Fat grafting — restoring volume with your own tissue
Autologous fat transfer to restore facial volume, address structural hollowing, and refine contour using your own tissue, processed and placed with precision.
Anesthesia
General / Local
Duration
1–2 hours
Hospital
Day case
Work
1–2 weeks
Social
2–3 weeks
Final result
3–6 months
"Fat grafting uses your own tissue to restore facial volume with a more structural approach to support and contour."
Dr. Serkan Kaya · Autologous Fat Transfer
Autologous
What is fat grafting?
Not simply a filler alternative
Fat grafting — also called lipofilling or autologous fat transfer — uses your own tissue to restore or enhance volume in areas where it has been lost or was never anatomically sufficient. Fat is taken from a donor site, processed, and then placed with a precise layered technique. Because the material is your own, it offers an autologous approach to facial volume restoration, with long-term volume retention depending on graft survival and individual biology.
In the face, fat grafting addresses the structural volume loss that characterises ageing: midface deflation, under-eye hollowing, temporal wasting, and loss of soft tissue support beneath the skin. It can also refine contour in patients following previous surgery or significant weight loss. Used as a standalone procedure or combined with facelift or blepharoplasty, it addresses volume — a dimension not corrected by lifting procedures alone.
Why layered micro-injection technique matters
Fat survival depends on how it is placed. Large boluses of fat do not receive adequate vascular ingrowth — the centre becomes necrotic and the volume is lost. I place fat in small aliquots across multiple tissue planes using fine cannulae, building volume gradually through layering. This maximises adipocyte survival, reduces lumpiness, and produces a result that integrates naturally with the surrounding tissue rather than sitting on top of it. The processing method — centrifugation at the correct speed to remove oil and aqueous fractions — also matters considerably. These are technical decisions that directly influence graft quality and long-term integration.
Surgical approach
How the procedure works
01
Consultation & volume mapping
We assess the face in three dimensions — bone structure, soft tissue support, skin quality, and existing volume distribution. The goal is to understand what has been lost and where precise restoration will produce the most coherent result. Digital imaging is used to illustrate the intended changes.
02
Donor site harvest
Fat is harvested from a suitable donor site — typically the abdomen, flanks, or inner thigh — using gentle low-pressure liposuction through small access incisions. The harvest is minimally invasive, and donor site recovery is usually mild.
03
Processing
The harvested fat is centrifuged at a controlled speed to separate viable adipocytes from oil, blood, and aqueous components. Only the concentrated cellular fraction is used for injection. This step directly influences long-term volume survival.
04
Layered placement
Fat is injected in multiple thin passes using fine blunt-tip cannulae, building volume incrementally across the subdermal, subcutaneous, and deeper tissue planes as the anatomy requires. Each layer is placed with attention to symmetry, depth, and tissue response. Deliberate overcorrection is avoided.
05
Recovery & resorption
Some resorption of transferred fat is expected during the first 6–12 weeks. The volume that remains at 3–6 months is generally considered stable. Swelling in the first 2–3 weeks can temporarily make the result appear fuller than the final outcome.
Are you a good candidate?
Who is fat grafting right for?
Fat grafting is most appropriate for patients with adequate donor fat, good skin quality, and realistic expectations about volume outcomes. It is particularly well-suited for those who prefer autologous material over synthetic fillers.
Midface hollowing or deflation with ageing
Deep tear trough or under-eye hollowing
Temporal wasting — flattened or sunken temples
Soft tissue volume loss after significant weight loss
Combined with facelift or blepharoplasty to restore volume dimension
Preference for autologous material over synthetic fillers
Recovery
What to expect after surgery
Facial fat grafting produces moderate swelling and some bruising — primarily at the injection sites and, to a lesser degree, at the donor site. Most patients are socially presentable within 2–3 weeks. The final volume settles over 3–6 months as initial resorption completes and viable adipocytes establish vascular supply.
1–2 wk
Return to work
2–3 wk
Socially presentable
4 wk
Sport
3–6 mo
Final volume stable
FAQ
Common questions
A meaningful proportion of the transferred volume typically survives long-term, with most resorption occurring in the first 6–12 weeks. The exact retention rate depends on processing technique, injection method, tissue vascularity at the recipient site, and individual biology. I do not over-promise on this — the variability is real, and the plan accounts for it.
In some patients — particularly those who have undergone previous surgery or have areas of poor vascular supply — a second grafting session after 6–12 months produces a more predictable final volume. This is discussed as part of planning, not as a surprise after the first procedure.
Fillers are temporary, reversible, and require no downtime — appropriate for targeted correction in the right patient. Fat grafting involves a recovery period but aims for longer-term volume restoration using autologous tissue. The two approaches are not interchangeable; the choice depends on the degree of correction needed, patient anatomy, and preference for temporary versus longer-term structural volume restoration.
Yes — fat grafting is frequently performed alongside a facelift or blepharoplasty, addressing volume and structural dimensions that the primary procedure does not. For international patients, combining procedures in one session is often the most practical approach.
For small-area facial fat grafting, many international patients stay in Istanbul for 3–5 days. If fat grafting is combined with other facial procedures or part of a broader restoration plan, a longer stay — up to 7 days — may be advised. After returning home, scheduled video check-ups and direct WhatsApp access ensure continuity of care.