Facial Fat Transfer
Facial fat transfer restores age-related volume loss to the face using the patient’s own fat harvested from the abdomen or flanks. The page covers both micro fat grafting (for volume) and nano fat grafting (further-processed for skin quality in delicate areas) — addressing hollow temples, flattened cheeks, and under-eye hollowing with natural, long-lasting results.
Facial Fat Transfer in London
Facial fat transfer — also called autologous fat grafting or fat injection — is a cosmetic surgical procedure that restores lost facial volume using your own fat. Small-volume liposuction harvests fat from a donor site (typically the abdomen, flanks, or thighs); the fat is processed and purified; then injected into deflated areas of the face to restore contour.
This page also covers micro fat grafting and nano fat grafting — the two related techniques used in facial fat work. Micro fat grafting is the standard volume-restoration technique most patients are seeking when they ask about facial fat transfer. Nano fat grafting takes the harvested fat through additional processing into a finer emulsion that’s injected superficially into the dermis to improve skin quality (particularly under-eye dark circles and fine lines) rather than to add volume. Many procedures use both techniques in combination — both are explained in detail below.
The ideal use case is age-related or genetic facial volume loss — deflated cheeks, hollow temples, tear troughs, thinning lips, or loss of jawline definition. For those specific indications, fat transfer produces results that last for years (not weeks or months like dermal fillers) and look and feel natural because the tissue is your own. Approximately 60–70% of the injected fat cells establish a blood supply and become permanent residents of the treated area; the rest is gradually reabsorbed.
Facial fat transfer is not a lift and not a replacement for a facelift. It restores volume where volume has been lost — it does not tighten loose skin, reposition descended tissue, or correct structural changes. For patients with both volume loss and structural descent, fat transfer is often combined with a facelift to produce more complete rejuvenation than either procedure alone.
At Centre for Surgery, facial fat transfer is performed by consultant plastic surgeons on the GMC Specialist Register, members of BAPRAS and ISAPS, at our CQC-regulated private hospital on Baker Street. Anaesthesia is flexible — local with sedation for small-volume cases, TIVA for larger-volume cases or when combined with other surgery. A two-week cooling-off period after your consultation is standard.
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What is facial fat transfer?
Facial fat transfer is a three-stage surgical procedure:
Small-volume liposuction removes fat from a donor site on your body. Typical donor sites are the lower abdomen, flanks (love handles), outer thighs, or inner thighs — whichever area has suitable fat quality and you’re happy to have treated. The surgeon uses small-gauge cannulas and gentle technique to preserve fat cell viability — this is different from standard body contouring liposuction where the fat is discarded.
The harvested fat is purified to separate viable fat cells from blood, oil, tumescent fluid, and damaged cells. Most surgeons use centrifugation or gravity-based filtration. The goal is to concentrate the healthy fat cells and remove anything that would reduce graft survival or produce an inflammatory response in the face.
The purified fat is loaded into small-volume syringes fitted with fine blunt-tipped cannulas. The surgeon injects tiny amounts of fat through small entry points in multiple planes and directions — this maximises the surface area of the graft in contact with surrounding tissue so it can establish a blood supply. Aggressive injection into large pockets is avoided because central fat cells would not survive.
Fat transfer is about volume replacement — not lifting, not tightening, not skin resurfacing. The most successful facial rejuvenation plans identify exactly which components (volume loss vs skin laxity vs structural descent vs skin quality) need addressing and select the right procedure for each.
Facial Fat Transfer Before & After Photos
Facial fat transfer result showing volume restoration to the cheeks and mid-face. The restored volume lifts the tissues slightly as a secondary effect, though lifting is not the primary mechanism — fat transfer adds volume rather than repositioning tissue.
All patients consented to their images being used for educational purposes. A wider gallery of facial fat transfer results is available to review at your in-person consultation. Results vary between patients depending on age, skin quality, donor fat quality, volume injected, graft take, and whether the procedure is combined with other rejuvenation (facelift, skin resurfacing). You can also view results across our full range of procedures on the main .
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Benefits of facial fat transfer
Facial fat transfer delivers specific benefits for the right candidate — particularly over dermal fillers for volume restoration. These are what patients actually see:
The injected material is your own fat — no synthetic filler, no hyaluronic acid, no allergic reaction risk, no long-term concerns about foreign-body response. Over time the surviving fat becomes a normal resident of the treated area.
Surviving fat cells (typically 60–70% of the injected volume) establish a blood supply and become permanent residents of the treated area. These cells continue to age with the rest of your face, so the volume correction is durable — years rather than months.
Dermal fillers are practical for small volumes (typically 1–3 ml per session). Fat transfer allows 10–30 ml or more of volume replacement in a single session — the right approach for patients with significant volume loss.
Surviving fat integrates with surrounding tissue, giving a natural feel and appearance. Unlike some filler types, there’s no palpable lump or mass.
The donor site benefits from fat removal. Most patients have fat harvested from an area they’re happy to have reduced — abdomen, flanks, thighs. The result is modest body contouring alongside the facial volume restoration.
Fat transfer pairs particularly well with facelift (where structural lifting is complemented by volume restoration), blepharoplasty (where tear trough hollows can be addressed simultaneously), and skin resurfacing (where volume restoration combines with texture improvement).
Some patients notice that the skin overlying the treated area improves in quality — softer, better-toned, less crepey. This is thought to be due to adipose-derived stem cells present in the fat graft, though the magnitude of this effect varies between patients and the evidence base is still developing.
Although the upfront cost is higher than a single session of dermal fillers, the years-long duration of results typically makes fat transfer more cost-effective over a 3–5 year horizon than repeat filler sessions.
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Who is a good candidate for facial fat transfer?
The ideal candidate meets most of the following:
Most facial fat transfer patients are in their late 30s to 60s and have lost facial volume — deflated cheeks, hollow temples, tear trough hollows, loss of mid-face projection. If your main concern is loose skin or structural descent rather than volume loss, fat transfer alone won’t address the problem.
You need enough body fat to harvest the volume needed for your facial correction. Typical harvests require around double the volume needed for transfer (because of processing losses and expected reabsorption). Very lean patients (athletes, patients with very low body fat) may not have adequate donor sites — in these cases we usually recommend dermal fillers or facial implants instead.
The procedure works best for patients at or near their stable weight. Significant weight gain after surgery can cause the grafted fat to enlarge disproportionately (the transplanted fat cells behave like fat cells at their donor site); significant weight loss can cause grafted fat to shrink. Wait until weight has been stable for at least 6 months before considering fat transfer.
Non-smokers or willing to stop for at least 6 weeks before and after surgery — this is not optional for fat transfer. Smoking significantly reduces graft take because fat cells depend on establishing a new blood supply; nicotine impairs small-vessel function. Patients unwilling to stop smoking are not candidates.
Fat transfer produces volume restoration, not lifting. It can be subtle (patients look like themselves, rested) or more dramatic (substantial volume restoration). Patients expecting a facelift-level change from volume restoration alone will be disappointed. Expecting to need a second session at 6 months for 20–30% of cases is also realistic.
Visible swelling and bruising typically takes 2 weeks to largely resolve. Unlike dermal fillers where you can typically hide evidence of treatment within 48 hours, fat transfer requires more recovery planning.
Most patients are 35–65. Younger patients (under 35) are usually considered only with specific indications — genetic facial deflation, significant facial asymmetry, volume loss after pregnancy. Older patients (65+) are still suitable provided general health is good and there’s realistic acceptance that fat grafting is one component of more complete rejuvenation (which usually also involves facelift and skin resurfacing at this stage).
At consultation, your surgeon will assess your face and discuss whether fat transfer is the right procedure — or whether a different approach (dermal fillers, facelift, FaceTite, facial implants, or combination) would serve you better.
When facial fat transfer is not the right answer
Facial fat transfer is often marketed as a one-size-fits-all volume solution — but the reality is more nuanced. Honest case selection matters. We regularly advise against fat transfer in the following situations:
If we think a different procedure — dermal fillers, facelift, FaceTite, facial implants, or combined rejuvenation — would serve you better, we’ll tell you honestly. Declining the wrong procedure matters as much as performing the right one.
What happens during a facial fat transfer procedure
After your initial consultation, a two-week cooling-off period is standard before your surgery date is confirmed. Once your date is booked:
Facial fat transfer at Centre for Surgery is performed under either TIVA (Total Intravenous Anaesthesia) or local anaesthetic with sedation, depending on the scope of the procedure:
TIVA is the safest form of general anaesthesia for day-case facial surgery, using only intravenous agents with no inhaled gases. Your surgeon and anaesthetist will recommend the appropriate approach at consultation.
The surgeon marks the agreed donor site (typically lower abdomen, flanks, or outer thighs). Tumescent fluid (dilute local anaesthetic with adrenaline) is infiltrated. A small 3–5 mm incision is made in a discreet location (inside the umbilicus, bikini-line, or natural body crease). Using a small-gauge atraumatic liposuction cannula, the surgeon harvests fat with gentle technique specifically designed to preserve fat cell viability — this is different from standard body-contouring liposuction.
The harvested fat is transferred to specialised collection chambers and processed — typically by gentle centrifugation or gravity-based filtration — to separate viable fat cells from blood, oil, tumescent fluid, and damaged cells. Processed fat is loaded into 1 ml or 3 ml syringes with fine blunt-tipped injection cannulas.
Through tiny entry points (typically 1–2 mm — these heal without visible scarring), the surgeon injects purified fat in small amounts across multiple planes and directions. This micro-droplet technique maximises the surface area of graft-to-tissue contact so the fat cells can establish a new blood supply. Injection is targeted to specific anatomical compartments (deep fat pads, superficial fat pads, or dermal) depending on the area being treated.
Standalone facial fat transfer typically takes 1.5–2.5 hours depending on donor site size and number of recipient areas. Combined procedures take longer. You’ll be discharged the same day after a period of monitored recovery. The donor site has a compression garment; facial areas are typically left unbandaged. A responsible adult must collect you and stay with you for the first 24 hours.
Facial fat transfer recovery timeline
Facial fat transfer recovery is divided into facial recovery (injection sites) and donor-site recovery (liposuction sites). Here’s what to expect:
Moderate facial swelling — peak around day 3. Some bruising at the injection sites (typically well-tolerated). Mild discomfort at the donor site controlled with paracetamol or mild painkillers. Wear the donor-site compression garment continuously. Sleep elevated. Avoid touching, massaging, or applying pressure to the treated facial areas.
Facial swelling begins to settle but typically still significant enough that social activity is limited. Bruising at injection sites fades. Donor site soreness reduces significantly. Sutures at the donor site are typically removed at day 5–7.
Most visible facial swelling has resolved. You may look “fuller” than the final result — this is normal, because some of what looks like volume at this stage is residual swelling. Most patients return to desk work around day 7–10. Continue donor-site compression garment day and night.
Residual facial swelling continues to settle. You’ll start to see what the final result will look like. The donor site begins to show early contouring benefits. Gentle exercise from week 2; full exercise from week 4.
The unsurvived fat cells have been reabsorbed by this stage. What you see at 3 months is close to your final result. Most patients are happy with the correction at this point; a minority (20–30%) notice undercorrection and may benefit from a top-up session.
Final stable result. Any second session top-up is typically planned for 6 months from the first procedure. The surviving fat cells have established blood supply and will last years.
Facial fat transfer results and longevity
Understanding the timeline of fat transfer results — and the reality of graft survival — helps you make informed decisions.
The injected fat cells don’t all survive. Some percentage of the transplanted fat cells fail to establish a new blood supply and are gradually reabsorbed by the body in the first 3–6 months. Typical survival rates are 60–70% of the injected volume, though this varies between patients, depending on age, donor fat quality, injection technique, smoking status, and biological factors not fully understood.
Surgeons typically inject 20–30% more volume than the desired final result to account for expected reabsorption. This is why you may look fuller than your goal immediately after surgery — and why that fullness gradually settles to the intended level by month 3–6.
Roughly 20–30% of patients end up wanting a top-up session, typically at 6+ months from the first procedure. This usually happens because:
This is normal — not a failure of the original procedure. Planning for potential second sessions is part of realistic expectation-setting.
The surviving fat cells are essentially permanent — they establish a blood supply and become normal residents of the treated area. They’ll age with the rest of your face. However, continued facial ageing produces new volume loss over time, which is why some patients have further fat transfer sessions years later to maintain the result. This isn’t a “failure” of the original treatment — it’s the biology of continued ageing.
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Risks of facial fat transfer
Facial fat transfer involves both liposuction (donor site) and injection (recipient site) risks. Understanding these in advance lets you make an informed decision.
Expected at both donor and recipient sites — not complications. Typically resolves over 2–3 weeks.
Some percentage of the transplanted fat fails to survive. Typical graft take is 60–70%. In some patients graft take is lower, resulting in under-correction that may require a second session to reach the desired volume.
Although surgeons typically slightly overfill to account for expected reabsorption, occasionally graft take is higher than expected and the final result is more full than intended. This is harder to correct than under-correction because removing grafted fat is technically difficult — it requires micro-liposuction of the face which is imprecise.
Uneven injection or uneven graft take can produce areas of slight fullness or depression. Minor irregularities usually settle with time and massage. More significant irregularities may need correction.
Small areas of fat that cluster together rather than integrating smoothly can produce palpable lumps. Most are temporary and settle; occasionally small areas need treatment with steroid injection or minor correction.
Where injected fat doesn’t survive, small cystic collections of liquefied fat (oil) can occasionally form. Small ones resolve on their own; larger ones may need drainage.
Uncommon — the small incisions at donor and recipient sites have low infection risk. When it occurs, typically responds to antibiotics.
Inadvertent injection of fat into a blood vessel is a rare but serious complication that can cause vessel obstruction. This is why experienced surgeons use blunt-tipped cannulas rather than sharp needles, inject in small droplets rather than large boluses, and inject while withdrawing rather than advancing — all techniques designed to minimise this risk.
Blood collection at the donor site is uncommon but possible. Most small haematomas resolve on their own.
Donor site incisions (3–5 mm) heal as fine, barely visible lines. Recipient site entry points (1–2 mm) typically heal without visible scarring. A minority of patients develop hypertrophic scars at the donor site which can be treated with steroid injections.
The most common source of dissatisfaction is either (a) expecting a facelift-level lifting effect from volume restoration alone, or (b) not understanding that a second session may be needed. Patients with realistic expectations and willingness to have a second session if needed are typically satisfied.
Both TIVA and local anaesthetic with sedation are safe approaches when administered by experienced consultant anaesthetists. Serious complications are rare in properly assessed, healthy patients.
Our postoperative support programme was described as ‘outstanding’ by the CQC. Follow all pre- and post-operative instructions carefully to minimise your risk of complications.
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Procedures commonly combined with facial fat transfer
Fat transfer is often combined with other facial procedures because most facial ageing involves multiple elements — volume loss, skin laxity, structural descent, skin quality — and fat transfer addresses only one of these. Common combinations:
The most common combination. A facelift lifts descended tissues; fat transfer restores lost volume. Together they address both structural and volumetric components of facial ageing. This combination produces more complete rejuvenation than either procedure alone.
Often combined with facial fat transfer when both upper face volume loss and lower face/neck laxity are present. Addressing both in one session is more efficient and more harmonious than staging separately.
Fat transfer is particularly useful for tear trough hollows and under-eye hollowing that eyelid surgery alone doesn’t address. Lower eyelid surgery + fat transfer is a common combination for periorbital rejuvenation.
Brow lift addresses descended brow position; fat transfer can restore volume to the upper eyelid, temples, and brow if these have deflated with ageing.
Small-volume fat transfer can be used as an alternative or adjunct to chin implants for patients wanting more subtle chin enhancement.
Small-volume fat can be used to fine-tune contours or augment the dorsum in certain rhinoplasty cases.
Fat transfer addresses volume; laser or peels address texture and pigmentation. Combined, they produce more complete rejuvenation. Usually staged at least 3 months apart rather than simultaneously.
Fat transfer handles the bulk volume work; targeted dermal fillers can fine-tune specific small areas afterwards (e.g., lip borders, marionette lines) where fat transfer is less precise.
Fat transfer doesn’t affect dynamic muscle-driven lines (frown lines, crow’s feet). Anti-wrinkle injections can be added separately to address these.
At consultation, your surgeon will assess your face as a whole and recommend what procedures (if any) should be combined. The aim is never to add procedures for their own sake — only to address what actually needs addressing.
Micro fat grafting and nano fat grafting — same source, different processing
Facial fat grafting is performed using two related but distinct techniques — micro fat grafting and nano fat grafting. Both start with the same fat harvest from the donor site; the difference is in how the harvested fat is processed before injection, and what each is used to address.
Micro fat grafting is the standard technique used for volume restoration in the face. After harvest, the fat is gently centrifuged or filtered to separate viable fat cells from blood, oil, tumescent fluid, and damaged cells. The processed fat retains intact fat cells (adipocytes) of microscopic size and is suitable for adding measurable volume to areas of facial deflation.
Micro fat is appropriate for:
When a patient asks about “facial fat transfer” they are usually describing micro fat grafting. The procedural steps described elsewhere on this page — harvest, centrifugation or gravity-based processing, micro-droplet injection — are the standard approach for micro fat work.
Nano fat grafting takes the harvested fat through additional mechanical processing — typically passage through progressively smaller filters or fine-gauge connectors, sometimes combined with brief enzymatic processing — to break the fat down into a much finer, almost liquid emulsion. Most of the intact fat cells are mechanically disrupted in this process, so nano fat is not used for volume.
What nano fat contains is a concentrated mix of cell fragments, fatty acids, growth factors, extracellular matrix components, and adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs). It is injected superficially — into the dermis or just below — using very fine cannulas. The clinical effect is on skin quality rather than tissue bulk:
Nano fat is most commonly used in the periorbital zone — in particular for tear trough hollows where dark-circle pigmentation is part of the appearance, and for fine eyelid skin where standard fat transfer would create lumpiness.
Many procedures use both. A common pattern is micro fat grafting to restore volume to the cheeks, temples and tear troughs, combined with nano fat injected superficially into the lower eyelid skin to improve crepiness and dark-circle appearance. This addresses both volume loss and skin quality in a single procedure.
The decision about which technique is appropriate — micro fat alone, nano fat alone, or both combined — is made at consultation based on what specific concerns are present in your face. Patients with isolated volume loss benefit from micro fat alone. Patients with skin quality concerns in delicate areas (particularly the under-eyes) without significant volume loss may benefit from nano fat alone. Most patients with facial ageing benefit from a combined approach.
Micro fat grafting is a well-established procedure with decades of clinical use, peer-reviewed outcomes data, and predictable graft survival rates of 60–70%. The technique is supported by a substantial evidence base.
Nano fat grafting is a newer technique introduced in the last decade. Clinical experience is positive and the procedure has become widely adopted, but the evidence base is smaller than for micro fat. The mechanism by which nano fat improves skin quality is thought to involve stem cell signalling, growth factor release, and extracellular matrix remodelling, but the relative contribution of each is not fully established. The magnitude of effect varies between patients and cannot be predicted with the precision available for volume restoration with micro fat. Nano fat is best understood as a useful adjunct that complements micro fat grafting in selected patients — not as a guaranteed treatment for every skin quality concern.
We discuss what nano fat can and cannot reliably achieve at consultation. Patients with predominantly pigmented dark circles (rather than vascular or thin-skin causes) may be better served by other treatments. Patients with deep static wrinkles need laser resurfacing or chemical peels rather than nano fat. Honest case selection matters here as much as anywhere else in cosmetic surgery.
How much does facial fat transfer cost in London?
At Centre for Surgery, standalone facial fat transfer to the face typically costs £4,500–£6,500 for a single treatment session. Fat transfer to multiple facial zones combined typically costs £6,000–£8,500. The final figure depends on the volume required, number of facial areas treated, donor site complexity, and anaesthesia type.
If a top-up session is needed (typically 20–30% of patients, planned at 6+ months), this is charged at a reduced rate — typically £2,500–£3,500 — reflecting the more limited scope of top-up work and the fact that initial assessment and planning costs were covered in the first session.
0% APR finance is available through Chrysalis Finance, our specialist medical finance partner. Monthly payments typically from £125–£180/month for standalone procedures, depending on the amount financed and term selected.
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Price shouldn’t be the determining factor when choosing a surgeon for facial fat transfer. Whoever you choose, make sure they’re on the GMC Specialist Register for plastic surgery, a member of BAPRAS or BAAPS, and can show you consistent before-and-after results. Call to speak with a patient coordinator for an indicative price before your consultation.
Facial fat transfer is a cosmetic procedure and not covered by insurance or the NHS.
Why choose Centre for Surgery for facial fat transfer?
Facial fat transfer is a technique-sensitive procedure — graft take, contour refinement, and final results depend heavily on the surgeon’s experience and approach. At Centre for Surgery:
All facial fat transfer at Centre for Surgery is performed exclusively by consultant plastic surgeons on the GMC Specialist Register for plastic surgery — the highest qualification available in the UK. Our surgeons are members of BAPRAS (British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons) and ISAPS (International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery). We don’t use cosmetic doctors or non-specialist surgeons for facial surgery.
Our purpose-built private hospital at 95–97 Baker Street, Marylebone is independently regulated and inspected by the Care Quality Commission, which awarded us a “Good” rating — a standard very few cosmetic surgery facilities in the UK achieve.
We offer local anaesthetic with sedation for small-volume fat transfer and TIVA for larger-volume cases or combined procedures. TIVA is the safest form of general anaesthesia for day-case facial surgery — faster emergence, less nausea, quicker discharge.
We perform both micro fat grafting (for volume restoration) and nano fat grafting (for skin quality improvement in delicate areas) — often combined in a single procedure where both are clinically appropriate. This means we can plan the procedure based on what your face actually needs rather than offering only the technique we happen to be set up for.
We use atraumatic small-gauge cannulas for harvesting specifically to preserve fat cell viability, and processed fat through appropriate purification to remove non-viable material before injection. Small-droplet micro-injection technique maximises graft survival.
We only recommend fat transfer when it’s actually the right procedure. If your anatomy needs a facelift, neck lift, or other procedure instead of (or in combination with) fat transfer, we’ll tell you. If dermal fillers would serve you better, we’ll say that. If nano fat is unlikely to address your specific skin concern, we’ll say that too. If the honest answer is that nothing surgical is currently indicated, we’ll say so.
Because we offer the full range of facial rejuvenation — fat transfer (micro and nano), facelift, neck lift, blepharoplasty, brow lift, FaceTite, Morpheus8, chin augmentation — we can recommend the combination that fits your specific anatomy rather than defaulting to whichever procedure we happen to be promoting.
Our surgeons take a deliberately conservative approach — refreshment rather than transformation. For facial fat transfer, this means aiming for natural-looking volume restoration that makes patients look like themselves, rested, rather than overfilled or altered.
Standard practice between consultation and surgery. This gives you proper time to reflect before committing.
Our postoperative support programme was described as ‘outstanding’ by the CQC. This includes 24/7 surgeon-led clinical access for the first 48 hours, a dedicated patient coordinator, regular phone and face-to-face checks, and full aftercare through the 6-month mark.
Useful preparation:
Your initial in-person consultation is £100, redeemable against the cost of surgery if you proceed. Consultation lines are open Monday–Saturday, 9am–6pm.
You may also find these Centre for Surgery pages useful:
FAQs
What To Expect
Your journey begins with a face-to-face consultation with one of our consultant plastic surgeons at Baker Street. The consultation typically lasts around 45 minutes, longer if your planned procedure is more complex or combined with other surgery. Your surgeon will examine your face clinically, assessing three separate elements: volume loss (where and how much), skin quality and laxity, and structural descent. This assessment determines whether fat transfer alone is the right procedure, whether combining with facelift (for structural descent), FaceTite (for mild skin laxity), blepharoplasty (for tear troughs combined with upper/lower eyelid changes), or a different procedure would serve you better. If dermal fillers would actually be more appropriate for your level of volume loss — or if the honest answer is that no surgical procedure is currently indicated — we’ll tell you. Your surgeon will also assess potential donor sites to confirm you have adequate fat for harvesting. Common donor sites are the lower abdomen, flanks, and outer or inner thighs. The choice depends on fat distribution, quality, and what area you’d like to have modestly reduced as a secondary benefit. A general rule is that double the volume of fat needed for transfer must be harvested, because processing removes non-viable material. Clinical photography is taken for planning and before/after comparison. Your surgeon will discuss realistic expectations about graft survival (typically 60–70%), the potential need for a second session (20–30% of patients), the recovery timeline, and potential risks. All medications that affect bleeding (aspirin, anti-inflammatories, certain supplements) will need to be stopped before surgery. A two-week cooling-off period between your consultation and surgery date is standard practice at Centre for Surgery and is not optional. If you want to return for further consultation during that period — or at any point before surgery — you are welcome to do so at no additional cost.
Once you have decided to proceed with facial fat transfer and the two-week cooling-off period has passed, our pre-operative assessment team will be in touch to confirm medical fitness for surgery. In the weeks before surgery: – Stop smoking at least 6 weeks before surgery — this is not optional for fat transfer because smoking significantly reduces graft take. We may delay your procedure if you haven’t stopped – Stop any aspirin-containing medicines, ibuprofen, or other anti-inflammatories at least 2 weeks before surgery (these increase bleeding and bruising risk) – Avoid alcohol for at least 48 hours before surgery – Review all supplements with your surgeon — vitamin E, fish oil, ginkgo, garlic supplements, and some herbal products affect bleeding and need to be stopped – Confirm you have a responsible adult available to collect you and stay with you for the first 24 hours On the day of surgery, fasting guidance depends on the anaesthetic type agreed at consultation. If you are having TIVA (Total Intravenous Anaesthesia): no food for 6 hours before, clear fluids (water only) up to 2 hours before your procedure. If your procedure is under local anaesthetic with sedation: lighter fasting may apply and your anaesthetist will confirm at the pre-operative check. Wear comfortable clothing that doesn’t need to go over your head after surgery (because of the facial injection sites and any bruising).
Arrive on time for your admission appointment. One of our admission nurses will complete the formal admission, checking your identification, consent documentation, and that your post-operative medications have been dispensed. Your vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, temperature) are recorded as a baseline. The anaesthetist will meet you to perform a pre-operative assessment and review your medical history in detail. Your surgeon will then see you, confirm the operative plan, obtain final written consent, and mark both donor and recipient areas. Markings include donor site boundaries for liposuction and specific injection targets on the face. Photography may be taken at this final stage. Facial fat transfer at Centre for Surgery is performed under either TIVA (Total Intravenous Anaesthesia) or local anaesthetic with sedation depending on the scope of the procedure. TIVA is the safest form of general anaesthesia available for day-case facial surgery, using only intravenous agents with no inhaled gases — faster emergence, less postoperative nausea, quicker discharge. For small-volume, single-area fat transfer, local anaesthetic with sedation is often the most appropriate choice. The procedure itself takes 1.5–2.5 hours for standalone fat transfer, longer for combined procedures. It’s performed in three stages: 1. Harvest (30–45 minutes): tumescent fluid is infiltrated into the donor site, then a small-gauge atraumatic liposuction cannula is used to harvest fat with gentle technique designed to preserve fat cell viability 2. Processing (15–30 minutes): the harvested fat is purified — typically by centrifugation or gravity-based filtration — to separate viable fat cells from blood, oil, tumescent fluid, and damaged cells 3. Injection (30–60 minutes): through tiny 1–2 mm entry points, the surgeon injects small droplets of purified fat across multiple planes and directions using a fine blunt-tipped cannula. This micro-droplet technique maximises the surface area of graft-to-tissue contact so fat cells can establish a new blood supply After the procedure you will recover in our dedicated recovery suite. You will be discharged once you meet all discharge criteria — cardiovascular stability, adequate pain control, ability to tolerate fluids, safe mobility. A compression garment is worn at the donor site; facial areas are typically left unbandaged. A responsible adult must collect you and stay with you for the first 24 hours.
Once you are safely home, you have 24/7 surgeon-led clinical support for the first 48 hours. You’ll be given a direct emergency contact number to reach your surgeon if needed. Our post-operative team will be in regular phone contact during the first two weeks to monitor your recovery and flag any concerns early. Days 1–3: moderate facial swelling peaks around day 3. Some bruising at the injection sites. Donor site soreness managed with paracetamol or mild painkillers. Wear the donor-site compression garment continuously. Sleep elevated. Avoid touching, massaging, or applying pressure to the treated facial areas. Days 4–7: facial swelling begins to settle. Bruising fades. Donor-site soreness reduces significantly. Sutures at the donor site typically removed at day 5–7. Week 2: most visible facial swelling has resolved. You may still look “fuller” than the final result — this is normal, because some of what looks like volume at this stage is residual swelling. Most patients return to desk work around day 7–10. Continue donor-site compression garment day and night. Weeks 3–4: residual facial swelling continues to settle. Gentle exercise from week 2, full exercise from week 4. Months 2–3: the unsurvived fat has been reabsorbed by this stage. You’ll see close to your final result now. Most patients are happy with the correction; approximately 20–30% notice undercorrection and may benefit from a second session at 6+ months. 6 months: final stable result. Any second session top-up is typically scheduled from this point. Surviving fat cells have established a blood supply and will last years. Follow-up appointments: a clinical review with our nursing team at 7–10 days to check healing and manage any questions; a surgeon-led review at 6 weeks to assess early results; a further review at 3 months; and a final assessment at 6 months to confirm result and discuss any second session if appropriate. Our postoperative support programme was described as ‘outstanding’ by the CQC. If you have any concern at any stage of recovery, contact the clinic — we’d much rather hear from you unnecessarily than miss something that needs addressing.
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Same-day mole removal at Centre for Surgery takes under an hour from arrival to departure. Here is exactly what to expect — from the local anaesthetic through to your histology results.
If you’re considering plastic or cosmetic surgery in London, Centre for Surgery offers a level of clinical excellence that few clinics can match.
All procedures at Centre for Surgery are performed exclusively by GMC specialist-registered consultant plastic surgeons — the highest qualification available in the UK. Our surgeons hold positions on the GMC Specialist Register and are members of BAPRAS and ISAPS, ensuring you receive care from fully credentialled specialists, not cosmetic doctors.
Our purpose-built private hospital at Baker Street, Marylebone is independently regulated and inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), which awarded us a Good rating — a standard very few cosmetic surgery facilities in the UK achieve. We use TIVA (Total Intravenous Anaesthesia) as standard, the safest and most advanced form of anaesthesia available for day case surgery.
We offer the full range of surgical and non-surgical treatments under one roof, with in-depth consultations directly with your surgeon — never a sales consultant. Flexible 0% APR finance is available through Chrysalis Finance, and our comprehensive aftercare programme includes 24/7 nursing support.
Centre for Surgery is a CQC-regulated private hospital on London’s Baker Street, delivering plastic and cosmetic surgery through GMC-registered specialist surgeons. Our expertise spans facial procedures including and , , for men, and body contouring procedures such as and . Patient safety, surgical excellence and natural-looking results sit at the heart of everything we do.
Centre for Surgery is a CQC-regulated private hospital on London’s iconic , offering plastic and cosmetic surgery led by GMC-registered consultant surgeons.
Marylebone
London
W1U 6RN
Mon – Sat, 9am – 6pm
Saturday consultations available
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