Restore youthful volume and balance with facial fat grafting at Nadia MD Facial Plastic Surgery. Double board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Nadia Mostovych uses your own refined fat to soften under-eye hollows, lift deflated cheeks, smooth folds, and improve skin quality. The goal is to create natural, refreshed results without telltale signs of surgery.
Restore Lost Facial Volume Naturally
Facial fat grafting uses your own natural tissue to restore lost volume, soften contours, and improve skin quality. During the procedure, small amounts of fat are harvested from another area of the body, carefully purified, and strategically reintroduced to areas of the face affected by aging, deflation, or imbalance. Dr. Mostovych performs this surgery with precision and restraint, using it to enhance facial harmony, support underlying structures, and achieve results that look refreshed, natural, and unmistakably like you.
Facial Fat Grafting Treats:
- Facial volume loss and deflation related to aging
- Hollowing beneath the eyes and tear trough shadows
- Flattened or sagging cheeks
- Deep nasolabial folds and marionette lines
- Jowling and loss of lower-face definition
- Fine lines, wrinkles, and certain acne or surgical scars
- Imbalanced or uneven facial contours
- Dull or thinning skin quality linked to volume depletion
An Excellent Adjunct to a Face/Neck Lift
Facial fat grafting can be performed on its own, but it is often used to enhance the results of a face and neck lift. While lifting procedures reposition and tighten underlying tissues, fat grafting restores the volume that naturally diminishes with age, particularly in the cheeks, temples, and around the eyes. Dr. Mostovych frequently incorporates fat grafting alongside face and neck lifting, and even lower eyelid surgery, to soften transitions and refine facial contours.
Benefits of Facial Fat Grafting:
- Restores volume using your own natural tissue
- Creates soft, natural-looking results that age gracefully
- Improves skin texture and quality through stem-cell-rich fat
- Avoids synthetic fillers and reduces the need for repeat injections
- Allows precise, customized contouring of multiple facial areas
- Offers long-lasting results compared to temporary injectables
What to Expect From a Facial Fat Grafting
Consultation
Your consultation with Dr. Mostovych is always unhurried. She begins by listening closely to your concerns and the changes you’ve noticed over time, then performs a meticulous facial analysis, assessing volume loss, skin quality, symmetry, and how your face moves at rest and in expression. Dr. Mostovych explains what she sees in clear terms, reviews whether facial fat grafting alone or in combination with other procedures makes sense, and curates a personalized plan.
Procedure
On the day of your procedure, you’re placed under local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia. Dr. Mostovych begins by harvesting a small amount of fat through tiny, well-hidden access points, typically from the abdomen or flank, using gentle micro-cannulas to protect the fat cells. The fat is then purified and prepared to ensure only the healthiest cells are used.
Once ready, the fat is strategically reinjected into precise facial planes using fine cannulas, layered from deep structural areas to the superficial tissues. This deliberate placement restores support, smooths contours, and avoids overfilling. Incisions are minimal and closed carefully. The procedure typically takes 1 to 2 hours, depending on the areas treated.
Recovery
After your facial fat grafting, you can expect swelling and mild bruising in both the donor and treatment areas. Your face may look slightly fuller at first, which is normal and intentional. You’ll be given detailed aftercare instructions, including how to sleep with your head elevated, when to resume gentle skincare, and how to protect the treated areas while healing.
Most patients return to desk work and social activities within 5 to 7 days, once visible swelling subsides. Strenuous exercise and heavy lifting are usually avoided for 2 to 3 weeks. As swelling resolves and the grafted fat stabilizes, your results gradually refine. Early improvements appear within weeks, while final, long-lasting results continue to develop over 3 to 6 months.
Facial Fat Grafting FAQs
How Long Do the Results of Facial Fat Grafting Last?
Facial fat grafting offers long-lasting results because the fat that successfully integrates becomes living tissue. While some of the grafted fat is naturally reabsorbed during the first few months, the remaining fat typically stays for years. Dr. Mostovych plans for this by placing fat strategically and conservatively, so your results age naturally over time.
Where Is the Fat Taken From?
The fat is usually harvested from the abdomen or flanks, where small amounts can be removed discreetly. These access points are carefully chosen and closed with minimal scarring. Most patients appreciate the added benefit of subtle contouring in the donor area.
Will My Face Look Overfilled or Puffy?
This is a common concern, and one Dr. Mostovych takes very seriously. Her approach emphasizes precision, balance, and restraint. While temporary fullness is expected early in recovery, the goal is always to produce a refreshed, natural appearance, never a “done” look. As swelling resolves, your facial contours soften and settle beautifully.
Request a Consultation
Dr. Nadia Mostovych is a double board-certified, fellowship-trained facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon known for her thoughtful approach to facial rejuvenation. She takes the time to truly understand your goals, clearly explain your options, and design a plan that enhances your natural features. If you’re considering facial rejuvenation, schedule your personalized consultation with Dr. Mostovych in Bend, Oregon, to explore your options.
