Facial Fat Grafting in Bangalore
The most natural face rejuvenation material in existence is already inside your body. Your own fat — harvested, purified, and precisely re-injected into the face — adds back the volume that ageing, weight loss, or genetics has taken away. No foreign material. No allergy risk. No repeated treatments to maintain. Just your own tissue, repositioned where it belongs.
Facial fat grafting — also called fat transfer to face, autologous fat transfer, or lipofilling — is one of the most versatile and enduring procedures in facial rejuvenation surgery. At Pink Apple Aesthetics, Jayanagar, it is performed by Dr. Pinky Devi Ayyappan, MCh (Plastic Surgery), who was trained in fat grafting and nanofat techniques by internationally recognised surgeons — including training in Belgium under Dr. Patrick Tonnard and Dr. Alexis Verpaele, the very surgeons who developed the nanofat grafting technique in 2013.
This is not a generic filler appointment. It is a precise, anatomically planned procedure performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon who understands facial fat compartments, the science of fat survival, and the difference between adding volume that ages gracefully and creating an overfilled, unnatural appearance.
What Is Facial Fat Grafting (Fat Transfer / Lipofilling)?
Facial fat grafting is a surgical procedure with three steps. First, a small amount of fat is harvested from a donor site — most commonly the abdomen, inner thighs, or flanks — using a fine, low-trauma liposuction technique. Second, the harvested fat is processed and purified, separating viable fat cells and their regenerative components from unwanted fluid and debris. Third, the purified fat is re-injected into targeted areas of the face using fine cannulas, in precise micro-droplet passes that place the fat at the correct depth for maximum survival and a smooth, natural result.
The result is natural because the material is your own. The transplanted fat integrates into the facial tissues, develops its own blood supply, and behaves exactly like the fat that was originally there. The fat cells that successfully integrate are permanent — they do not dissolve, do not migrate, and do not need to be repeated the way synthetic fillers do.
Also known as: fat transfer to face, autologous fat transfer, fat injection face, lipofilling, facial fat transfer, fat grafting surgery Bangalore, fat grafting cheeks Bangalore, nanofat grafting Bangalore.
Why the Face Ages the Way It Does — And Why Volume Restoration Matters
Modern understanding of facial ageing has changed significantly over the last two decades. Earlier, facial rejuvenation focused almost entirely on lifting and tightening — pulling back skin that had sagged. What this approach missed was that facial ageing is not just a descent problem. It is a volume problem.
The face has multiple distinct fat compartments — discrete pockets of fat sitting at different depths in different areas of the face. These compartments are not one unified mass; they age at different rates and in different directions. As the decades pass, the following changes occur:
- The malar fat pad shrinks and descends — creating flattened cheeks, hollowing under the eyes, and prominent nasolabial folds.
- The temple fat pad involutes — creating the hollowed, shadowed temple appearance associated with looking gaunt or unwell.
- The periorbital fat loses volume — creating the sunken, dark-circled under-eye appearance (tear trough hollowing) that makes patients look chronically tired.
- The buccal fat pad (and lip vermilion) reduce — contributing to a thinner lower face and less-defined lip borders.
- The forehead loses subcutaneous fat — creating a more skeletal forehead appearance.
Lifting procedures move tissue but do not replace lost volume. Restoring the volume — the plumpness and projection of a younger face — requires volume replacement. Facial fat grafting restores this volume using the only material that truly belongs in the face: the patient’s own fat.
The idea that facial ageing is primarily about volume loss — and that restoring volume is the most biologically correct way to reverse it — was developed and systematically described by Dr. Sydney Coleman (Coleman technique) and subsequently refined by Dr. Patrick Tonnard and Dr. Alexis Verpaele, who developed the nanofat grafting technique in 2013. Dr. Pinky trained under Dr. Tonnard and Dr. Verpaele in Belgium — at the source of this science.
Facial Fat Grafting Cost at Pink Apple Aesthetics
Facial fat grafting at Pink Apple Aesthetics starts from ₹50,000 to ₹1,00,000 (terms and conditions apply). Your confirmed cost is provided after a personal consultation with Dr. Pinky, based on the number of areas being treated and the extent of fat grafting required.
Facial fat grafting is a highly individual procedure. A targeted nanofat treatment for the tear trough alone is a different scope from a full-face fat grafting procedure covering cheeks, temples, perioral area, and under-eyes in a single session. We do not quote a single fixed price without a proper assessment.
What your fat grafting cost typically includes:
- Surgeon's fee — Dr. Pinky Devi Ayyappan, MCh Plastic Surgery.
- Anaesthesia — local with sedation or general anaesthesia.
- Surgical facility charges.
- Fat processing and all consumables.
- Pre-operative blood tests.
- Post-operative medications.
- Follow-up appointments — at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months (the 3-month assessment determines whether a top-up is beneficial).
What affects the final cost:
- Number of areas treated — single-area targeted grafting vs full-face multi-zone treatment.
- Combination with facelift or other procedures — fat grafting combined with facelift or eyelid surgery in the same session has a different total cost from standalone fat grafting.
- Micro fat vs nanofat vs combined — the technique and processing required for each type.
- Anaesthesia type — local vs sedation vs general.
Facial fat grafting is a cosmetic procedure and is not covered by health insurance. EMI payment options are available at Pink Apple Aesthetics. Over a 5 to 10 year period, the cumulative cost of facial fat grafting is typically lower than repeated filler treatments for the same areas.
Macro Fat, Micro Fat, and Nanofat — Understanding the Three Types of Facial Fat Grafting
Modern facial fat grafting has evolved beyond simple fat injection. The fat can be prepared in three different particle sizes, each with a specific purpose, depth of injection, and clinical goal. Understanding these three types explains why fat grafting can simultaneously restore volume AND improve skin quality — two different effects from the same donor material.
1. Macro Fat (Millifat / Standard Fat Grafting)
Macro fat — also called millifat — consists of larger fat particles processed through gentle centrifugation to remove blood, oil, and debris while preserving intact fat cells. It is injected at deeper tissue planes — over the bone, beneath the SMAS, and in the deep fat compartments. Macro fat provides the structural, three-dimensional volumisation of the face. It is used to restore significant volume loss in the cheeks, temples, chin, and jawline — areas where meaningful projection is needed.
Macro fat is the backbone of full-face fat grafting rejuvenation. It provides the foundational volume that turns a drawn, gaunt face back into a full, youthful one.
2. Micro Fat (Microfat Grafting)
Micro fat is processed into smaller particle clusters — still containing intact, viable adipocytes — using finer processing and smaller cannulas. It is injected at intermediate depths in the superficial fat compartments and subdermal plane. Micro fat provides more precise, finer-detail volume enhancement compared to macro fat. It is ideal for the nasolabial folds, the lip borders, the perioral region, the chin, and fine-detail contouring of the lower face.
Micro fat is injected with greater precision than macro fat because of its finer consistency — it can reach areas where larger cannulas cannot without visible irregularity.
3. Nanofat (Nanofat Grafting)
Nanofat is the most refined fat preparation. The harvested fat is mechanically emulsified — passed through progressively finer filters — until it becomes an almost liquid suspension. This process destroys the intact fat cells (adipocytes), but critically it preserves and concentrates the stromal vascular fraction (SVF): the regenerative component of fat containing adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs), growth factors, and cytokines.
Nanofat does not provide volume — it provides regeneration. When injected superficially into the dermis or just beneath it, the ADSCs and growth factors:
- Stimulate collagen and elastin production — improving skin firmness, texture, and density.
- Promote angiogenesis — generating new blood vessel formation that improves skin colour and vitality.
- Reduce melanin synthesis — clinical studies show that the interleukin-6 mechanism of ADSCs inhibits melanocyte activity, which is why nanofat grafting improves skin pigmentation and the dark discolouration of tear trough skin.
- Improve fine lines and skin thinness — the skin overlying the injected area becomes measurably thicker, smoother, and more elastic.
Nanofat is the technique invented by Dr. Patrick Tonnard and Dr. Alexis Verpaele and first published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in 2013. It is specifically well-suited to: the tear trough and under-eye region, fine lines around the eyes and lips, skin quality improvement in the cheeks and neck, and scar revision.
The combination of micro fat (volume) and nanofat (regeneration) in the same session is the contemporary gold standard for comprehensive facial fat grafting — addressing volume loss and skin quality simultaneously. This combination approach is available at Pink Apple Aesthetics, performed by a surgeon who trained directly with the technique’s originators.
Which Areas of the Face Can Be Treated with Fat Grafting?
Facial fat grafting is among the most versatile procedures in aesthetic surgery — virtually every area of the face that loses volume with age or genetics can be restored with fat. The following are the primary treatment areas:
Under-eye hollowing (tear trough) — nanofat and micro fat
The tear trough is the groove that forms between the lower eyelid and the cheek as the periorbital fat deflates with age. It creates the dark, hollow, tired appearance beneath the eyes that affects some patients from their mid-30s onwards. It is one of the most challenging areas to treat with synthetic fillers because the skin is thin and the risk of visible lumpiness or Tyndall effect is high. Nanofat grafting is ideally suited here — the superficial injection of stem cell-rich nanofat improves both the volume of the hollow and the quality of the dark, thin skin above it. Micro fat at the deeper orbital rim level can address more significant hollowing.
Cheeks and midface — macro fat and micro fat
The most commonly treated area. Restoring volume to the malar fat pad recreates the lifted, rounded contour of a youthful cheek. Fat grafting to the cheeks provides a soft, natural result that an implant cannot match — because the fat is layered at multiple depths, producing the same multidimensional fullness as natural cheek fat. Fat grafted to the cheeks also improves the nasolabial folds by lifting and supporting the midface tissue above them.
Temples — macro fat
Temporal hollowing is one of the earliest signs of facial ageing and one of the most overlooked. When the temporal fat pad involutes, the temple area becomes concave — creating a gaunt, skeletal appearance and making the zygomatic arch appear overly prominent. Restoring temple volume with fat grafting visually widens the upper face, softens the skeletal appearance, and creates a more proportionally balanced facial shape.
Forehead — micro fat and nanofat
The forehead loses subcutaneous fat with age, creating a flatter, more angular surface and a slightly skeletal quality to the upper face. Micro fat restores gentle convexity to the forehead. Nanofat injected superficially across the forehead improves skin quality, reduces the appearance of fine forehead lines, and restores the smooth, plump skin quality associated with a younger face.
Nasolabial folds and perioral region — micro fat and nanofat
Deep nasolabial folds (the lines from the nose to the corners of the mouth) are partially caused by descent of the overlying midface fat — which is corrected by cheek fat grafting above. The folds themselves can be softened with micro fat in the same session. The perioral area — fine lines around the mouth, lip vermilion thinning, and loss of lip definition — responds well to micro fat and nanofat injection in the superficial dermal plane.
Jawline and chin — micro fat
Fat grafting to the pre-jowl sulcus (the hollow that forms in front of the jowl) softens the jowl appearance by restoring volume to the depression rather than attempting to lift the jowl itself. The chin can be modestly augmented with fat for patients who prefer a non-implant approach to mild chin underprojection.
Scars and skin depressions — nanofat
Nanofat grafting has excellent clinical evidence for improving the appearance of depressed scars — including acne scars — by stimulating collagen remodelling and skin regeneration in the affected area. It is used both as a standalone treatment for scar improvement and as a complement to other scar treatments.
Facial Fat Grafting vs. Dermal Fillers — Which Is Right for You?
This is the most common comparison patients make when considering volume restoration. Both have genuine merits — the right choice depends on your goals, the extent of volume loss, your preference for permanence, and your relationship with recovery time.
| Facial Fat Grafting | Dermal Fillers | |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Your own fat — biocompatible, no allergy risk | Hyaluronic acid (HA) or biostimulatory filler (Sculptra, Radiesse) |
| Longevity | Surviving fat is permanent. Initial 20-40% resorption expected; result stable at 3 months | HA: 12-18 months. Sculptra/Radiesse: 18-24 months. Requires repeat treatments |
| Volume restoration | Excellent — multiple areas, multiple depths in one session. Reconstructs facial fat compartments | Good for targeted areas; limited by product consistency and safe volume per session |
| Skin quality improvement | Yes — nanofat component improves skin texture, pigmentation, fine lines and thickness | Some biostimulatory fillers stimulate collagen. HA fillers do not improve skin quality directly |
| Reversibility | Not reversible — fat integrates permanently | HA filler reversible with hyaluronidase. Sculptra/Radiesse not reversible |
| Downtime | 5 to 7 days for significant swelling; 2 to 3 weeks for full presentability | Minimal — 1 to 3 days bruising/swelling |
| Best for | Moderate to significant volume loss; patients wanting permanent result; combined with facelift; scar improvement | Early or mild volume loss; patients wanting reversibility; maintaining a previous fat graft result |
| Cumulative cost | One-time surgical cost — no repeat treatments needed for the fat that survives | Repeated every 12-24 months — cumulative cost often exceeds fat grafting over 5-10 years |
Many patients who have been using fillers for several years find that the cumulative cost, the repeat appointments, and the incremental volume additions of filler amount to more disruption and expense than a single fat grafting procedure. Dr. Pinky will help you assess whether you are at the stage where fat grafting is the more appropriate long-term solution.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Facial Fat Grafting?
- Visible facial volume loss — hollow cheeks, sunken temples, tear trough hollowing, or a generally deflated, gaunt facial appearance caused by ageing, significant weight loss, or genetics.
- Patients seeking a permanent, natural result — those who want lasting volumisation without foreign material and without repeated treatment sessions.
- Sufficient donor fat — a small amount of fat is needed from the abdomen or thighs. Even lean patients usually have enough for facial fat grafting — the volumes required for the face are modest (typically 20 to 40 ml total).
- Patients having facelift surgery — fat grafting is an ideal complement to facelift surgery. The lift addresses tissue descent; the fat grafting addresses volume loss. Together they produce the most complete facial rejuvenation available.
- Patients wanting skin quality improvement — the nanofat component specifically improves skin quality and is suitable for patients with thin, crepey, or pigmented facial skin regardless of whether significant volume restoration is also needed.
- Good general health — no uncontrolled medical conditions affecting healing. Non-smoker or willing to stop — smoking significantly impairs fat graft survival.
- Stable body weight — weight fluctuations after fat grafting affect the result. Patients should be at a stable, comfortable weight before the procedure.
- Realistic expectations — fat grafting restores facial volume naturally. An initial 20 to 40% fat resorption is expected; the result at 3 months is the stable, long-lasting result. A small proportion of patients may benefit from a top-up session if more volume is needed after full stabilisation.
Even very lean patients typically have sufficient donor fat for facial grafting — the face requires only 20 to 40 ml, which is a very modest amount. Patients who are genuinely extremely lean (BMI under 18) may be assessed on an individual basis to confirm adequate donor fat availability.
What Happens During Facial Fat Grafting — Step by Step
Step 1 — Consultation and facial fat compartment mapping
Dr. Pinky examines the face with specific attention to the fat compartments — assessing the depth and extent of volume loss in each zone (temples, under-eyes, cheeks, perioral area, chin), evaluating skin quality, and identifying areas where nanofat's regenerative effect will be most beneficial. She discusses your goals, recommends which areas to treat, and sets realistic expectations for the result. If fat grafting is being planned alongside a facelift or other facial procedure, the combination plan is discussed in detail.
Step 2 — Anaesthesia
For a full-face fat grafting procedure covering multiple areas, local anaesthesia with intravenous sedation or general anaesthesia is used for patient comfort. For smaller, targeted procedures (single area such as under-eye nanofat alone), local anaesthesia may be sufficient. Dr. Pinky will advise on the most appropriate anaesthetic approach for your specific procedure plan.
Step 3 — Fat harvest
A small volume of fat — typically 40 to 80 ml of aspirate, yielding approximately 20 to 40 ml of usable processed fat — is harvested from the donor site (abdomen most commonly, inner thigh as an alternative) using a fine, blunt-tipped cannula and gentle suction. The low-trauma harvesting technique is important — vigorous mechanical liposuction destroys fat cells; gentle suction preserves them.
Step 4 — Processing
The harvested fat is processed immediately. For macro and micro fat: centrifugation separates viable fat cells from oil, blood, and debris. For nanofat: the processed fat is further emulsified through a series of fine filters until it becomes the SVF-rich nanofat suspension. The processing is done in a closed, sterile system to protect viability.
Step 5 — Injection
The processed fat is loaded into fine syringes and injected into the face using blunt-tipped micro-cannulas. The key to fat grafting success is injection technique: fat is placed in small, individual passes at different depths — never in large boluses — so that each micro-droplet of fat is surrounded by vascularised tissue from which it can receive the blood supply it needs to survive. Multiple passes, multiple depths, small volumes per pass — this is what produces smooth, natural, long-lasting results.
Step 6 — Recovery
Swelling is the primary recovery experience after facial fat grafting. The face will look noticeably fuller immediately after the procedure — significantly more so than the intended final result, because of procedural swelling and the over-correction needed to account for the expected 20 to 40% resorption. Most swelling resolves over 2 to 3 weeks. Social presentability for most patients is achieved at 2 weeks. Exercise and strenuous activity resumes at 3 to 4 weeks. The final, stable result is assessed at 3 months — this is when Dr. Pinky evaluates whether any top-up is beneficial.
What Are the Risks of Facial Fat Grafting?
- Variable fat survival (20–40% resorption) — the most important thing to understand about facial fat grafting. Not all transferred fat survives — an initial resorption of 20 to 40% is expected over the first 3 months. This is factored into the procedure by a slight over-correction at the time of surgery. The result at 3 months is the stable, long-term result. A top-up session may be needed for some patients.
- Swelling — significant facial swelling is expected for the first 1 to 2 weeks. The face looks considerably fuller immediately after surgery than the final result will be. This resolves gradually and can be anticipated.
- Bruising — at both the donor site (abdomen or thigh) and the facial injection sites. Resolves within 1 to 2 weeks.
- Asymmetry — minor differences in fat survival between the two sides of the face can occasionally produce subtle asymmetry. Addressed in a top-up session at 3 months if significant.
- Irregularity or lumpiness — uncommon with micro-droplet injection technique. More likely with large-volume bolus injections — which is why injection technique is critical.
- Cyst formation — in rare cases, an oil cyst (from non-surviving fat) can form. Small cysts typically resolve on their own; larger ones may require aspiration.
- Infection — uncommon; managed with antibiotics.
- Donor site — the liposuction donor site may have bruising, temporary numbness, or minor contour irregularity. With the small volumes required for facial grafting, donor site effects are typically minimal.
- Vision loss (rare, catastrophic) — intravascular injection of fat near the eye can, in rare cases, cause vision impairment. Extremely rare when injections are performed with blunt cannulas by an experienced surgeon who understands periorbital vascular anatomy. This risk is stated because honesty in risk disclosure is non-negotiable.
Fat grafting results are technique-dependent to a greater degree than almost any other facial procedure. The combination of low-trauma harvest, proper processing, and micro-droplet injection at the correct anatomical depth is what produces smooth, long-lasting results and minimises the risks above. This is the approach used at Pink Apple Aesthetics.
Planning for Face Fat Grafting Surgery?
Discover a breakdown of costs, payment options, and the treatment timeline—all in one place. Let us help you make informed decisions with confidence!
Facial Fat Grafting Before & After Results
Results shown are from actual patients of Dr. Pinky Devi Ayyappan at Pink Apple Aesthetics, Bangalore. Individual outcomes vary based on facial anatomy, degree of volume loss, fat survival, areas treated, and specific goals discussed at consultation. All images are shared with patient consent.
Why Choose Dr. Pinky Devi Ayyappan for Facial Fat Grafting?
Fat grafting results vary enormously between surgeons — not because the concept is unreliable, but because fat survival depends entirely on harvesting technique, processing method, injection technique, and the precision with which the fat is placed. Studies show that fat survival can range from as low as 20% to as high as 80% depending on the surgical technique used. The surgeon’s training and specific experience with fat grafting directly determines the quality and longevity of the result.
- Trained by the originators of nanofat grafting — Dr. Pinky's DAFPRS Fellowship in Belgium was completed under Dr. Patrick Tonnard and Dr. Alexis Verpaele — the surgeons who invented and published the nanofat grafting technique in 2013. Being trained at the source of this technique, with the surgeons who developed it, means Dr. Pinky performs nanofat grafting using the methods that produced the clinical evidence base for the procedure.
- MCh (Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery) — India's highest postgraduate qualification in plastic surgery. Formal training in facial anatomy including fat compartment anatomy, liposuction technique, and reconstructive fat grafting.
- Facial Aesthetic Surgery Fellowship — Seoul, South Korea — additional facial aesthetic training including fat compartment approaches for Asian anatomies.
- Observership — Dr. Giovanni Botti, Italy — further exposure to advanced European facial fat restoration techniques.
- Micro-droplet injection technique — Dr. Pinky uses fine cannulas and multi-pass injection strategy to maximise fat cell survival and produce smooth, natural contouring — not a bolus injection approach.
- Combined micro fat and nanofat approach — where indicated, Dr. Pinky uses both micro fat (volume) and nanofat (regeneration) in the same session for the most comprehensive result.
- 4.9 stars from 191+ verified Google reviews — consistent, trusted outcomes.
- Times of India Top Brand 2024 — independently recognised among Bangalore's leading aesthetic clinics.
Facial Fat Grafting — Frequently Asked Questions
Does facial fat grafting last permanently?
The fat cells that successfully integrate into the facial tissue are permanent — they develop their own blood supply and behave exactly like the fat that was always there. The nuance is that not all transferred fat survives: an initial 20 to 40% resorption is expected in the first 3 months. After the 3-month mark, the surviving fat is stable and does not continue to reduce. Most patients with good technique and adequate over-correction at the time of surgery are satisfied with the result at 3 months without needing a top-up. Maintaining a stable weight preserves the result long-term.
What is the difference between nanofat and regular fat grafting?
Regular fat grafting (macro or micro fat) transfers intact fat cells to restore volume — the fat cells survive, develop blood supply, and provide lasting plumpness to the treated area. Nanofat is created by mechanically emulsifying the fat until all the intact fat cells are destroyed — what remains is the stromal vascular fraction (SVF), rich in adipose-derived stem cells, growth factors, and cytokines. Nanofat does not add volume — it improves skin quality by stimulating collagen production, neovascularisation, and skin regeneration. Nanofat was developed by Dr. Patrick Tonnard and Dr. Alexis Verpaele in Belgium in 2013. Dr. Pinky trained directly under these surgeons.
Who invented nanofat grafting?
Nanofat grafting was developed and first published by Dr. Patrick Tonnard and Dr. Alexis Verpaele, facial plastic surgeons based in Ghent, Belgium, in a landmark paper in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in 2013. Their technique — mechanically emulsifying harvested fat to produce a stem cell-rich, injectable suspension — has since become widely adopted in facial rejuvenation surgery globally. Dr. Pinky completed her DAFPRS Fellowship under Dr. Tonnard and Dr. Verpaele in Belgium, giving her direct training in this technique from its originators.
Can fat grafting improve dark circles under the eyes?
Yes — and it is one of the most effective treatments for age-related tear trough hollowing and the associated dark appearance. The darkness of the tear trough has two components: the shadow created by the hollow itself, and the dark pigmentation of the thin skin above the hollow. Nanofat grafting specifically addresses both: micro fat at the deep orbital rim level reduces the structural hollow, while nanofat injected superficially into the tear trough skin improves its quality, thickness, and pigmentation. The result is a brighter, smoother, less tired-looking under-eye area.
Is there a visible scar after facial fat grafting?
No visible scar on the face. Fat is injected through tiny needle punctures (1 to 2 mm) that leave no perceptible mark once healed. The donor site incisions for fat harvest are similarly small — 2 to 3 mm — and placed in concealed positions on the abdomen or inner thigh, healing to essentially invisible marks.
How long is recovery after facial fat grafting?
Most patients experience significant facial swelling for the first 1 to 2 weeks. By 2 weeks, most are comfortable returning to work and social situations. By 3 to 4 weeks, exercise and physical activity resumes. The final, settled result is assessed at 3 months — this is when all swelling has resolved and the fat resorption has stabilised. Patients typically look better and better from 2 weeks onwards as the swelling reduces, but the final result should not be judged until 3 months.
Can facial fat grafting be combined with a facelift?
Yes — and this combination is strongly considered for patients who have both descent of facial tissues and volume loss. A facelift lifts and repositions descended tissues; fat grafting restores the volume that has been lost. Without volume restoration, a facelift alone can produce an unnaturally tight result — a lifted but hollow face. With fat grafting, the result is a face that is lifted, full, and naturally youthful. Performing both in the same session is efficient and produces the most coordinated result.
How much donor fat is needed? What if I'm lean?
Facial fat grafting requires only 20 to 40 ml of processed fat — a very modest volume. The harvesting process typically requires aspirating 40 to 80 ml total to yield this usable amount after processing. Most patients — including those who are quite lean — have adequate donor fat in the abdomen or inner thighs for facial grafting. Patients who are extremely thin (BMI under 18) may be assessed individually to confirm donor availability. For very lean patients, the inner knee and posterior thigh are alternative donor sites.
