What is facial fat injection?
Facial fat injection is the process of transferring fat tissue taken from a fatty area of the patient’s body—such as the abdomen, under the chin, buttocks, or the inner or outer thigh—to areas of the face with volume deficiency after the fat has been processed through specific preparation steps.

For what purposes and in which areas is facial fat injection applied?
With aging, a reduction and sagging of facial fat occur. Through fat injection (as an alternative to synthetic fillers), the aim is to restore fullness and volume to areas of the face where volume loss is present, thereby achieving a more youthful and fuller facial appearance. Fat injection can also be used as an alternative to implants to correct structural deficiencies in the soft tissues and bony framework of the face. Fat injection can be applied to all areas where volume deficiency is present, most commonly the cheeks, forehead, around the eyes, chin, and lips.

What are the advantages of facial fat injection compared with filler injections?
If performed properly, fat injection is a long-lasting method. While a portion of the injected fat is gradually absorbed over time, approximately 50% of the injected volume typically remains permanently. One of the most important advantages of fat injection compared with synthetic fillers (such as hyaluronic acid or calcium hydroxyapatite), which generally disappear within 1–2 years, is that a significant portion of the injected fat can remain for life. In addition, since the patient’s own fat is used, problems such as allergic reactions or rejection that may occur with synthetic fillers are avoided.

What factors affect the permanence of fat, and does the procedure need to be repeated?
After a single fat injection session, an average permanence rate of approximately 30% to 70% can be achieved. Partial resorption of the injected fat usually occurs within the first year, especially during the first 3–4 months. Afterward, a regeneration process lasting until the second year begins, and some of the lost volume may be regained. For optimal results, fat injection may need to be repeated. The permanence of the transferred fat increases when atraumatic techniques that preserve fat viability are used. Therefore, the longevity of the injected fat depends on the techniques used during harvesting and injection, as well as the preparation process of the fat. The characteristics of the recipient area (such as vascularity, mobility, and frequency of trauma) also affect longevity. For example, fat injected into the lips tends to have much lower permanence compared with fat injected into the cheeks or around the eyes.

How is the fat prepared and injected?
The fat to be injected is harvested by creating a small opening in the skin of the donor area (usually the abdomen) through which a cannula is inserted, and the fat is aspirated using syringes. After the harvested fat undergoes specific preparation steps, it is transferred into syringes and injected into the areas of the face requiring volume restoration using a thin cannula.

How much time off work will I need?
Since there is no surgical incision on the face after the procedure, there is generally no discomfort severe enough to significantly affect daily life, apart from swelling and fullness (and rarely bruising) in the injected areas. Especially during the first 2–3 days, swelling greater than the injected fat volume may occur due to tissue trauma. The swelling usually decreases rapidly over the following days and typically resolves completely within 5–6 days. Most patients can return to their daily activities and work within a few days after the procedure. However, it should be noted that injections performed in the lip area may result in more pronounced swelling in the early period, and the recovery process may take slightly longer. If a larger amount of fat is injected to compensate for expected partial absorption, the additional fullness usually resolves as partial resorption occurs within a few weeks.