What is facial fat transfer?
From our thirties onwards the face gradually loses fat in specific compartments: the temples narrow, the under-eye hollows deepen, the cheeks flatten and the area beside the mouth falls in. The skin then has less to drape over, which reads as tiredness as much as age.
Facial fat transfer replaces that volume with your own tissue. Because fat integrates with the surrounding skin, it ages with you and feels natural to the touch. It is often combined with lifting — for example a deep plane facelift or cheek lift — because lifting repositions tissue and fat replaces what has been lost.
Who is a good candidate for facial fat transfer?
- Hollow temples or under-eyes that make you look tired.
- Flattened cheeks with a gaunt or drawn look.
- Patients tired of repeat fillers who want a longer-lasting option.
- Enough donor fat — even slim people usually have sufficient.
- Stable weight, since grafted fat changes size with weight.
If your main concern is a long-term contour change rather than age-related loss — for example a flat forehead or a weak chin — see face fat grafting.
Fat transfer vs fillers vs skin boosters
| Fat transfer | HA fillers | Skin boosters | |
| Material | Your own fat | Hyaluronic acid | Juvelook, Rejuran, Skinvive |
| Best for | Larger or several areas | Small, precise areas | Skin quality, fine crêpiness |
| Downtime | 1–2 weeks | 1–3 days | 0–2 days |
| Longevity | Surviving fat is long-lasting | 6–18 months | Months, with a series |
| Reversible | No | Yes | Not needed |
Skin quality treatments such as Juvelook can complement fat transfer once healing is complete.
How is facial fat transfer performed?
Before & after
Before
After
See further results in the before & after gallery.
What is recovery like after fat transfer?
| Day 1–5 | The face looks swollen and over-full; donor site sore like a bruise. |
|---|---|
| Week 1–2 | Most swelling and bruising settle; light make-up possible. |
| Month 1–3 | Some fat is reabsorbed and the face settles towards its final volume. |
| Month 3–6 | The surviving fat is stable; a top-up can be considered if needed. |
“Volume is not the enemy of a young face. Losing it is. I simply put back what was there.”
Dr. Lee Yoo-jung · Chief DirectorWhat are the risks of facial fat transfer?
Fat survival varies between people, so a second session is sometimes needed. Other risks include asymmetry, small lumps or firmness, fat cysts, over-correction and bruising at the donor site. Rare but serious risks include infection and fat entering a blood vessel, which is why blunt cannulas and slow, small injections are used. We plan conservatively and would rather add more later than remove excess.
Frequently asked questions
How long does facial fat transfer last?
The fat that survives the first three months is generally long-lasting, though it will change with weight and ageing.
Will I need more than one session?
Some patients do, because survival varies. A top-up is usually done after at least three months.
Where is the fat taken from?
Usually the abdomen or inner thighs, through tiny incisions that heal with small marks.
Is fat transfer better than filler?
For larger or multiple areas it often is, because it lasts longer. Filler is more precise and reversible for small areas.
How long should I stay in Seoul?
About 7–10 days for the main swelling to settle and a check-up.
Who performs the procedure?
Dr. Lee Yoo-jung plans and performs the transfer and follows your recovery herself.