Facial Fat Transfer in Edinburgh

Facial fat transfer can address:

• Loss of volume in the cheeks, temples and mid-face that has appeared with time, weight change, or as part of natural facial ageing
• Hollowing under the eyes (the tear trough), where filler is often a poor long-term solution because the area swells unpredictably
• Volume loss around the mouth that has deepened the nasolabial folds or marionette lines
• A wish for a longer-lasting alternative to dermal filler, using your own tissue rather than a synthetic product
• Volume restoration combined with another procedure — most commonly a facelift, lower eyelid surgery or brow lift

What it does not always achieve: a fully predictable volume in one go. Some of the transferred fat is reabsorbed by the body in the first three to six months — typically around 30–50%, depending on the area treated and individual factors. Your consultant will plan for this by slightly overcorrecting at the time of surgery, and a top-up procedure may sometimes be recommended once the result has settled. Fat that survives the first six months tends to behave like normal facial fat thereafter and lasts for years.

Suitable candidates for facial fat transfer:

• Have noticed loss of volume in the face — typically the cheeks, under eyes, temples or around the mouth — with time or weight change
• Have enough fat in a donor area (abdomen, flanks or thighs) to harvest
• Are in good general health with realistic expectations about how much volume can be restored in one session
• Are non-smokers, or are willing to stop smoking well in advance of surgery to support fat survival
• Want a longer-lasting alternative to dermal fillers, or are combining the procedure with other facial surgery

A consultation is a conversation, not a commitment to surgery. If we feel fat transfer is not the right answer for your case — for example, if filler would serve you better, or if a different procedure altogether is the more appropriate first step — we will say so honestly.

Facial fat transfer is generally a low-risk procedure, but like any surgery it carries a defined set of risks that any patient should understand before deciding to go ahead:

• Swelling and bruising: normal at both the donor area and the face. Settles over days to a week or two, but can take longer in the periorbital area.
• Asymmetry: small differences between the two sides can occur. The Coleman technique aims to minimise this with measured, layered injection.
• Fat absorption: typically 30–50% of the transferred fat is reabsorbed by the body in the first three to six months. Your consultant plans for this by slightly overcorrecting at surgery. A top-up procedure may be recommended once the result has settled.
• Irregularities in skin texture: uncommon, but lumpiness or palpable irregularity can occur, particularly in thin-skinned areas. Skilled injection technique and gentle post-procedure massage reduce the risk.
• Infection: small risk, as with any surgery.
• Nerve disturbance: a small risk of temporary, or rarely permanent, changes in sensation at the donor site or treated areas.
• Scarring: minimal — the harvest is via small liposuction incisions, and the facial injections leave no scars.
• Anaesthesia risks: all anaesthetists involved in surgery at Waterfront are consultants in their own right.

• Facial fat transfer under local anaesthesia: from £3,400
• Facial fat transfer under general anaesthesia: from £4,200

Each price includes the surgeon’s fee, the anaesthetist’s fee where applicable, the procedure room fee, and all post-operative reviews until you are fully discharged. Where fat transfer is combined with another procedure — most commonly facelift or lower eyelid surgery — the combined cost is quoted individually after consultation.

If a top-up procedure is recommended once the initial result has settled, this is quoted at the time. The full price for your individual case can only be confirmed after a face-to-face consultation with the consultant who will perform your surgery. Our consultation fee with a consultant plastic surgeon is £200.

Will the same surgeon plan, perform and review my fat transfer?

Yes. The consultant who assesses you at your first appointment is the consultant who plans your procedure, performs it, and follows you through every post-operative review. There is no handover between assessment and procedure, no patient coordinator, and no surgeon rotation.

How is facial fat transfer different from synthetic fillers?

Synthetic dermal fillers add volume immediately and predictably, but they are absorbed by the body over six to eighteen months and need to be repeated. Facial fat transfer uses your own tissue, which has the potential to integrate permanently with the face — although a portion (typically 30–50%) is reabsorbed in the first three to six months and the final result takes longer to see. Fat transfer is a bigger, more involved procedure than filler, but the volume that survives behaves like normal facial fat thereafter and lasts for years.

What is the Coleman technique and why does Waterfront use it?

The Coleman technique is a refined method of fat grafting developed by Dr Sydney Coleman. It emphasises gentle harvesting of the fat to minimise damage to the fat cells, careful centrifugation to purify the harvested fat, and precise injection of small amounts of fat at varying depths in a layered pattern. The aim is to maximise how much of the transferred fat survives long-term, which is what determines durability of the result. It is more time-consuming than less refined methods but is widely regarded as the gold standard for fat grafting.

How long do the results of facial fat transfer last?

The fat that survives the first three to six months tends to behave like normal facial fat from then on, meaning the result lasts for years. The natural ageing process continues regardless, and the volume gained from fat transfer ages with the rest of your face.

How is the fat harvested?

Fat is taken from a donor area — typically the abdomen, flanks or thighs — using small liposuction incisions. The amount harvested is modest, since only a relatively small volume is needed for facial work. The donor area heals with minimal scarring.

Can facial fat transfer help with acne scars?

Yes, in some cases. Adding volume beneath depressed acne scars can soften their appearance by lifting the scar towards the surrounding skin. The result is partial rather than total — fat transfer does not remove a scar, it disguises it. Your consultant will assess this honestly at consultation.

Can facial fat transfer be combined with other procedures?

Yes — frequently. The most common combinations are with a facelift (where fat transfer restores volume that lifting alone cannot achieve), with lower eyelid surgery (to soften the transition between lower lid and cheek), and with a brow lift. Combining procedures in a single operation shortens overall recovery time.

Who is an ideal candidate for facial fat transfer?

Suitable candidates have noticed volume loss in the face, have enough donor fat to harvest, are in good general health, and have realistic expectations about how much volume can be restored in one session and how much may need a top-up. Non-smokers do better — smoking reduces fat survival significantly. The assessment is made in person at consultation.

How do I prepare for a facial fat transfer?

Preparation includes a pre-operative assessment, stopping certain medications and supplements that may increase bleeding risk, and stopping smoking. Maintaining a stable weight in the weeks before surgery helps with the predictability of the result, as significant weight loss after surgery can affect the volume that survives. Your consultant will provide specific instructions tailored to your circumstances.

What is the recovery time for facial fat transfer?

Most patients take a few days to a week off work, depending on how visible the bruising is. Bruising and swelling settle over two to three weeks. Strenuous exercise should be avoided for around four weeks. The early result is fuller than the final result; final volume is judged at around six months.

What are the risks of facial fat transfer?

Risks include swelling and bruising, asymmetry, fat absorption above the expected range, lumpiness or skin-texture irregularities (uncommon), infection, nerve disturbance, and the general risks of anaesthesia. Specific risks for your case will be discussed in detail at consultation.

What happens if I have concerns after my surgery?

All patients are seen by a nurse at one week, and more often if needed in the early healing period. Your consultant reviews you again at around six months once the result has settled. Between those reviews, your consultant is always available — if anything concerns you, they will respond directly and arrange to see you as soon as needed.

How much does facial fat transfer cost?

Guide prices are listed in the Cost section above. The full price for your individual case is confirmed after a face-to-face consultation with the consultant who will perform your surgery.