Often used in place of hyaluronic acid and semi-permanent fillers, using your own fat for added volume represents a safe, longer-lasting and completely natural alternative—with no risk of allergic reaction.
Did you know that your own fat can be used instead of dermal fillers? If you’re wary of injecting a foreign substance and have enough extra fat somewhere else on your body to use, you may be the perfect candidate for facial fat grafting.
Using your own fat to add volume provides a very natural look and feel. Many patients love facial fat grafting because not only do they achieve the volume they want; they also have fat removed from another area. In this way, it’s a two-in-one procedure.
Facial fat grafting requires about one week of swelling and bruising at the donor and treatment sites. Instead of the results appearing quickly (as with dermal fillers), outcomes from facial fat grafting appear gradually, sometimes taking six months. However, results from facial fat grafting are much more permanent than dermal fillers—up to 5-7 years or more. It’s also important to understand that some of the fat may not survive in its new environment, so you may need to have multiple treatments to get the results you want.
Dr. Bloom, Dr. Shtraks, and their team utilize a combination of patient-specific injectable treatments and clinical skincare, as well as cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, to achieve the best results for each patient. Conveniently located in Bryn Mawr and nestled in the heart of the Main Line just outside of Philadelphia, Bloom Facial Plastic & Aesthetic Surgery is a premier facial plastic surgery office that combines expert, highly trained, experienced surgeons with an injectable expert nurse and our fantastic aesthetician team. Dr. Jason Bloom is double board-certified by the AAOHNS and the AAFPRS, and is also a much-respected consultant, teacher, trainer, and author within the industry. Dr. Julie Shtraks is a Beverly Hills fellowship-trained facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon with specialized expertise in cosmetic and reconstructive procedures of the face, neck, nose, and eyelids.
The cost of facial fat grafting can vary based on factors like the surgeon's expertise, location, and extent of the procedure, but generally around $7,500 by Dr. Bloom and $6,000 by Dr. Shtraks.
Results from facial fat grafting are significantly longer-lasting than traditional dermal fillers — typically 5–7 years or more. Keep in mind that some transferred fat may not survive in its new location, so multiple sessions may be needed to achieve your desired outcome.
Most patients experience about one week of swelling and bruising at both the donor site (where fat was removed) and the treatment area. Unlike dermal fillers, final results appear gradually over several months, with full outcomes sometimes taking up to six months to become visible.
Yes — facial fat grafting pairs well with a variety of other treatments. Dr. Bloom has published research on combining it with CO2 laser resurfacing for lower face and perioral rejuvenation, and it can also be performed alongside other cosmetic or reconstructive procedures to enhance your overall results.
