Facial fat grafting restores volume naturally — using your own fat harvested from another area of the body, processed, and precisely reinjected into areas of facial volume loss. Dr. Tan uses the latest microfat and nanofat techniques for results that look natural, feel like your own tissue, and last significantly longer than dermal fillers.
Facial rejuvenation increasingly recognizes that aging is not only about laxity and descent — it is also about volume loss. The cheeks flatten. The temples hollow. The under-eye area deepens. These changes cannot be corrected by lifting alone. Fat grafting addresses them directly, using the patient's own tissue for a result that looks and feels entirely natural.
Dr. Tan uses the latest microfat and nanofat techniques — evolutions of earlier fat transfer methods that allow for more precise, customized placement and improved outcomes. Because the fat comes from your own body, the risk of allergic reaction or rejection is minimized, and the results last significantly longer than synthetic fillers.
Facial fat grafting is frequently combined with a facelift — addressing both structural laxity and volume loss in a single surgical session. Dr. Tan evaluates each patient's anatomy at consultation and recommends the combination that will produce the most complete, harmonious result.
Two advanced fat processing techniques allow for precise, customized treatment depending on the patient's goals and the areas being treated.
Fat purified and processed into tiny parcels — ideal for adding volume to areas requiring subtle structural enhancement that lasts longer than dermal fillers. Used in the cheeks, temples, nasolabial folds, and jawline. Injected using small cannulas for precise placement and natural facial contours.
Fat emulsified and filtered into a fine, cell-rich solution — not a volumizer, but a skin-quality enhancer. Injected superficially to improve skin texture, reduce fine lines, enhance skin tone and radiance, and diminish the appearance of scars. Particularly effective in the under-eye area, perioral region, and areas of sun damage.
The most comprehensive fat grafting approach — addressing both structural volume loss and surface skin quality in a single session. Dr. Tan combines both techniques when both concerns are present, customizing the plan to each patient's specific anatomy and goals.
The most complete approach to facial rejuvenation — combining surgical lifting (addressing laxity and descent) with fat grafting (addressing volume loss) in a single operation. The result is a more youthfully contoured face that reads as rested and refreshed rather than lifted.
The procedure involves three stages — all performed in a single session.
Fat is gently removed from an area with excess deposits — typically the abdomen, love-handle area, or thighs — using minimally invasive liposuction. Performed under local anesthesia, sedation, or general anesthesia depending on the extent of the procedure.
The collected fat is purified and processed. Microfat: filtered and washed to remove impurities. Nanofat: further emulsified and filtered to obtain a fine, smooth solution rich in regenerative cells.
Processed fat is strategically injected via specialized microcannulas into targeted areas of the face or neck. Microfat for deep or structural volumizing. Nanofat injected superficially for skin rejuvenation.
Facial fat grafting is typically an outpatient procedure. Patients experience mild swelling or bruising that subsides within 1–2 weeks. Most return to normal activities within several days. Some fat is naturally reabsorbed — but a significant portion becomes permanently integrated, providing results that last significantly longer than synthetic fillers.
Good candidates are patients with noticeable facial volume loss — hollowed cheeks, sunken temples, deepened tear troughs, or overall facial deflation — who desire natural-looking, longer-lasting restoration. Adequate donor fat is required, and good general health is essential.
Fat grafting is also excellent for patients who want to improve skin quality and texture — particularly in the under-eye area and perioral region — and prefer their own tissue over synthetic products.
Patients who are not good candidates for injectable fillers due to prior filler complications, filler fatigue, or a desire for a more permanent solution often find fat grafting the most appropriate alternative.
Request a ConsultationPreserved from our original FAQ schema — common questions about fat grafting with Dr. Tan.
Begin with a consultation — Dr. Tan will evaluate your facial volume, discuss your goals, and tell you exactly what she recommends.