Is Facial Fat Grafting Painful?

The procedure itself is not painful as you will be under anesthesia. Post-surgery, it is common to experience tenderness and swelling for a few weeks. Patients can use over-the-counter pain medication to relieve these symptoms.

How Many Appointments Will I Need?

The number of sessions depends on the size of the treated area and your desired fat transfer volume. Usually, the face is a small area, so a single session is enough. After a week, Dr. Shastri will have you return to the office to monitor recovery. He will then let you know when he would like to see you again.

How Long Until I See Results?

The results are immediately noticeable. The facial contours are more visible with every passing week as the swelling resolves. Patients should expect to see their final results after three to four months when the fat will begin to settle and the surviving fat cells will have adapted to their new environment.

Can I Combine Facial Fat Grafting With Other Procedures?

Yes, you can! Our patients who have received facial fat grafting in Chicago have combined it with other facial rejuvenation procedures, such as a brow lift or a facelift . Patients are recommended to share these ideas for combined procedures with Dr. Shastri during the initial consultation so that he can consider them as he designs the surgical plan.

What Are the Risks Associated With Facial Fat Grafting?

Facial fat grafting is considered low-risk as the body’s fat is being reinjected. However, there are still some risks associated with it. Some of them include: Bleeding Fat embolism Seroma Fat cells not surviving Significant scarring Undesirable results If you experience these side effects or have any concerns related to the procedure, please contact us at SG Facial Plastic Surgery immediately so that we may help.

Chicago, IL

Facial Fat Grafting

Introduction

Introduction to Facial Fat Grafting

Facial fat grafting is the transfer of fat from areas of excess in the body to a volume-depleted face. The body’s fat is a permanent filler, and in this procedure, even though 100% of the transferred fat cells might not be sustained in the long run, it is a natural method for volume boost. Patients choose fat grafting over dermal fillers for this natural and long-lasting option. Common target areas include nasolabial folds, paranasal folds, cheeks, forehead, lips, and under the eyes. To learn more about facial fat grafting in Chicago, schedule a consultation with double board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Karthik Shastri or board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Kurren Gill at SG Facial Plastic Surgery.

What is Facial Fat Grafting?

Facial fat grafting is a surgical technique that involves liposuction from an area of the body that has extra harvestable fat cells, purifying and transferring the fat, then via injection into sections of your face that require a boost in volume. Facial fat grafting, or fat transfer, enhances facial fullness and can help build up shallow contours, like in your cheeks.

Unlike dermal fillers, facial fat transfers are permanent solutions. However, once the fat is grafted into the new location, only about 50-60% usually survives and lasts indefinitely. Therefore, patients might need multiple sessions to achieve the required facial fullness.

Close-up of a woman with medium-length wavy brown hair, a contemplative expression, and eyes looking directly at the viewer. Her hands gently rest on her face, one on her forehead and the other on her cheek. She has smooth, light-tan skin and well-defined features. The dark background and soft lighting highlight her face, with a dusty rose jacket visible at the edges. - Facial Fat Grafting in Glenview, IL

What Are the Benefits of Facial Fat Grafting?

Our patients who have received facial fat grafting in Chicago at SG Facial Plastic Surgery have enjoyed numerous benefits, including a long-lasting impact. Some other benefits are listed below:

Improved cheek contours
Improved hollow under eyes
Improved nasolabial folds
Improved paranasal folds
Natural process
Reduction of acne scars
Restoration of facial volume
Smoothening of facial wrinkles
Youthful appearance

Who Are the Best Candidates For Facial Fat Grafting?

The ideal candidates for facial fat grafting would be those who want a natural filler for their loss in facial volume. Some of the characteristics that ideal candidates should have are:

Acne scars
Fine lines and wrinkles
Lipoatrophy
Looking for long-lasting treatment
Maintain realistic expressions
Nasolabial folds
No underlying medical condition
Paranasal folds
Sunken under eyes

Consultation and Assessment

What’s the first step?

The first step in getting facial fat grafting in Chicago is to schedule a consultation with our board-certified surgeons. During this consultation, Dr. Shastri or Dr. Gill will discuss your medical history, aesthetic goals, concerns, and expectations from facial fat grafting. They will examine the target areas on your face, outlining potential techniques and injection sites while detailing the procedure’s associated risks, benefits, and recovery timeline. During this time, you will also identify the target sites for liposuction to harvest your fat cells.

Once you both agree to proceed with the procedure, Dr. Shastri or Dr. Gill will design your surgical plan, which you can take to our patient concierge for scheduling and pricing details and to receive any pre-operative instructions.

What to Expect on the Day of Facial Fat Grafting Surgery

On the day of your facial fat grafting surgery in Chicago, Dr. Shastri, Dr. Gill and thir team will receive you at the practice and get you settled in the procedure room. A staff member will review your surgical plan, ensuring you have no outlying questions or concerns. At this time, our board-certified surgeons might also mark the target liposuction areas. Once you are ok to move ahead, a board-certified anesthesiologist will administer anesthesia to make sure you are comfortable and pain-free for the procedure.

Once you are sedated, our board-certified surgeons will first perform liposuction on your target harvest areas, such as your abdomen or thighs. During liposuction, a small, hollow tube called a cannula gently suctions out the fat. Once the fat is extracted, it is processed in a centrifuge to separate excess fluid, debris, and dead cells from the adipose (fat) tissue.

Finally, Dr. Shastri or Dr. Gill will inject the prepared fat cell in small amounts through an ultrafine needle into areas of your face where you lack volume. As he injects it, he will expertly massage it into the areas of need, ensuring that he sculpts a facial contour to meet your aesthetic goals.

On average, facial fat grafting surgery takes one to two hours without complications. However, the length of time will vary depending on the amount of fat being transferred.

Facial Fat Grafting Recovery

After your surgery, the staff will monitor you in the recovery room until sedation wears off. Patients are recommended to have a family member or friend drive them home.

Patients should plan to take a few weeks off from their normal routine, ensuring they have time to rest and recuperate. This surgery will cause tenderness in the harvest areas and swelling, discomfort, and bruising on the face. As instructed by our board-certified surgeons, patients can use cold compresses and pain medication.

The length of recovery time will also depend on how much fat is transferred.

How Much Does Facial Fat Grafting Cost in Chicago, IL?

The cost of Facial Fat Grafting in Chicago will depend on many factors, including the volume of the target area, our board-certified surgeons’ fees, and anesthesia fees. To get an accurate estimate of the price, patients should schedule a consultation with Dr. Shastri so that he can create a customized surgical plan.

Why Choose SG Facial Plastic Surgery?

Choosing SG Facial Plastic Surgery means placing your care in the hands of two fellowship-trained, board-certified facial plastic surgeons whose combined expertise is rarely found under one roof. Dr. Karthik Shastri, recognized as an Echols Scholar at the University of Virginia for ranking among the top 5% of students, completed his facial plastic surgery fellowship at Vanderbilt University Medical Center through the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and has been honored with multiple awards for his research during residency. Dr. Kurren Gill graduated at the top of his medical school class and was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha honor society before completing his fellowship at Northwestern Memorial Hospital — ranked the No. 1 hospital in Illinois and No. 9 nationally by U.S. News & World Report. Together, they bring advanced techniques in rhinoplasty, deep-plane facelift, eyelid surgery, facial reanimation, and reconstructive surgery to every patient, backed by a shared commitment to safety, innovation, and natural, long-lasting results — and the added confidence of two expert perspectives guiding every case.

Our in-office surgical suite is fully equipped to handle every procedure we perform, eliminating the need for patients to travel to a separate surgery center or hospital — reflecting our commitment to convenience without ever compromising on the standard of care.

Facial Fat Grafting FAQ’S

Yes, you can! Our patients who have received facial fat grafting in Chicago have combined it with other facial rejuvenation procedures, such as a brow lift or a facelift. Patients are recommended to share these ideas for combined procedures with Dr. Shastri during the initial consultation so that he can consider them as he designs the surgical plan.
Facial fat grafting is considered low-risk as the body’s fat is being reinjected. However, there are still some risks associated with it. Some of them include:
- Bleeding
- Fat embolism
- Seroma
- Fat cells not surviving
- Significant scarring
- Undesirable results
If you experience these side effects or have any concerns related to the procedure, please contact us at SG Facial Plastic Surgery immediately so that we may help.

5.0 – 3 Reviews

Mohs Procedure

I had a very minor Mohs procedure about a year ago. It has healed incredibly well and the scar is barely visible (people do not notice it unless I point it out to them). The receptionist at the hospital told me that Dr. Shastri was “phenomenal” and that I was in great hands before my procedure. This was true. As someone else described in a previous review, Dr. Shastri exudes a calm confidence and is gentle. He did an excellent job stitching up my wound and monitoring the scar throughout the healing process. I appreciate his attentiveness; his skillful suturing is like a work of art. I am grateful that I was referred to him by my dermatologist. He is a phenomenal plastic surgeon — both in his work and bedside manner

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Mohs Surgery

Dr. Shastri was very competent at my facial Mohs surgery and thats saying alot, it was major.. His skill is obvious, as more than 15 tiny stitches were virtually painless and will be hard to spot. He was punctual. Clear regarding the procedure. Super bedside manor. Highly recommend him and his staff.

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Skin Cancer

Wonderful! He patiently explained the different types of skins cancers, identified the one I had, then described how he would treat it. He answered all my questions, even the dumb ones. He just exuded a calm competence. For the skin graft, I felt like I’d had the benefit of an artist ad well as a doctor. Mary, the nurse, contributed greatly to making the entire experience positive. The online system for getting an appointment, confirming it and messaging the medical team is complicated, Byzantine, and frustrating, particularly for old guys like me. However it is definitely worth struggling through it. If I could add more stars I would.

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Schedule a Consultation

If you are looking for a natural and long-lasting solution to restoring youthful volume to your face, consider learning more about facial fat grafting in Chicago. Schedule your initial consultation with our board-certified surgeons at SG Facial Plastic Surgery now.