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EXPERTISE · AESTHETICS · CARE
Fat Transfer / Fat Grafting
‘Fat grafting is a method to naturally add fullness to areas of the face for a healthier, more youthful appearance.’
Fat Transfer (Micro Fat Grafting) in Dubai
Fat Transfer, Micro Fat Grafting, and Fat Injection are interchangeable terms describing a technique that uses your body’s own fat as a natural filler. This method involves taking fat from one area of the body and transferring it to another, such as the face, to achieve a more youthful, refreshed, and enhanced appearance.
Fat Transfer plays a crucial role in facial rejuvenation. While procedures like facelifts can lift and tighten sagging tissues, they don’t address the volume loss that occurs with aging. To restore this lost fullness, Fat Grafting is an essential solution.
The most common areas for Facial Fat Grafting are:
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Cheeks
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Lips
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Nasolabial folds (smile lines)
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Marionette lines ( corners of mouth) . Upper eyelids
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Temples
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Lower eyelids
Our Dubai plastic surgeon - Dr. Ahmad - is highly skilled and experienced in performing fat injections and he can help you achieve your aesthetic goals with this innovative procedure.
Our Credentials
Who is a Candidate for Facial Fat Grafting?
The ideal candidate for Fat Transfer is in good general health and has reasonable expectations about what can be achieved with this procedure. Patients who undergo Fat Grafting in the face can be any age.
Younger patients tend to use fat injection as a means for plumping an area that can benefit from volume augmentation:
For fuller lips
For the appearance of higher cheekbones
Older patients tend to use Fat Grafting to restore areas that have lost fat due to the aging process to correct:
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Deep smile lines (nasolabial folds)
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Deep lines at the corners of the mouth (marionette lines)
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Hollowness of the upper eyelids
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Hollowness of the lower eyelids
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Hollow temples
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Sunken cheeks
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Thin lips
Dr. Ahmad also performs Fat Grafting in the body, such as for Buttock Augmentation (Brazilian Butt Lift) or Breast Augmentation as an alternative to implants.
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Benefits of Fat Grafting
Fat serves as a natural filler that can be used for both augmentation and restoration. Since it is taken from your own body, there’s no risk of rejection or disease transmission.
Fat is typically harvested from areas with excess, such as the abdomen, love handles, or outer thighs. For Facial Fat Grafting, only a small amount of fat is needed—usually 30cc or less—making it feasible even for patients who are quite thin.
It’s important to note that some degree of fat resorption (or melting away) is expected after the transfer. Dr. Ahmad employs advanced techniques to maximize fat survival, but no method is 100% effective at preventing resorption. Patients should plan for some loss and understand that additional procedures may be necessary if the desired results are not fully achieved.
Interestingly, Fat Grafting has been shown to enhance the quality and texture of the skin in treated areas. While the exact mechanisms behind this improvement are not fully understood, it is believed to be related to the abundance of stem cells present in the grafted fat.
Incisions for Fat Injection
For the patient, Fat Transfer involves two steps:
Harvest
Grafting
Fortunately, both steps require only very small puncture wounds in order to allow for small blunt needless to pass. Each puncture is less than 1 mm size. Once the incisions have healed, they should almost be invisible.
Facial Fat Transfer Procedure
Dr. Ahmad performs Facial Fat Transfer under either general anesthesia or IV sedation, ensuring you are completely asleep and unaware during the procedure.
The process begins with fat harvesting, where Dr. Ahmad uses a small blunt needle (harvest cannula) to remove fat manually. Unlike traditional liposuction, this is done by hand using a small syringe rather than a machine, allowing for precise and gentle fat extraction. Typically, one to two ounces of fat are collected.
Once harvested, the fat is carefully processed and prepared for transfer. Dr. Ahmad meticulously injects the prepared fat into the targeted areas, placing tiny amounts at a time to ensure a natural, seamless appearance. Proper spacing and integration of the fat into the native tissue are critical for optimal fat graft survival. A small amount of over-correction is also performed to account for the natural resorption of some fat after the procedure.
Popular areas for Facial Fat Grafting include the cheeks, upper eyelids, lips, temples, and smile lines. Once the procedure is complete, you are gently awakened from anesthesia and begin your recovery.
Recovery after Facial Fat Transfer
Recovery From Fat Transfer Immediately After Surgery
After surgery, you will be discharged to go home once the effects of anesthesia have mostly worn off, accompanied by a friend or family member.
Recovery From Fat Transfer at Home
At home, it’s important to keep your head elevated while you sleep—using a reclining chair or multiple pillows—to help reduce facial swelling. During the healing process, avoid touching, pressing, or manipulating the grafted areas.
Pain is generally mild, and prescribed pain medication can be taken if needed. Focus on resting and relaxing during the first week, engaging only in non-strenuous activities like reading or watching TV.
Follow-Up Visits After a Fat Transfer
Bruising may appear within the first 1-2 weeks, along with moderate swelling. Dr. Ahmad will see you for a follow-up appointment one week after surgery to monitor your progress. Swelling will gradually subside over the following weeks, and most patients can return to non-strenuous work within 7-10 days. Light activities such as walking for exercise are typically permitted 1-2 weeks after surgery, while more strenuous activities should be avoided for 4-6 weeks.
Some of the transferred fat will naturally be reabsorbed during the first 6-8 weeks. After this period, the remaining fat is expected to survive long-term and adapt to changes in your weight. If additional fat grafting is needed, it can be performed no earlier than three months after the initial procedure.
Fat Grafiting at a Glance
What the procedure does
Adds fat on an area to improve volume, soften lines and folds
Duration of the result
Permanent
Length of time to perform the procedure
Depends on area(s); usually 1-2 hours
Type of anesthetic most commonly used
IV sedation or general anesthesia
Length of time off of work
7-10 days
Time to get back to exercise
6 weeks for heavy exercise
Pitfalls your plastic Surgeon should avoid
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Improper technique leading to increased risk of fat being resorted
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Placing too much fat (puffy face)
Your Fat Transfer Consultation
Patients should be fully informed about their surgical options before making any decisions. It’s important to conduct thorough research and understand all aspects of the procedure. During your private consultation, Dr. Ahmad will take the time to provide you with detailed information about the Fat Transfer surgery process. This initial consultation typically lasts over 45 minutes to ensure all your questions are addressed.
Our priority is to educate and empower you to make well-informed decisions about plastic surgery. You will never be rushed or pressured into making a choice. We believe that informed patients are better equipped to select the right procedure and the right surgeon for their needs.
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Dr. Ahmad Tavassoli Ashrafi
Plastic Surgeon
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