What is the downtime for fat transfer to face?

Author: Chase Gaylord  |  Last update: Tuesday, July 15, 2025

Facial fat transfer involves harvesting fat from the body and injecting it into the face for volume and contour. The initial phase of recovery, characterized by swelling and bruises, usually occurs over 1-2 weeks, with most daily activities returning to normal after 2-3 weeks.

What is the recovery time for fat transfer to the face?

Commonly, you can expect some feelings of recovery to occur within 48 hours of the procedure. Normally, and every patient responds differently, you should expect a full recovery within four to six weeks after your procedure. With more intense procedures, or in certain cases, full recovery may take up to four months.

How painful is facial fat grafting?

In the first week, there is always swelling and sometimes bruising to the grafted areas of the face. Pain is generally minimal. In the second week the bruising settles. Less visible swelling gradually reduces day by day.

When does fat transfer to the face settle?

The treated areas will probably be quite bruised and swollen for a few weeks. You may want to take a couple of weeks off work. It can take up to 6 months for a surgical fat transfer to fully take effect, as some of the injected fat may be reabsorbed by your body during the first few months after the procedure.

How do you take care of your face after fat transfer?

Cold compresses on your cheeks and eye region are recommended for the first 48 hours to decrease bruising and swelling. A rough guideline is to apply every 15 minutes and then take 15 minutes off. If using a cold pack, please place a towel in between the ice and your skin to avoid cold injury.

Dr. Benjamin Brown, Plastic Surgeon - Fat Transfer to the face -Recovery

What are the disadvantages of fat transfer to the face?

You may experience these side effects from liposuction or an under-eye fat transfer:
  • Bleeding.
  • Bruising.
  • Infection.
  • Lumps or cysts.
  • Skin damage or scarring.
  • Swelling (edema).

How long to sleep on back after facial fat transfer?

How Do You Sleep After Facial Fat Transfer? After getting home from facial fat transfer surgery, continue resting for the next 24 hours with your head elevated. When you go to bed at night, sleep on your back with 2-4 pillows behind your head and back for at least the first three days.

What should I avoid after face fat transfer?

ACTIVITY AFTER FAT TRANSFER TREATMENT

Avoid bending, lifting, or straining for one to two weeks. Be extremely careful if wearing any “pull-over the head” clothing. Exercise: Light physical activity may be resumed 2-3 weeks after surgery.

How long does it take for fat to leave face?

How long does it take to lose face fat? It could take a few weeks to lose facial fat. At 20% body fat, facial fat usually disappears, and a healthy weight loss programme can aid people in losing 0.5–1% of their body fat per week.

What is the survival rate for fat transfer to the face?

Fat transfer rate depends heavily on good surgical technique

The available studies on the survival of fat grafts after fat transfer show that there are widely varying rates of survival of the tissue after transfer. These vary from 30% to 83% in the facial area.

Is facial fat transfer worth it?

Although a fat transfer is a fantastic procedure for all age groups, it benefits older people the most. Fat grafting resolves common signs of aging, like fine lines, furrows, wrinkles, marionette lines, and other natural flaws.

Can your body reject fat transfer?

Fat is harvested from a “donor area” of your body, such as your abdomen or buttocks. The suctioned fat is then grafted into targeted areas of your face. Since the transferred fat is your own, your body is extremely unlikely to reject it, and the possibility of an allergic reaction is virtually eliminated.

How much does fat grafting cost for face?

The total cost of facial fat grafting, including both the liposuction and fat transfer components of the procedure, typically falls in the $3,000 to $7,500 range at our practice.

Is your face too full after fat transfer?

Immediately after your surgery, you may notice that your face looks fuller than you'd expected. This is a normal and temporary part of having a facial fat transfer.

When can I sit after fat transfer?

Typically, after six to eight weeks, patients can start sitting without cushions for short periods, gradually increasing as comfort and healing permit. It's important to listen to your body and the advice of your BBL surgeon during this phase to avoid any setbacks.

How do I prepare my face for fat transfer?

Don't eat for 8 hours and don't drink for 6 hours before surgery for general anesthesia, 2 hours for local anesthesia. No moisturizer, body lotions, no make up on the area where the fat is being injected. Do not bring any jewelry or valuables with you on the day of surgery. Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing.

How much weight to lose for face fat?

To make your face look more attractive, you'd need to lower your BMI by about 2.5 points. That means a woman and man of average height would need to lose about 14 pounds and 18 pounds, respectively, the study found.

At what body fat percentage does your face look best?

According to research, a body fat percentage in the range of 9 to 12% for males and 17 to 20% for females usually enhances facial attractiveness. The inherent bone framework affects how much angular and contoured your face appears. Some faces look much slimmer than others even having higher body fat.

What is the Ozempic face?

Ozempic face is a colloquial term, not a medically recognized condition. It describes the facial changes that can accompany rapid weight loss when using medications like Ozempic or another version of the same drug (generic name semaglutide) FDA-approved for weight-loss treatment.

Does facial fat transfer look natural?

Microfat transfer offers long-lasting results and a more natural appearance compared to synthetic fillers, as the transferred fat integrates seamlessly with existing tissue.

What is a pillow face after fat transfer?

With facial fat transfer, some doctors like to overfill in anticipation of fat loss, but when fat loss is marginal, the artificial-looking pillow face results. The dreaded pillow face can bring unwanted attention and make you even more self-conscious than you were before seeking treatment.

How long does it take for facial fat transfer to settle?

Post-Procedure Care Instructions for Facial Fat Transfer. Most patients can resume daily activities within 2-3 weeks post-op, with the majority of swelling subsiding in 1-2 weeks. Full recovery typically occurs around the 4-6 week mark, though individual timelines may vary.

What not to do after face fat transfer?

Don't skimp on resting

You may also experience mild facial swelling, which can last a few days. However, after approximately two weeks, the results are visible. We recommend taking at least one week off from work and avoiding exercise and other physical activity until two weeks after your procedure.

When can I wear a regular bra after fat transfer?

Should I wear a bra after fat transfer to the breast? Avoid wearing a tight bra or anything with an underwire and heavy padding for four to six weeks.

Can I touch my face after fat transfer?

While the transferred fat cells are settling in, you'll need to avoid putting pressure on them. Too much pressure can damage the fat cells and disrupt their blood supply. Be gentle when touching and washing your face, and keep pressure off the injection area when you sleep.

Previous article
What is a Russian manicure?
Next article
How to keep curly hair from tangling without brushing?