As we age, we naturally lose facial fat along with collagen and elastin, causing the cheeks, temples, jawline, and under-eye area to appear hollow or sunken. Facial fat transfer, also known as facial fat grafting or fat transfer to the face, restores lost volume using your own purified fat for a more youthful appearance. Unlike synthetic fillers, this form of natural facial rejuvenation uses living fat cells to achieve long-lasting facial volume restoration while also contouring the donor area through liposuction. At Koda Plastic Surgery, Dr. Sergey Turin performs advanced facial fat transfer in Scottsdale, AZ using techniques designed to maximize fat survival and create natural-looking results.
A facial fat transfer is an effective solution if you notice a loss of skin elasticity or the inevitable signs of aging. However, like all cosmetic procedures, there are things you need to know before you commit to treatment. To help you make the most informed decision, we have put together 7 of the most vital things to know about facial fat grafting:
#1 It is the Perfect Solution for Sagging Facial Skin

The lower third of the face is one of the most common areas we notice sagging skin as collagen production decreases with age. In addition, this area, which includes the jawline, cheeks, and mouth, often experiences a loss of structural support, resulting in loose skin and less defined facial contours. While surgical options like a facelift can address severe sagging in older individuals, a facial fat transfer offers an excellent alternative for mild to moderate concerns.
#2 a Less Invasive Option When Compared to a Facelift

While facial fat grafting is a surgical procedure, it is considered far less invasive than a traditional facelift. Facelifts often involve significant incisions, tissue manipulation, and suturing to lift and tighten the skin, typically resulting in a longer recovery and more extensive downtime. In contrast, facial fat grafting is a relatively minor procedure focusing on restoring lost volume to the face for a more youthful look.
The process of fat grafting involves harvesting fat from donor areas on the body, often areas like the stomach or thighs, which tend to accumulate an excess of adipose tissue. The harvesting from these areas takes place through small, carefully placed incisions. Next, the fat is purified and re-injected into the targeted areas of the face using specialized, minimally invasive instruments. The incisions at the donor and recipient sites are small, reducing the risk of scars and providing a quicker, more comfortable recovery with minimal downtime.
What Areas Can Facial Fat Transfer Treat?
One of the biggest advantages of facial fat transfer is its versatility. Because your own purified fat is used to restore lost volume, this procedure can rejuvenate multiple areas of the face during a single treatment. Whether you’re noticing age-related volume loss or naturally have less facial fullness, fat transfer to the face offers a personalized solution for balanced, natural-looking facial volume restoration.
Cheeks
The cheeks are often one of the first areas to lose volume with age. Facial fat transfer restores fullness to the midface, creating softer contours, improving facial harmony, and providing a subtle lifting effect. Fuller cheeks can also reduce the appearance of sagging in the lower face.
Temples
Hollow temples can make the face appear older and more skeletal. Fat grafting replenishes lost volume in this often-overlooked area, creating smoother transitions between the forehead, eyes, and cheeks while restoring a healthier, more youthful facial shape.
Under-Eyes
One of the most popular applications is under-eye fat transfer, which restores volume beneath the eyes to soften hollow tear troughs and reduce a tired appearance. Because your own fat becomes integrated with the surrounding tissue, the results often look and feel more natural than temporary fillers, while helping to create a refreshed, well-rested appearance.
Nasolabial Folds
The lines that extend from the sides of the nose to the corners of the mouth often deepen as facial volume decreases. Rather than simply filling the crease itself, facial fat transfer restores volume to the surrounding areas, helping soften nasolabial folds while maintaining natural facial movement and expression.
Marionette Lines
Marionette lines can create a downward or fatigued appearance around the mouth. Restoring volume with facial fat grafting helps support the surrounding tissues, reducing the prominence of these lines and creating a smoother transition between the cheeks, mouth, and jawline.
Jawline
A well-defined jawline contributes to a youthful, balanced profile. Facial fat transfer can enhance jawline contours by restoring volume where age-related fat loss has occurred, improving definition while maintaining a soft, natural appearance.
Chin
The chin plays an important role in overall facial balance. Fat transfer can subtly enhance chin projection and contour while smoothing transitions between the chin, jawline, and lower face. When combined with treatment to other facial areas, restoring volume to the chin can create more harmonious facial proportions and a naturally rejuvenated appearance.
#3 Has a Less Chance of Causing Risks or Issues

Since facial fat grafting uses the patient’s own fat cells to restore facial volume and rejuvenate their appearance, it is considered a safer option with a lessened chance of risks or side effects. Why? Because this autologous approach eliminates the need for synthetic facial contours. The fat is harvested directly from your body, making it a more natural approach to enhancing facial contours when you compare it to other facial rejuvenation methods like dermal fillers. Using the patient’s tissues minimizes the risk of allergic reactions or adverse responses, which can happen with dermal fillers if you are sensitive to the filler’s formula. Fat grafting is considered a natural approach and is a perfect treatment for anyone with sensitivities or aversions to traditional filler injections.
#4 You Can Combine a Facial Fat Transfer with Dermal Fillers

If dermal fillers are your jam and you experience no sensitivity, you might be surprised to learn you can combine the two treatments for superior facial rejuvenation! Fat grafting lays the foundation by restoring significant volume and improving overall facial contours, offering long-term benefits. The dermal fillers can then be strategically placed in specific areas, refining details and achieving a more precise and polished look.
For instance, while fat grafting addresses volume loss in larger areas, fillers are best for delicate adjustments in places like the lips or fine lines around the mouth. In addition, this combination approach allows people to benefit from the strengths of both treatments. The durability of fat grafting and the precision of dermal fillers ensure you experience a comprehensive rejuvenation that can be tailored and altered to fit your unique goals.
#5 You Can Still Get a Facial Fat Transfer if You’re Lean

If you’re interested in a facial fat transfer but are leaner or more athletic-built, you may think this treatment will not work for you due to a lack of available fat. We are here to tell you that even if you are smaller, leaner, and more athletic-built, you can still enjoy a fat transfer procedure with the help of an expert like Dr. Sergey Turin.
Dr. Turin frequently performs liposuction and fat transfer procedures for women with BMIs as low as 18, tailoring the process to meet the unique needs of leaner patients. While the total amount of fat harvested in these cases is significantly lower than in “typical” procedures, the meticulous care and precision remain the same.
Each procedure is carefully designed to ensure a natural-looking result, free of contour irregularities or divots. This attention to detail underscores the dedication to achieving harmonious and aesthetically pleasing outcomes, regardless of the patient’s body type.
In cases like this, where only a small amount of fat is available, ensuring the fat’s survival and successful integration is crucial! This is why Dr. Turin’s practice proudly achieves an impressive ~80% fat graft survival rate, thanks to advanced techniques and state-of-the-art systems. These methods provide a reliable and effective solution for lean individuals considering fat transfers to enhance their appearance.
#6 There Will Be a Less Intense Recovery Period

After a facial fat transfer, it is common to experience mild swelling, bruising, or tenderness in both the donor and treated areas. These effects are usually mild to moderate, subsiding within 1 to 2 weeks. The swelling may temporarily obscure your final facial rejuvenation results, but as it gradually decreases, you will see the actual benefits of the procedure become more visible. Most people resume their daily activities within a few days. However, avoiding strenuous exercise or direct pressure on the treated areas during the initial recovery phase is a good idea.
#7 You Should ONLY Trust a Fat Grafting Expert

You must choose a true fat grafting expert to experience a safe, effective fat transfer. Dr. Turin is a renowned expert and revolutionary leader in advanced fat transfer procedures. Dr. Turin is known for his exceptional skill in delivering natural, harmonious results using specialized fat transfer techniques, including facial fat transfers and natural breast augmentation.
What Sets Dr. Turin apart from others is his dedication to precision and innovation, earning him a reputation as one of the best in the industry. With an impressive ~80% fat graft survival rate, his expertise ensures long-lasting and natural-looking outcomes. This success is achieved through meticulous techniques and the most advanced systems Dr. Turin uses at his facility, Koda Plastic Surgery.
See Our Facial Fat Transfer Before and After Photos
Facial fat transfers provide stunning rejuvenation results, but don’t just take our word for it; look at our proof. See below the before and after photos of the facial fat transfer from Koda Plastic Surgery and Dr. Turin. As you can see, each patient achieves noticeable improvements in how their skin and facial contours appear.

Schedule Your Facial Fat Transfer in Scottsdale, AZ Today!
If you’re considering facial fat transfer, fat transfer to the face, or advanced facial fat grafting, Dr. Sergey Turin can help determine whether you’re a good candidate. Dr. Turin is the leader of Koda Plastic Surgery, located in Scottsdale, AZ, where we conveniently serve the surrounding areas of Gilbert, Phoenix, Tempe, and Mesa. Dr. Turin is proud to be a leading fat transfer surgeon in the area, specializing in advanced fat grafting procedures. At Koda Plastic Surgery, we create personalized treatment plans focused on long-lasting facial volume restoration and natural-looking results. Request a consultation or call (480) 256-8018 to speak with Dr. Turin, a leading authority in the fat transfer world. Take the first step toward achieving your aesthetic goals with one of the best surgeons in Scottsdale.