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All of our procedures are safely performed under local anesthesia in the comfort and convenience of our Center.  Dr. Lanfranchi has served over 10,000 patients since 2006 using his specialized technique.

Facial Fat Transfer: 5 Things You Should Know

As you grow older, you’ll eventually want to fight signs of aging, and there’s perhaps no more important battlefield in this fight than the face. You’ll eventually lose important structural proteins and subcutaneous fat that made your skin smooth and the contours of your face healthy and full in your twenties. However, there’s some good news because you have some options in your arsenal. Three of the most effective weapons you have to fight back are dermal fillers, cosmetic surgery, and facial fat transfer, also known as facial fat grafting.

Dermal fillers used to restore volume in the face typically contain an ingredient called hyaluronic acid (HA). HA is a molecule that occurs naturally in the body, and it is used because it has an amazing ability to draw in and retain water molecules. These products are a great solution for many, but the facial fat transfer is becoming a popular option for those who don’t want surgery and are looking for longer-lasting and perhaps more dramatic results that dermal fillers can provide.

If you’re taking a closer look at your options to fight the early signs of aging on your face, here are five things we tell our patients at TLC about facial fat transfer.

Las Vegas Facelift

*Individual Results May Vary*

The Results of Facial Fat Transfer May Be Permanent

During facial fat transfer, a small amount of excess fat cells are taken from donor sites such as the thighs, buttocks, belly, and back, and they’re injected into areas of your face where you’d like to alter facial contours, add more volume, and tighten your skin. 

More fat cells are harvested and transplanted than needed because some will be reabsorbed and metabolized by your body. When your recovery is complete, the cells that survive the move become permanent in their new location. The processing of the cells for transfer is the critical step in this process. Employing the gold-standard approach in processing fat for transfer ensures the highest rate of survival for the fat cells and the best possible results.

A Facial Fat Transfer Can Be Useful for Treating Sagging Skin

Until fairly recently, the most common way to treat signs of aging in the lower third of a patient’s face was through surgery. This is because the lower third of your face is where you’ll experience the most severe sagging skin once you start losing significant reserves of collagen. A facial fat transfer can be used, in some cases, to avoid surgery when treating mild sagging skin by restoring important skin volume. However, surgery may be needed to remove excess skin in cases where sagging is more severe.

Facial Fat Transfer Is Less Invasive Than Facial Plastic Surgery

Some patients simply may not want surgery, or they may not be able to have surgery for medical reasons. Although the facial fat transfer is a surgery, it’s a relatively minor one. In some situations, a facial fat transfer may be the best, least invasive course of action when other surgeries aren’t an option or other risks are present.

Incisions at the donor and transfer sites will be tiny. The device used to harvest fat cells and the needle used to re-inject it are both quite small, making facial fat transfer significantly less invasive than many other facial cosmetic procedures. This also makes for an easier recovery than other facial plastic surgeries.

A Facial Fat Transfer May Have Fewer Risks Than Other Procedures

Medically speaking, one of the best things about a facial fat transfer is that it uses your body’s own fat cells to boost volume and restore your youthful appearance. Because it doesn’t use foreign devices such as implants or any product that even carries a minor risk of an allergic reaction, a facial fat transfer may pose the fewest risks for patients who want to restore facial volume.

A Facial Fat Transfer Is Not A Substitute For Weight Loss

A question that pops up often during consultations from patients who are excited at the prospect of taking fat from one area of the body and putting it where they actually want it is, “How much weight will I lose?”

A facial fat transfer is not a substitute for actual weight loss. The amount of fat taken from the donor site will be small. However, the procedure can be a great catalyst for a healthier lifestyle once your recovery is complete!

Stellar Service from Start to Finish


Two months ago I had a lower lifestyle facial lift. I was apprehensive, but it was well worth the effort and expense. Dr. Lanfranchi and his entire staff were kind, caring and very professional, from the first meeting to the follow up appointments.


The procedure is done under a local, not general anesthetic, and it was easy. I healed quickly and am very satisfied with the results.
His fee was very reasonable. Any further facial work I want done, I will be sure to come back here.

Thinking a Facial Fat Transfer Might Be Right For You?

Talk to Dr. Lanfranchi and his team if you’re thinking it might be the best option to achieve your aesthetic goals. They are available to give you a consultation and answer any questions you may have about this procedure or other procedures. 

About The Lanfranchi Center For Facial Plastic Surgery & Rejuvenation (TLC)

Dr. Lanfranchi is Board Certified with specialty certification in Facial Plastic Surgery by the American Osteopathic board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. These careful certifications consist of proper medical education, training and examinations ensuring that a specific standard in the plastic surgery industry has been met. Dr. Lanfranchi not only meets the standard, but exceeds it with a five star rating from RealSelf, as well as being named a Top Doc for 2016, 2017 and 2018 by My Vegas Magazine. In addition, Dr. Lanfranchi was named the Best Cosmetic Surgeon by the Silver State Awards in 2019. Dr. Lanfranchi is bilingual, speaking both English and Spanish fluently, allowing him to communicate and work successfully with his Spanish-speaking patients. 

By |2021-04-05T10:04:15-07:00March 14th, 2021|Facial Fat Transfer, Facial Rejuvenation|0 Comments

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