Fat Grafting in Mount Vernon, WA

Natural aging causes more than wrinkles and loose skin; the fat in your temples, cheeks, and other facial areas shrinks and sinks lower in your face, creating a hollow or gaunt facial appearance, with jowling around the jawline. Facial fat grafting is a facial rejuvenation procedure that removes unwanted fat from one body area, purifies the fat cells, and reintroduces the fat in targeted facial areas to restore lost volume.

Dr. Jonathan R. Grant is a dual board-certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon. He focuses on high-quality care and provides unparalleled results in Western Washington. Dr. Grant offers fat grafting at Cascade Facial Surgery & Aesthetics in Mount Vernon.

Benefits of Facial Fat Grafting

Fat grafting is also called autologous fat transfer, fat injections, or lipofilling. The process of removing fat from one area to plump up another is safe and effective, and facial fat grafting is often considered the ideal filler material because the fat cells are entirely biocompatible and provide soft, natural, permanent results. Unlike some injectables, facial fat grafting does not risk an allergic reaction because the fat cells are your own. The procedure is quick (taking about one hour), and you can return home right away.

Facial fat grafting restores volume quickly, filling in wrinkles, repairing facial scarring, and creating higher, fuller cheeks. The procedure is minimally invasive and does more than address signs of aging; fat grafting removes stubborn fat from troublesome areas, such as the thighs, hips, and abdomen.

Fat grafting can increase fullness in the cheeks, lips, under-eye hollows, temples, nasolabial folds, and marionette lines. Facial rejuvenation with fat injections can complement the results of facelift and other procedures.

Candidates for Fat Grafting

Most people with facial volume loss caused by natural aging, trauma, or disease may qualify for facial fat grafting. However, you must have enough excess fatty tissue to remove from the donor location and use for facial rejuvenation. While facial fat grafting uses less fat than breast augmentation or buttock augmentation with fat transfer, Dr. Grant typically harvests more fat than is necessary to account for fat resorption or cell death during recovery.

You must be in good overall health and at a stable, healthy weight. Candidates for fat grafting should not smoke or be ready to quit for several weeks before and after their procedure. You may need to discontinue certain medications before liposuction and fat transfer.

Fat Grafting Procedure

Facial fat transfer takes about one hour or longer, depending on the number of areas being treated. The first step of the procedure is to remove unwanted fat from the body with liposuction. Standard tumescent liposuction, the preferred method, injects a tumescent fluid made with lidocaine and epinephrine to isolate the fat cells and make them swell and firm up for easier removal. The fat is processed with a centrifuge system in a sterile surgical area and then injected into one or more face areas to restore a youthful, heart-shaped appearance.

Fat Grafting Recovery

Recovery after facial fat grafting is twofold because the liposuctioned area and the face are both healing. You can expect swelling, bruising, and tenderness in the donor and treated areas and may require a compression garment for liposuction recovery. Facial swelling is typically mild to moderate, and patients often feel comfortable returning to work after a few days to one week.

Dr. Grant will provide detailed instructions for liposuction and fat grafting recovery. Make sure you attend your follow-up appointments and follow his directions.

Fat Grafting Results

Results from facial fat grafting are permanent, but not all the transferred fat survives the procedure and recovery. Dr. Grant may overfill the treated area to accommodate fat resorption. It takes about six months for injected fat cells to create a new blood supply and see final outcomes. Some patients may need more than one fat grafting session to reach their desired outcome. Lip augmentation with fat injections usually only requires one procedure.

If you’re interested in fat grafting for facial rejuvenation, contact Cascade Facial Surgery & Aesthetics in Mount Vernon, Washington, at (360) 336-1947 or fill out our online contact form.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fat Grafting

What is fat grafting, and how does it work?

Fat grafting is a procedure that transfers fat from one part of your body to another to restore lost volume, improve contours, and enhance your natural features. Dr. Grant uses liposuction to collect fat, then purify and inject it into the targeted areas precisely to achieve smooth, natural results.

What areas of the body can be treated with fat grafting?

Fat grafting is highly versatile and can address volume loss in areas including:

• Smile Lines (nasolabial folds)
• Marionette Lines
• Undereye Hollows
• Cheeks
• Lips
• Temples

Many patients choose to treat multiple areas for comprehensive facial rejuvenation. 

Who is a good candidate for fat grafting?

You may be a good candidate if you’re looking for a natural way to restore volume or enhance specific areas. 

You also need enough fat for harvesting. So, you need a little extra fat in your belly, thighs, love handles, or other body areas. Dr. Grant evaluates your goals, health, and anatomy to ensure fat transfer is the right procedure for you.

How long do fat grafting results last?

Fat grafting offers long-term results, often lasting for years. The transferred fat settles in seamlessly to become a permanent part of the area. 

However, a small amount of fat reabsorption is normal. Dr. Grant plans for this by adding extra fat to select areas. 

How much of the transferred fat survives in the treated area?

The survival rate of transferred fat varies with each patient. Many studies have shown typical survival rates anywhere from 50-90%. Dr. Grant’s low-pressure liposuction technique helps ensure maximum fat graft survival rates.

How is the fat collected and prepared for grafting?

Dr. Grant uses gentle tumescent liposuction techniques to remove fat from areas where you have some to spare. He places the fat in a centrifuge, a device that quickly spins the viable fat cells to separate them from extraneous components like blood, fluid, and cellular debris. 

This process ensures that only healthy, high-quality fat cells are injected into your face, providing the highest survival rate and the best long-term results.

How long does a fat grafting procedure take?

The length of the fat grafting procedure depends on how much fat is needed, how many areas you’re treating, and other factors. On average, the treatment takes at least one hour.

What is the recovery time after fat grafting?

You can expect to return to light activities within a few days, but swelling and bruising may take a few weeks to subside. Dr. Grant provides detailed aftercare instructions to ensure a smooth recovery process.

Can I add fat grafting to other procedures?

Many of our patients pair fat grafting with surgeries like facelifts, eyelid surgery, or breast augmentation to create a more comprehensive and natural result.

Are the results of fat grafting natural-looking?

Because it’s your own fat, it blends seamlessly with your body, offering a soft, natural appearance.

Is fat grafting safer than synthetic fillers or implants?

Silicone implants, like chin implants, are safe and reliable when performed by an expert plastic surgeon like Dr. Grant. They’re biocompatible, which means they work well with your body’s natural tissues and don’t cause long-term complications.

The same is true of dermal fillers, for example, those made of hyaluronic acid, calcium hydroxylapatite, or poly-L-lactic acid. Dr. Grant only uses safe, proven treatments. 

While exceedingly rare, some patients may experience an allergic reaction to implants or dermal fillers.

Many people consider fat grafting the safest approach because it’s 100% natural and comes from your own body. This eliminates the risk of allergic reactions.

What are the risks or complications associated with fat grafting?

Risks of any surgical procedure include swelling, bruising, or infection. Dr. Grant takes every precaution to minimize risks and ensure safety.

Is there any scarring associated with fat grafting?

The incisions for fat harvesting and injection are very small. This typically results in minimal scarring that fades over time.

How soon will I see results after fat grafting?

Facial volume improves immediately. The final results develop over a few months as swelling decreases and the fat settles.

Can fat grafting help with skin rejuvenation?

Yes, the transferred fat contains stem cells that can improve skin quality and elasticity, offering rejuvenating benefits in addition to volume restoration.

What if I gain or lose weight after fat grafting?

The transferred fat cells respond like normal fat cells so that weight changes can affect the treated areas. Maintaining a stable weight helps preserve your results.

How do I choose the right surgeon for fat grafting?

Selecting an experienced surgeon like Dr. Grant ensures you receive personalized care and high-precision techniques for natural, satisfying results. Look for a surgeon with a proven track record in fat grafting and aesthetic procedures.