Facial fat transfer is not a technique used solely to add volume. Volume deficiencies in the cheeks, temples, under-eye area, and other facial regions caused by aging, weight changes, or individual facial anatomy may be addressed in suitable patients using the patient’s own fat tissue.
The goal of fat injection is not to fill the face as much as possible, but to redistribute lost or insufficient volume in a way that respects facial anatomy and supports natural transitions between facial areas.
Nanofat differs from conventional structural fat transfer. Rather than being used to create significant volume, it may be considered as a complementary treatment aimed at supporting skin quality in suitable patients.
The amount of transferred fat that remains in the long term varies from person to person, and some of the transferred fat may be lost during the healing process. For this reason, claims of guaranteed permanence, a fixed fat-survival percentage, or “guaranteed rejuvenation through stem cells” are not appropriate.
One of the primary goals of facial fat transfer is to restore support to areas that have lost volume due to aging or individual anatomical characteristics.
The temples, cheeks, midface, under-eye transitions, and other facial areas may be considered depending on the patient’s anatomy.
However, facial rejuvenation is not simply about adding volume.
Where the fat is placed, how much is transferred, and in which anatomical plane it is injected should be determined by evaluating the face as a whole.
The objective is not to create a fuller face, but to support the areas that need volume while preserving the face’s natural proportions and transitions.
Patients with facial volume loss or those who require structural support in specific anatomical areas may be evaluated for fat transfer.
It may be considered in patients who have lost volume in the temples or cheeks with aging, whose midface contours have changed, or who have developed more noticeable volume deficiency in the under-eye area.
The patient must also have a suitable donor area with an adequate amount of fat tissue available for harvesting.
General health, skin and facial anatomy, previous surgical or non-surgical treatments, and the patient’s expectations are evaluated together.
Fat injection is not the solution to every sign of facial aging.
If the primary concern is significant skin and deeper tissue laxity, adding volume alone may not be sufficient. In fact, in poorly selected patients, excessive volume may make the face appear heavier.
Concerns in specific areas may also result from factors other than volume loss. For example, the appearance of the under-eye area may be influenced by skin quality, under-eye bags, anatomical hollows, and midface support.
For this reason, rather than following a standard approach of “there is volume loss, so let’s add fat,” the underlying cause of the concern should first be identified.
When planning facial fat transfer, the face is evaluated as a whole rather than as a collection of separate areas.
The temples, cheekbones and cheeks, midface, under-eye transitions, nasolabial area, jawline, and overall distribution of facial volume are assessed.
Natural asymmetries between the right and left sides are also evaluated.
Previous fillers, fat injections, energy-based treatments, or facial surgeries may be relevant to the treatment plan.
The suitability of potential donor areas for fat harvesting is also assessed.
In facial fat transfer, the patient’s own fat is usually harvested from the abdomen, waist, thighs, or another suitable donor area.
The harvested fat is processed according to its intended use and then carefully transferred to selected areas of the face.
Different anatomical regions may require different volumes and injection strategies.
In Dr. Atilla Fesli’s approach, the objective is not to transfer as much fat as possible, but to provide the appropriate support to the appropriate areas while respecting the patient’s facial anatomy and natural proportions.
Nanofat is created by processing harvested fat tissue differently to produce a finer fat-derived product.
While conventional fat transfer may be used to create structural volume in specific areas, the primary purpose of nanofat is not to create significant volume.
Nanofat may be considered in suitable patients as an option aimed at supporting skin quality.
For this reason, conventional fat transfer and nanofat should not be considered the same procedure.
Terminology is particularly important when discussing nanofat.
Although fat tissue contains various cellular components, it would not be accurate to present nanofat to patients as a “stem cell treatment” or as “guaranteed rejuvenation through stem cells.”
Clinical outcomes may be influenced by many variables, including the technique used, the patient’s tissues, the treatment area, and the individual healing response.
For this reason, in Dr. Atilla Fesli’s approach, nanofat is considered an option that may support skin quality in appropriately selected patients.
Both techniques can provide volume support in selected areas, but the materials used and the treatment processes are different.
Fat transfer uses the patient’s own tissue, which must first be harvested from another area of the body.
Dermal fillers involve a different treatment and follow-up process depending on the product used.
A portion of transferred fat may be absorbed over time. The characteristics and duration of fillers vary according to the specific product.
Therefore, rather than asking, “Which is better?” the more appropriate question is, “Which option is more suitable for this patient and this particular anatomical concern?”
Not all transferred fat is expected to survive.
Some fat cells establish a blood supply and continue to survive in the new area, while some may be absorbed during the healing process.
Fat survival can vary depending on the patient’s tissues, the treatment area, the technique used, and individual healing characteristics.
For this reason, it is not appropriate to guarantee before surgery that a specific percentage of fat will remain.
If necessary and appropriate, an additional treatment may be considered at a later stage.
The type of anesthesia depends on the extent of the procedure.
Limited fat transfer procedures may be performed under local anesthesia or sedation in suitable patients, while fat transfer performed together with another procedure, such as a facelift, may be carried out under general anesthesia.
Fat harvesting, processing, and transfer should be performed under appropriate sterile conditions.
The anesthesia plan is determined according to the patient’s health and the extent of the planned procedures.
Swelling, bruising, and tenderness may occur in the treated facial areas after fat transfer.
Swelling, bruising, or tenderness may also occur at the donor site where the fat was harvested.
Particularly during the first few days, the volume visible in the face does not represent the final volume of transferred fat. As swelling decreases, the appearance changes, and some of the transferred fat may be absorbed during healing.
For this reason, the result should not be assessed too early.
It takes time for the tissues to settle and for the result to become clearer.
Fat transfer is not a completely non-invasive procedure.
Small cannula entry points are required both to harvest and transfer the fat. These are positioned in less visible areas whenever possible.
Small liposuction entry incisions may also be present in the donor area.
Temporary numbness, tenderness, or altered sensations may occur in the face or donor area following the procedure.
The appearance of scars and the time required for sensory changes to resolve vary from person to person.
Like other medical and surgical procedures, facial fat transfer is not risk-free.
Possible complications include swelling, bruising, infection, bleeding, asymmetry, contour irregularities, greater-than-expected fat absorption, insufficient or excessive volume, and fat necrosis.
Small nodules or irregularities may develop in some areas.
Vascular anatomy is particularly important in facial injections. Rare but serious complications, such as inadvertent injection into a blood vessel, are possible. Depending on the treatment area, vascular complications may result in tissue damage, serious vision-related consequences, or other significant complications.
For this reason, facial fat transfer should not be regarded simply as a volume-enhancing procedure. It is a surgical technique that requires detailed knowledge of facial anatomy.
Yes, in suitable patients.
Facial aging may involve both tissue descent and volume loss. While a facelift aims to reposition tissues that have shifted downward, fat transfer may be used to support areas where volume has been lost.
Because these two approaches address different anatomical concerns, they may complement each other in appropriately selected patients.
However, not every facelift patient requires fat transfer.
The human face is naturally not completely symmetrical.
Fat transfer may help reduce existing asymmetries, but it cannot create mathematically perfect symmetry.
It also cannot be guaranteed that transferred fat will behave biologically in exactly the same way on both sides of the face.
The aging process also continues after the procedure.
The objective is not to fill every area of the face or make the face completely smooth, but to create more balanced transitions within the patient’s natural facial anatomy.
During the initial follow-up appointments, swelling, bruising, skin, and soft tissues in both the face and donor area are evaluated.
The volume seen during the early postoperative period should not be considered the final result.
As swelling decreases and the transferred tissue progresses through the healing process, the result can be assessed more meaningfully.
During long-term follow-up, volume distribution, asymmetries, and the patient’s overall facial aging process may be evaluated together.
What is facial fat transfer?
It is a procedure in which fat tissue is harvested from the patient’s own body, processed, and transferred to areas of the face that require volume or structural support.
Where is the fat taken from?
A suitable donor area with sufficient fat tissue, such as the abdomen, waist, or thighs, may be selected according to the patient’s anatomy.
Will fat transfer make my face look swollen or overfilled?
During the early period, swelling may make the face appear fuller. The long-term goal, however, is not to create as much volume as possible, but to provide balanced support where it is needed.
Does all of the transferred fat remain permanently?
No. Some of the transferred fat may be absorbed during the healing process. The amount that remains varies from person to person, and a specific survival percentage cannot be guaranteed.
Can facial fat transfer be repeated?
After sufficient time has passed to evaluate the initial result, additional fat transfer may be considered if it is necessary and appropriate.
What is nanofat?
Nanofat is obtained by processing fat tissue differently to create a finer product. Unlike conventional fat transfer, its primary purpose is not to create significant structural volume.
Does nanofat add volume to the face?
Nanofat is not primarily intended to create significant structural volume. When volume support is required, other fat transfer techniques may be considered.
Is nanofat a stem cell treatment?
Describing nanofat directly as “stem cell treatment” may be misleading. Although research exists regarding the biological components of fat tissue, it should not be presented to patients as guaranteed rejuvenation through stem cells.
Does nanofat definitely rejuvenate the skin?
No specific result can be guaranteed. In suitable patients, nanofat may be considered as an option intended to support skin quality, but the degree of change varies according to individual characteristics and the treatment performed.
Does fat transfer look more natural than fillers?
Natural appearance is not determined solely by the material used. Appropriate patient selection, the amount used, the treatment area, and planning according to facial proportions are more important. Either technique can produce different outcomes depending on how and where it is used.
Can fat be injected under the eyes?
It may be considered in suitable patients. However, the under-eye area is anatomically sensitive, and not every under-eye hollow is best treated with fat transfer. Under-eye bags, skin characteristics, and midface support should also be evaluated.
Is transferred facial fat affected by weight gain or weight loss?
Fat cells that survive in the new area may respond to weight changes like other fat cells in the body. Significant weight gain or loss may therefore affect long-term facial volume.
Can fat transfer be performed during a facelift?
Yes, in suitable patients. When facial laxity and volume loss occur together, the two procedures may address different anatomical concerns within the same treatment plan.
When can I evaluate the final result?
Swelling and volume during the first weeks do not represent the final result. Time is required for swelling to decrease and for the transferred fat to settle biologically. The result should therefore be assessed according to the individual healing process.
A consultation with Dr. Atilla Fesli can be arranged in Antalya or Doha for facial fat transfer or nanofat treatment.
The consultation is not limited to answering the question, “Where should we inject fat into the face?”
Facial volume distribution, skin quality, the pattern of facial aging, existing asymmetries, under-eye and midface anatomy, and any previous surgical or non-surgical procedures are evaluated together.
This helps determine whether structural fat transfer, nanofat, another treatment, or a combination with a surgical procedure may be appropriate.
The goal of facial rejuvenation is not simply to fill the face.
The objective is to evaluate volume loss together with the patient’s natural facial anatomy and provide individualized support in the appropriate areas and in the appropriate amount.
Nanofat is not a guarantee of rejuvenation. It is one of the complementary options that may be considered in suitable patients to support skin quality.
Dr. Atilla Fesli
Natural. Balanced. Still You.
Op. Dr. Atilla Fesli
Doha, Qatar
Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery in Doha, Qatar
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