Fat transfer to the face involves taking fat from your body, purifying it, and then injecting the purified fat tissues into another area of your body. Facial fat transfer procedures are a preferred technique for Dr. Vallecillos in Beverly Hills to address volume loss issues of the face, and particularly in the tear trough area, the temples and brow, chin, nasolabial folds, and jawline. An additional benefit of the procedure is the effect that fat transfer has on the skin, which, as we know, thins with age. The purified fat injections, which naturally contain stems cells and related growth factors, increase blood circulation and may improve skin tone and texture, giving the patient a glowing, rosy appearance.
Patients often choose autologous fat transfers over other injectables because there is no danger of allergic reaction when the injectable material comes from your own body.
Procedure Walk-Through
- Preparation: To aid healing, cease smoking during the two weeks before and the two weeks after your procedure. Additionally, stop taking all blood-thinning medications and supplements, including NSAIDs, vitamin E, and Gingko biloba. Patients choosing IV sedation require medical clearance from their primary physician.
- Anesthesia: Patients commonly choose to undergo the procedure under local anesthesia, although intravenous sedation is an available option. Discuss these options with Dr. Vallecillos during your consultation. Patients choosing IV sedation require medical clearance from their regular physician.
- Preoperative Consult: During your consultation, Dr. Vallecillos evaluates your area of complaint, discusses your desired results, and provides guidance on which area or areas to use as the fat donor site. Come prepared with any questions you have as well as your complete medical history. Take note of all of his pre-and post-operative instructions to ensure you follow them exactly.
Harvesting Fat in Preparation for Facial Transfer
The first step is removing fat cells from the selected donor sites. Common locations include the abdomen, hips, and thighs. Dr. Vallecillos employs a low-suction liposuction method using a thin cannula to ensure the harvested fat cells remain undamaged. Using a centrifuge, the doctor purifies the collected fat. This isolates the fat cells from surrounding liquids. Finally, he injects the purified cells into the treatment site.
Am I a Good Candidate for Fat Transfer to the Face?
In order to be considered an ideal candidate for facial fat transfer, you need to have an adequate amount of fat (for the donor site) and be in good overall health. It’s also important to have realistic expectations for what this procedure can actually achieve.
If you’re troubled by any of the following, you may be well-suited for a fat transfer procedure:
- Hollow cheeks
- Deep folds around the nose and mouth
- Sunken under-eye troughs
- Volume loss around the temples or brow
- Thinning lips
Anyone with active skin infections, certain autoimmune conditions or poorly controlled chronic illness should discuss these factors openly with Dr. Vallecillos at the consultation. Candidacy is evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and that conversation is always centered on what makes the most clinical sense for you.
How Dr. Vallecillos Personalizes Your Facial Fat Transfer
No two faces lose volume in precisely the same way. Fat distribution changes as the body ages, and genetics determine where and how much fat is lost or repositioned. With this variability in mind, achieving a result that looks and feels natural requires reading the face as a whole, going beyond simply filling in each hollowed area in isolation.
Dr. Vallecillos begins every facial fat transfer plan with a detailed assessment of your facial structure: where volume has been lost, how skin quality and elasticity interact with those changes, and which areas call for the most precise correction. From there, he refines the treatment approach according to the following factors:
- Donor site selection: The abdomen, hips and thighs are the most common harvest locations, chosen based on where you have sufficient accessible fat and how the area will look post-extraction.
- Injection depth and technique: Fat is placed in precise, layered micro-injections to maximize access to surrounding blood vessels that support the grafts long-term survival.
- Volume precision: A portion of transferred fat is naturally reabsorbed in the weeks following treatment. Dr. Vallecillos accounts for this in his strategy, placing enough to achieve lasting correction without overcorrecting.
For patients who also want to address drooping eyelids or skin laxity, Dr. Vallecillos can pair fat grafting with blepharoplasty or FaceTite.
Why Choose Dr. Vallecillos for Facial Fat Transfer?
Facial fat grafting is as much an art as it is a science. The architecture of the face is intricate and placing fat too superficially, too deeply or in the wrong location can produce results that look unnatural or uneven. Dr. Glenn Vallecillos, MD, FACS, brings a meticulous surgical technique and a trained aesthetic eye developed through years of performing complex facial procedures across a diverse patient population.
Board-certified in plastic and reconstructive surgery, Dr. Vallecillos completed his fellowship training at Providence & St. John’s Medical Center in Michigan, following clinical medical training at St. Bartholomew’s and the Royal Medical College in London. He is a regular contributor to the European Journal of Plastic Surgery and serves as a Senior Faculty Member of Palette/Scientiae, providing continuing medical education to nurses, physicians and surgeons across the country.
“At its fundamental level, every surgery is deeply rooted to a person’s sense of well-being and sense of self-confidence,” Dr. Vallecillos says. “We partner closely with our patients and strive to establish strong relationships with them.” As a patient of Dr. Vallecillos, you are a partner and collaborator in your own care plan, kept in the loop from the first point of contact through to well after your procedure.
Ready for Tailor-Made Results?
Volume loss is one of the most significant and most underestimated drivers of facial aging, and facial fat transfer is one of the most effective ways to correct it using your own body.
Whether you’re considering fat transfer on its own or as part of a broader plan that might include a facelift, blepharoplasty or FaceTite, Dr. Vallecillos will help you determine the right approach for your face and your goals. Schedule a consultation at our Beverly Hills practice by calling (310) 273-3007 or booking online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is a candidate for a fat transfer?
Adult patients looking to decrease wrinkles, smile and frown lines, facial creases, hollow cheeks, and acne scarring are candidates for facial fat transfer. Additionally, fat transfer is commonly done in conjunction with facelift surgery to replace lost facial volume associated with the natural aging process.
What is the recovery time?
Follow Dr. Vallecillos’ post-operative instructions exactly. Typically, normal activity may resume immediately following the procedure, although discomfort and swelling continue during the immediate post-operative period. The fat grafts develop blood vessels within three to five days, although it takes another few days for these to strengthen. Surgical tape remains on the treatment area for five days. In the first week, you should sleep on your back, elevating your head. Make sure you do not rub your face for the first two weeks, although you may lightly wash it. Also, during this time, do not engage in exercise.
Are there risks or side effects associated with a fat transfer?
Risks and side effects are minor, although every cosmetic procedure comes with some side effects. These include swelling, hematoma, and scarring.
How long do the results last?
Length of results varies, although a large percentage of the injected fat cells survive to remain in the treatment area permanently. Two weeks following your procedure, you will have a very good idea how your final, permanent result looks.
Can facial fat transfer be combined with other procedures?
Yes. Facial fat transfer is frequently performed alongside facelift surgery to address skin laxity and volume loss within a single operative session. It also pairs well with blepharoplasty to restore fullness around the eyes and complements FaceTite for patients who want both skin tightening and volumization. During your consultation, Dr. Vallecillos will assess your concerns and recommend a combined approach if it will produce a more comprehensive result than fat transfer alone.
How does facial fat transfer compare to dermal fillers?
Dermal fillers offer immediate, adjustable volume correction with no surgical downtime, making them a practical option for patients who want quick results or prefer a non-permanent solution. Facial fat transfer, by contrast, uses your own biological tissue, eliminating any risk of allergic reaction. The fat cells that integrate into the treatment site can remain indefinitely, which often makes fat transfer a more durable option for patients dealing with significant or recurring volume loss. A portion of transferred fat is naturally reabsorbed in the weeks following the procedure, but the surviving cells settle in as permanent residents. Dr. Vallecillos can help you weigh these approaches based on your goals, timeline and budget during a one-on-one consultation.
What is the difference between standard fat grafting and nano fat transfer?
Standard fat grafting preserves whole fat cells, which are injected to add structural volume to specific areas of the face. Nano fat transfer takes the process a step further by emulsifying the harvested fat into a very fine consistency, producing a preparation rich in adipose-derived stem cells and growth factors. Because nano fat is too refined to build structural volume, it is typically applied to improve skin quality in delicate areas like the under-eye region, fine lines and areas with thinning or crepey texture. The two techniques are often used together: standard fat grafting for volumization and nano fat for superficial skin quality improvements. Dr. Vallecillos will determine which approach, or which combination, is appropriate for your specific presentation.