structure and needs, it can also be performed at a younger age.
Is Fat Grafting Permanent?
A portion of the injected fat becomes permanent it survives, integrates with the blood supply, and continues to live and age with the patient.
Visible results stabilize after about 3 months, with the final outcome seen around the 6th month.
In SVF (stem-cell) assisted fat transfer, the retention rate of fat cells is significantly higher (up to 80%), providing visible skin rejuvenation.
Fat transfer maintains its maximal effect for about 2–3 years.
Recovery Process After Fat Injection
Patients can return home the same day.
Mild swelling or bruising may occur at the donor and injection sites, usually resolving within 3–7 days.
Fat Transfer Techniques
Several individualized techniques can be used for facial fat grafting depending on the patient’s needs and desired results. These include:
- Microfat Transfer (Micrograft)
- Nanofat Transfer
- Multiplanar Fat Grafting for the Face
Advantages of Fat Injection
- Completely natural: Uses your own cells, free from foreign substances or chemicals.
- Biocompatible and safe: No risk of allergy, granuloma, or foreign body reaction.
- Stem-cell–rich: Enhances skin quality and supports collagen production.
- Natural and smooth results: Provides a dynamic, expression-friendly appearance.
- Long-lasting effect: A portion of the transplanted fat remains permanently.
- Increased hydration and radiance: Improves skin tone and luminosity.
Aftercare Recommendations
- Avoid pressure on the face and do not sleep face-down for the first 48 hours.
- Refrain from intense exercise, sauna, tanning, or hot showers for one week.
- Mild swelling or bruising is normal; cold compresses and sleeping with an elevated pillow can help recovery.
- Avoid alcohol and smoking, as they reduce fat cell survival by affecting blood circulation.
- Use doctor-prescribed moisturizers or regenerative creams to support healing.
Side Effects and Safety
Since the procedure uses the patient’s own tissue, facial fat injection is extremely safe.
However, as with any medical procedure, minor and temporary side effects may occur:
- Mild swelling (resolves within 3–5 days)
- Bruising or tenderness
- Infection is extremely rare when performed under sterile conditions.
Cost of Fat Injection
The cost of fat transfer depends on the clinic, the technique used, and the individual patient’s requirements.
Conclusion
Facial fat injection with micrograft and SVF stem cell enhancement is one of the most natural, biological, and safe rejuvenation methods in modern aesthetics.
Performed by Dr. Abdullah Ünal in Nişantaşı, this procedure not only reshapes facial contours but also promotes biological regeneration, revitalizing the skin from within.
