Cheeks and midface
Restoring the fullness over the cheekbone and below it lifts the look of the whole midface and softens the folds beside the nose and mouth.
Model Face · Volume restoration
Facial Fat Grafting
Much of facial aging is volume quietly leaving the cheeks, temples and under-eyes. Fat grafting puts it back using your own tissue, so the face looks fuller and softer in a way that reads as rest, not work.
- SurgicalPerformed by Dr. Khan
- About an hourConsultation fees are currently waived
- Sugar Land, TXServing Greater Houston
About the procedure
Facial fat grafting, also called facial fat transfer, takes a small amount of fat from an area such as the abdomen or thighs, purifies it and places it in tiny amounts where the face has lost volume. Because it is your own living tissue, the fat that takes integrates with the surrounding tissue and ages along with you, which is why many patients choose it over repeated filler appointments.
Dr. Khan uses fat grafting both on its own and as part of a larger plan. It is a natural partner to a facelift, since lifting repositions tissue but does not replace what has been lost, and it can soften hollows beside the eyes or temples that a lift alone leaves behind.
What it addresses
- Flattened or hollow cheeks and midface
- Hollowing at the temples
- Under-eye hollows and tear troughs
- Deep nasolabial folds and marionette lines
- Thin lips or a loss of lip definition
- A jawline or chin that lacks fullness
What it doesn't do
- Fat grafting does not lift sagging tissue. When laxity is the main concern, a facelift or neck lift is the right tool, with fat grafting added for volume if needed.
- Not all transferred fat survives. Some is reabsorbed in the first months, which is expected and can mean a second session for the result you want.
- It does not change skin texture, pigmentation or fine lines. Skincare, peels or resurfacing address those.
The Empowered approach
How Dr. Khan approaches facial fat grafting
She treats volume as something to restore in proportion, not to add for its own sake. Fat is placed in small amounts across several layers so it settles smoothly and is more likely to survive, and she errs toward a conservative first session because overfilling the face is a harder problem than a modest touch-up.
Fat is harvested gently from a donor area you and she agree on, purified and placed with fine cannulas through tiny entry points. Where a filler would be the better choice for a small, specific concern, she will say so.
Who it may suit
You may be a candidate if…
- You have lost facial volume in the cheeks, temples, under-eyes or lips and want a natural, longer-lasting alternative to fillers.
- You have a small amount of fat available at a donor site such as the abdomen, flanks or thighs.
- You are in good general health, at a stable weight and do not smoke, or are willing to stop before and after the procedure.
- You understand that some fat is reabsorbed and a second session may be recommended.
- Dr. Khan confirms candidacy in person after assessing facial volume, skin quality and available donor fat.
Candidacy is confirmed at your consultation, after an examination and a review of your medical history.
Model What to expect
- 01
Consultation
About an hour with Dr. Khan to map where volume has been lost, decide whether fat grafting, fillers or a combination with a lift fits your goals, and choose a donor area.
- 02
Your plan
A written plan covering the areas to treat, the donor site, anesthesia planning and pre-operative instructions. Pricing is reviewed with your plan.
- 03
Procedure day
Fat is removed from the donor site through a small incision, processed to concentrate the healthy fat, and placed in the face in many tiny passes. The entry points are small enough that they rarely need more than a stitch.
- 04
Recovery and follow-up
Expect swelling in the treated areas and mild soreness at the donor site. Dr. Khan follows your healing at scheduled visits, and established surgical patients have a direct way to reach her after hours.
Recovery
Healing takes time, and it varies.
Facial swelling is noticeable in the first week and can make the result look fuller than it will be. Bruising varies by area and is usually most visible around the eyes. Many patients are comfortable returning to desk work within about a week, longer if fat grafting was combined with a lift. The donor site is sore for a few days and may be supported with a light compression garment.
Swelling settles over the following weeks, and the fat that has established a blood supply becomes stable over the first few months. That is when the result is judged and a touch-up is discussed if needed.
Risks and limitations
What you should know before deciding.
Every surgery carries risk. These are the ones most relevant to this procedure; Dr. Khan reviews your personal risk profile and the alternatives with you before anything is scheduled.
- Uneven fat survival, causing asymmetry or under-correction that may need a second session
- Lumps, firmness or small oil cysts where fat does not take evenly
- Prolonged swelling or bruising, especially around the eyes
- Infection, hematoma (a collection of blood) or delayed healing at the face or donor site
- Contour irregularity at the donor site
- Over-fullness if weight is gained later, because transferred fat behaves like fat elsewhere
- Rare but serious vascular complications if fat enters a blood vessel, which is why placement technique matters
Before & after
Before & after results.
Before-and-after photographs for facial fat grafting are not currently featured on this page. Explore the patient gallery to view available results, or ask to see cases like yours at your consultation.
Every photograph in the gallery is one of Dr. Khan's own patients, shared with consent. Individual results vary.
FAQ
Facial Fat Grafting questions
Every answer here is general information. Your own plan, risks and recovery are discussed in person at your consultation.
How does facial fat grafting compare to dermal fillers?
Fillers are an in-office treatment with no downtime, give immediate results and are gradually absorbed, so they are repeated over time. Fat grafting is a procedure with a short recovery that uses your own tissue; the fat that survives is long-lasting and ages naturally with your face. Fat is often the better choice for broad areas like the cheeks and temples, while fillers suit small, specific refinements. Many patients use both at different points.
How long does transferred fat last in the face?
Fat that establishes a blood supply in the first months becomes part of your facial tissue and lasts long-term, although it continues to change with age, weight fluctuation and sun exposure. Some of the transferred fat is always reabsorbed early on, which varies from person to person and is why Dr. Khan may plan a modest second session rather than over-fill at the first.
Where does the fat come from?
Usually the abdomen, flanks or thighs, harvested through a small incision with gentle liposuction. The face needs only a small amount, so this is not a body-contouring procedure on its own, though the donor site may look slightly smoother afterward. You and Dr. Khan choose the donor area together at consultation.
Can fat grafting be done at the same time as a facelift?
Yes, and it often is. A facelift repositions tissue that has descended, but it does not replace the volume that has been lost from the cheeks and temples. Adding fat grafting in the same operation addresses both, with a single recovery. Dr. Khan evaluates volume loss at every facelift consultation and recommends grafting when it would improve the overall result.
What is recovery like after facial fat transfer?
Plan on about a week of noticeable swelling and some bruising, most visible around the eyes if that area was treated, with mild soreness at the donor site. Desk work is often realistic within a week when fat grafting is done alone. The face looks fuller than the final result at first, and the true outcome becomes clear over the first few months as swelling resolves and the surviving fat stabilizes.
Request a consultation
Talk through facial fat grafting with Dr. Khan.
Consultation fees are currently waived. Plan on about an hour with Dr. Khan, in person in Sugar Land or virtually, to talk through goals, candidacy and the approach that fits you.
Book a Consultation Online Request a Consultation
New patients can book a consultation; existing patients can book a treatment, follow-up or post-op visit. Opens PatientNow’s secure booking page in a new tab.
Call (281) 716-3224 · Mon–Fri 9 AM–5 PM · Sugar Land, Texas · Virtual consultations available