Facial fat transfer restores volume to areas of the face that have thinned with age, using the patient’s own fat rather than synthetic material. As collagen and facial fat diminish over time, the cheeks, temples, and under-eyes can look hollow or tired. Dr. Claire B. Davis, a board eligible female plastic surgeon trained at UT Southwestern, specializes in facial rejuvenation and approaches fat grafting as a way to refresh the face naturally, not to overfill it.
A consultation is the clearest way to learn whether facial fat transfer fits your facial anatomy and your goals.
Facial volume work rewards restraint and an artistic eye. Placing fat too aggressively reads as overdone, while careful, layered grafting restores a rested look that still resembles you. Dr. Davis completed a six-year integrated plastic surgery residency at UT Southwestern Medical Center, where she trained extensively in facial aesthetic surgery under nationally recognized faculty.
A board eligible plastic surgeon, Dr. Davis specializes in deep plane facelifts, eyelid rejuvenation, and facial rejuvenation, and she brings that facial expertise to every fat grafting plan. As a female plastic surgeon, she pays close attention to the subtle proportions that keep a refreshed face looking natural.
AAAASF-accredited surgical facility for safety, privacy, and advanced monitoring
UT Southwestern training completed through a six-year integrated residency
Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society membership
Natural results philosophy focused on balanced volume that looks refreshed, not operated
Facial fat transfer, also called fat grafting, is a surgical technique that moves a patient’s own fat from one area of the body to the face to restore lost volume. Fat is gently harvested through liposuction, typically from the abdomen or thighs, then purified and carefully injected into targeted facial areas. Because the fat is autologous, it integrates naturally and carries no risk of an allergic reaction.
Not all transferred fat survives. A portion of the grafted fat establishes a blood supply and remains long term, while another portion is naturally reabsorbed in the months after surgery. The surviving fat can provide lasting volume, though some patients choose a touch-up session to refine the result. Dr. Davis discusses this candidly so expectations stay realistic.
Patients weighing their options often ask how fat grafting differs from injectable fillers in function. Dermal fillers add volume temporarily and are placed in an office visit without surgery, with results that fade over months. Fat grafting is a surgical procedure that relocates living tissue, so the fat that survives stays as part of the face. The trade-off is a recovery period and the surgical setting that fillers do not require. Dr. Davis reviews both paths during consultation so the choice fits your goals, timeline, and anatomy rather than a single rule.
Volume loss shows up in predictable places as the face ages. Fat grafting lets Dr. Davis address several areas in one session, tailored to your facial structure.
Restoring volume to the cheeks and mid-face rebuilds the gentle fullness that softens with age, lifting the central face and reducing the appearance of nasolabial folds.
Hollowing at the temples and along the forehead can make the face look drawn. Adding fat here restores a smoother, more rested upper-face contour.
Carefully placed fat can soften the hollows and dark shadows beneath the eyes, easing a tired appearance. This delicate area calls for the conservative, layered technique Dr. Davis favors.
Fat grafting offers a natural approach to facial volume with results that can last. The benefits below reflect realistic outcomes, and individual results vary with anatomy, technique, and how much fat survives.
Because the procedure uses your own fat, the restored volume looks and feels natural and integrates with facial tissue. There is no synthetic implant and no risk of an allergic reaction.
The fat that survives the transfer can provide volume that lasts for years, offering a durable form of facial rejuvenation. Natural aging continues, so some patients return for refinement over time.
Cheeks, temples, and under-eyes can often be addressed together in one procedure. Pairing fat harvest with refinement of a donor area such as the abdomen is a practical efficiency many patients value.
Facial fat transfer suits people bothered by facial volume loss who prefer a natural option. A consultation confirms candidacy, but the following criteria generally apply.
You may be a good candidate if you:
Patients with very low body fat may not have enough donor tissue to harvest. A personal evaluation with Dr. Davis confirms whether fat grafting is the right approach for your goals.
Facial fat transfer is performed at Dr. Davis’s AAAASF-accredited facility, typically under general anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation. The steps below outline a typical procedure, which Dr. Davis customizes to each patient.
Recovery is more comfortable than many facial surgeries, though swelling and bruising are expected. An honest timeline helps you plan.
Expect swelling and bruising in the treated facial areas and mild soreness at the donor site. Rest and head elevation help. Discomfort is usually manageable.
Most patients return to normal activities within about a week, though residual swelling can persist. Bruising fades, and the face begins to settle toward its shape.
Some grafted fat reabsorbs during this window as the surviving fat stabilizes. The final volume becomes clearer over several months.
The fat that survives can provide lasting volume. Natural aging continues, and a touch-up session is an option if added refinement is desired later.
Dr. Davis treats facial volume as a question of balance rather than volume for its own sake. Her aim is a refreshed, rested look that preserves your natural character, planned around your features and built gradually with conservative technique.
Facial fat transfer can restore youthful fullness to the cheeks, temples, and under-eyes using your own tissue, with results that can last. With Dr. Davis’s UT Southwestern training, her focus on facial rejuvenation, and an AAAASF-accredited facility, Asheville patients gain a thoughtful, natural-results-driven approach.
Restraint is what keeps restored volume looking like you, only rested.
Facial fat transfer cost varies based on the number of areas treated, the donor site, and your individualized plan. During your consultation, Dr. Davis provides a personalized quote based on your anatomy and goals. Financing options are available, and individual results vary.
Facial fat transfer carries risks including swelling, bruising, infection, asymmetry, and uneven fat survival that may require a touch-up. Because the fat is your own, allergic reaction is not a concern. Dr. Davis reviews these candidly and operates at an AAAASF-accredited facility.
The fat that survives the transfer can provide volume that lasts for years, since it becomes living tissue in the face. A portion of grafted fat reabsorbs in the first few months, and natural aging continues, so some patients choose refinement over time. Individual results vary.
Facial fat transfer pairs naturally with other facial rejuvenation procedures, and Dr. Davis often layers them for a balanced, refreshed result.
A facelift repositions sagging tissue, while fat transfer restores the volume that lifting alone cannot replace. Combined, they address both laxity and hollowing for a more complete facial rejuvenation, planned together during consultation.
Eyelid surgery refreshes the upper or lower lids, and fat transfer to the tear troughs softens the hollows beneath the eyes. Pairing the two can rejuvenate the entire eye area in a single recovery period.
A brow lift raises a heavy or descended brow, and fat grafting can restore fullness to the temples and forehead nearby. Together they rebuild a smoother, more rested upper face.
A neck lift refines the jawline and neck, complementing facial volume restoration above. For patients addressing overall facial aging, combining the two creates a balanced profile from cheek to neck.
Some patients also weigh dermal fillers, which restore volume temporarily without surgery, and learn how the donor harvest relates to liposuction. Dr. Davis helps you choose the approach suited to your goals.
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