Facial Fat Grafting
Lower Manhattan, New York, NY
One of the most powerful yet underutilized tools in facial rejuvenation is the patient's own fat. As the face ages, it does not simply descend — it also deflates. Loss of volume in the temples, midface, cheeks, tear troughs, and perioral region creates a skeletonized, hollow appearance that cannot be corrected by lifting alone. Dr. Pierce Janssen incorporates structured fat grafting — using macrofat, microfat, and nanofat fractions as appropriate — as both a standalone procedure and a powerful complement to facelift surgery. Because the transferred fat is your own living tissue, the results are biocompatible, feel completely natural, and can offer lasting volume restoration along with measurable improvements in skin quality. This entire process, including any necessary liposuction, can be performed safely and comfortably under local anesthesia in our office, eliminating the need for general sedation and traditional hospital settings.
Restores volume to hollowed areas including temples, cheeks, tear troughs, nasolabial folds, lips, and jawline.
Fat is harvested by gentle liposuction, processed into macro, micro, and nanofat fractions, and precisely injected into targeted areas for high-precision, natural integration. Can be performed as an isolated in-office procedure under local anesthesia. Frequently combined with deep plane facelift, blepharoplasty, or rhinoplasty for comprehensive rejuvenation.
Uses your own living tissue — biocompatible, natural in feel, and improves surrounding skin quality over time.
Typically 5 to 7 days of minor swelling or social downtime.
Facial fat grafting, also known as autologous fat transfer, is the process of moving fat from an area of abundance, such as the abdomen, thighs, or under the chin, to areas of the face that have lost volume due to aging. Unlike hyaluronic acid fillers, which are temporary and can migrate or create unnatural shadows under thin skin, transplanted fat integrates into the surrounding tissue as a living graft. Transferred fat cells that establish a blood supply will remain permanently, providing durable volume that moves naturally with facial expression.
Dr. Janssen uses a layered technique — injecting macrofat for deep structural volume, microfat for intermediate contouring, and highly processed nanofat superficially to improve skin texture, tone, and radiance. Nanofat is particularly unique because it is rich in regenerative cells that help improve skin quality and glow from the inside out. This procedure is a permanent alternative to temporary dermal fillers, providing a soft, living result that ages naturally with you. The result is a naturally restored face that looks refreshed, not inflated.
Facial fat grafting can be performed under local anesthesia, with sedation, or under general anesthesia depending on the extent of treatment and whether it is combined with other surgical procedures. First, fat is gently harvested via a liposuction cannula technique from an area of abundance, such as the abdomen, thighs, or under the chin. The harvested fat is then carefully processed, purified, and centrifuged to concentrate and isolate the healthiest cells and regenerative growth factors. Injection into the face is performed using blunt cannulas to meticulously "sculpt" the fat into the target areas of the face. By layering the fat in small droplets, we ensure a high cell survival rate and a smooth, seamless transition between facial features. This is performed through micro-access points that leave no perceptible marks. Over-injection is deliberate to account for expected partial resorption. Final volume stabilizes over three to six months. When combined with a facelift, the procedure adds minimal additional recovery time.
If you are looking for a natural, long-term solution for facial volume loss or "crepey" skin texture, you may be an ideal candidate. It is especially beneficial for those who want to avoid synthetic fillers or those who already wish to contour another area, such as the neck, through liposuction. Fillers are temporary, foreign materials that require repeat treatment every six to eighteen months. Grafted fat is your own living tissue — it integrates naturally, moves with your face, and improves the quality of the overlying skin through regenerative effects. For patients with significant volume loss or very thin skin that cannot tolerate heavy filler placement, fat grafting is often the superior option.
The primary benefit is the use of your own biological material, which eliminates the risk of allergic reaction and provides permanent results. Additionally, the presence of regenerative cells in nanofat can significantly improve the radiance and health of the overlying skin. The portion of transferred fat that establishes a blood supply — typically 60-80% — becomes permanent. Once the initial resorption phase is complete (approximately three to six months), the remaining volume is stable and long-lasting.
Recovery after facial fat grafting performed under local anesthesia is generally straightforward. You may experience some swelling and minor bruising at both the harvest site and the injection sites for about a week. Most patients feel comfortable returning to work and social activities shortly thereafter. Facial fat grafting as an adjunct to facelift procedures does not affect standard postoperative recovery.
You will see an immediate boost in volume, though some of this is initial swelling. The face may appear overfilled initially — this is expected and intentional. Over the next few months, the transferred fat establishes a blood supply and "takes" permanently. The final, refined result—and the improved skin quality from nanofat—typically settles in by the three to six month mark.
