Facial Fat Grafting (Lipofilling)
Lipofilling uses the patient's own fat to restore volume and improve certain facial contours, avoiding the introduction of a filler material foreign to the body.
Also known as autologous fat transfer, it involves harvesting fat from one area of the body, processing it and carefully injecting it into the areas of the face where volume has been lost or where we want to improve proportions and transitions.
It can be used, for example, to treat temporal hollowing, certain tear trough deformities, volume loss in the cheeks or some facial asymmetries.
In selected cases the procedure can be performed under local anesthesia with sedation, although the type of anesthesia depends on the extent of treatment and on whether it is combined with other procedures.
Part of the grafted fat is reabsorbed during the first few months, while the fraction that integrates into the tissues can last for the long term. That is why the final result is not assessed immediately.
Where it is used on the face
Mainly to restore volume where it has been lost:
- Tear troughs
- Temples
- Cheeks
- Facial contour
That is why fat grafting is also one of the techniques that make up Cirugía de la Mirada®.
Advantages of fat grafting
The main advantage is that we use the patient's own tissue instead of a filler material foreign to the body. This eliminates the risk of immune rejection and allows facial volume to be treated with autologous tissue. In addition, this tissue contains a population of cells with regenerative capacity (stem cells), known for their role in tissue regeneration.
Natural results
Fat restores volume and softens transitions in a way that integrates very well with the facial tissues. When well indicated and correctly distributed, it can deliver particularly harmonious, natural results.
Dual benefit
Besides improving the recipient area, fat harvesting can be used to improve the contour of the donor area, although this is not always the main goal of the procedure.
Long-term duration
Part of the transferred fat is reabsorbed during the first few months. The fraction that integrates behaves like the patient's own tissue and can last for the long term.
A personalized procedure
The amount of fat, the areas treated and how it is distributed are planned specifically for each patient, based on their anatomy and the result we want to achieve.
What does the process involve?
From first contact to medical discharge, treatment is organized individually.
Initial consultation
I assess your case and explain the procedure in detail: which areas should be treated, where the fat can be harvested from, how much volume is needed and what result can reasonably be expected.
Planning
Before the procedure is scheduled, treatment is designed around the patient's specific anatomy, defining both the donor and recipient areas and the approximate amount of fat to be transferred.
The procedure
Fat grafting is performed in the operating room. The fat is harvested by gentle liposuction, processed and then injected in small aliquots into the areas to be treated.
In selected cases it can be performed under local anesthesia with sedation, although the type of anesthesia depends on the extent of the procedure and on whether it is combined with other surgery.
Recovery
Recovery depends on the areas treated and on the amount of fat harvested and grafted. During the first few days, swelling and sometimes bruising are common at both the donor and the recipient sites.
Compression garments at the harvest site and a temporary reduction in physical activity may be recommended, with instructions tailored to each case.
The team
The procedure is performed with a medical team experienced in fat transfer techniques.
I am a member of SETGRA, the Spanish society for fat grafting (Sociedad Española de Trasplante de Grasa), reflecting my specific interest in fat grafting and facial remodeling techniques.
A treatment that is usually part of a broader plan
Fat grafting is rarely planned on its own. It is often part of a broader treatment plan, in which volume restoration is combined with other procedures to improve the overall result.
Facial harmonization
It can be used to restore volume, soften transitions and improve certain proportions without the need for major surgery.
Cirugía de la Mirada®
Within the global treatment of the eye area, fat grafting can be especially useful for restoring volume in areas such as the tear troughs, the temples or the cheeks, provided there is a specific indication.
Preservation facelift
It can also be combined with other facial procedures when volume loss is part of the overall aging of the face.
Written and reviewed by
Dr. Mabel Falguera Uceda
Oral and maxillofacial surgeon specializing in facial aesthetic surgery. Trained at the University of Navarra, Hospital 12 de Octubre in Madrid and Chang Gung Hospital in Taiwan. Facial aesthetic surgeon and director of Instituto Facial in Córdoba.