Fat Transfer
Learn AboutFat Transfer Surgery, Recovery, Cost, Results, and Whether It Is Right for You.
Procedure:
FAT TRANSFER
AKA:
Fat Grafting
Starting Cost:
$12,500+
Synopsis of Surgery:
Fat transfer is a cosmetic procedure that removes excess fat from one area of the body using liposuction, purifies it, and carefully injects it into another area to restore or enhance volume, such as the breasts, face, or buttocks.
Anesthesia:
General
Recovery:
OUTPATIENT SURGERY
Take Off Work:
5–7 DAYS
Before Resuming Physical Exercise:
4-6 WEEKS
Benefits
Surgery Steps
Before & After
Cost
Recovery
FAQs
What Is a Fat Transfer Surgery?
Fat transfer, also known as fat grafting, is a procedure that uses your body's own fat to restore or enhance volume in another area. Fat is first removed through liposuction from areas such as the abdomen, flanks, or thighs, then purified before being carefully injected where additional volume is desired.
Because it uses your own tissue instead of implants or synthetic fillers, fat transfer can provide soft, natural-looking results while also contouring the area where the fat is harvested. It is commonly performed for the breasts, buttocks, face, hands, and other areas needing volume restoration or enhancement.
Is Fat Transfer Right for Me?
Fat transfer may be a good option if you're looking to enhance or restore volume using your own natural fat instead of implants or synthetic fillers. It can also be ideal if you have areas of unwanted fat that can be used for transfer, offering the added benefit of body contouring.
You may be a good candidate if you:
- Have enough excess fat for harvesting.
- Are in good overall health and at a stable weight.
- Prefer a natural-looking enhancement.
- Have realistic expectations about the results.
During your consultation at Clinic 360, your surgeon will assess your anatomy, discuss your goals, and determine whether fat transfer is the best option or if another procedure may better achieve your desired outcome.
Benefits of a Fat Transfer
Natural Results:
Uses your own fat to create a soft, natural look and feel.
No Implants or Fillers:
Enhances volume without synthetic materials.
Dual Benefit:
Removes unwanted fat from one area while enhancing another.
Versatile Treatment:
Can be used to enhance the breasts, buttocks, face, hands, and other areas needing volume restoration.
Uses Your Own Tissue:
Since your own fat is used, there is no risk of implant-related complications or allergic reactions to fillers.
Long-Lasting Results:
Once the transferred fat establishes a blood supply, the surviving fat cells can provide lasting volume.
Natural Contouring:
Improves body proportions by slimming donor areas and adding fullness where desired.
Minimal Scarring:
Fat is harvested and transferred through small incisions, resulting in minimal visible scars.
Common Areas Treated with Fat Transfer
Fat transfer is a versatile procedure that can restore volume and enhance body contours using your own natural fat. Depending on your goals and available donor fat, it can be used to improve several areas of the face and body.
During your consultation, your surgeon will assess your anatomy and discuss which areas are suitable for fat transfer based on your goals and the amount of available donor fat.
Common Areas:
- Breasts: Enhance breast volume and improve shape with a natural alternative to implants.
- Buttocks (BBL): Add fullness and projection while sculpting surrounding areas with liposuction.
- Face: Restore youthful volume to the cheeks, temples, under-eye area, jawline, or chin.
Hands: Replenish lost volume for a smoother, more youthful appearance. - Hips: Improve hip dips and create a more balanced silhouette.
- Scars & Contour Irregularities: Fill areas of volume loss or uneven contours caused by surgery, injury, or previous procedures.
Fat Transfer Journey at Clinic 360
Considering a Fat Transfer Surgery?
Learn whether a Fat Transfer is right for your goals. We'll assess your treatment areas, discuss expected results, recovery, and provide a personalized surgical plan and quote.
How a Fat Transfer Surgery is Performed
Fat Transfer Recovery
Most patients return home the same day after fat transfer surgery. It is normal to experience swelling, bruising, and mild discomfort in both the donor and treated areas during the first few weeks.
You'll wear a compression garment over the liposuction areas to help reduce swelling and support healing. Depending on the treatment area, you may also need to avoid putting pressure on the transferred fat for a short time to help improve fat survival.
Most people return to work within 5–7 days and can resume exercise after 4–6 weeks, or as advised by their surgeon. Follow-up appointments at Clinic 360 help ensure you're healing well and recovering as expected.
Fat Transfer Results
Fat transfer creates natural-looking volume using your own fat. During the healing process, your body will naturally absorb a portion of the transferred fat. On average, 60–80% of the transferred fat survives long term, while the rest is gradually absorbed over the first few months.
Your surgeon will account for this during the procedure by carefully placing the fat to help maximize its survival. Final results are usually visible after 3–6 months, once swelling has settled and the remaining fat has established a blood supply.
Maintaining a stable weight can help preserve your results, as the transferred fat cells behave like the rest of the fat in your body and can shrink or grow with significant weight changes.
Fat Transfer Risks
Fat transfer is generally considered a safe procedure when performed by an experienced surgeon, but like any surgery, it carries some risks. These may include bleeding, infection, swelling, bruising, temporary numbness, fluid buildup, or small scars at the liposuction sites.
Because some of the transferred fat is naturally absorbed by the body, there may be some loss of volume during healing. In some cases, additional fat transfer may be recommended to achieve the desired result. Your surgeon will discuss these risks with you and provide detailed instructions to help support a safe recovery and the best possible outcome.
Before & After
Explore real patient before-and-after photos from a range of body contouring procedures performed by our surgical team at Clinic 360.
How Much Does Fat Transfer Cost?
The cost of fat transfer surgery varies depending on the treatment area, the amount of liposuction required, and whether it is combined with another procedure, such as a breast augmentation, Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL), or facial fat transfer.
During your consultation at Clinic 360, your surgeon will assess your goals and provide a personalized treatment plan with a detailed quote based on your individual needs.
Fat Transfer FAQs
How long does fat transfer last?
Once the transferred fat establishes a blood supply, the surviving fat cells can provide long-lasting results. On average, 60–80% of the transferred fat remains, while the rest is naturally absorbed during healing.
Which areas can be treated with fat transfer?
Fat transfer can be used to enhance the breasts, buttocks, face, hands, hips, and other areas needing volume restoration or contour improvement.
Where is the fat taken from?
Fat is commonly harvested from the abdomen, flanks, thighs, back, or arms using liposuction.
Will all of the transferred fat survive?
No. It's normal for your body to absorb some of the transferred fat during the first few months. Your surgeon accounts for this when planning your procedure.
Is fat transfer better than implants?
It depends on your goals. Fat transfer offers a natural look and feel using your own tissue, while implants can provide a greater increase in size and more predictable volume.
Will I have a scar?
You'll notice an improvement in volume immediately after surgery, but swelling can make the treated area appear fuller than the final result. As swelling decreases and your body naturally absorbs some of the transferred fat, your results will continue to refine over time.
Most patients see their final results within 3–6 months, once the remaining fat has established a blood supply and healing is complete. Maintaining a stable weight can help preserve your long-term results.
When will I see my final results?
You will notice an improvement immediately after surgery, but final results continue to develop over the following months as swelling subsides.
How long is the recovery?
Most patients return to work within 5–7 days and can resume exercise after 4–6 weeks, depending on the treatment area and their surgeon's recommendations.
Can fat transfer be combined with other procedures?
Yes. Fat transfer is commonly combined with procedures such as liposuction, tummy tuck, breast lift, Mommy Makeover, Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL), and other body contouring surgeries.
Will I lose the transferred fat if I lose weight?
The transferred fat behaves like the rest of the fat in your body. Significant weight loss can reduce the size of the transferred fat cells, while weight gain can increase their size. Maintaining a stable weight helps preserve your results.
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