Beverly Hills · Century City
M.D., F.A.C.S. — Facial Plastic Surgery
“Natural facial volume restoration using your own living tissue”
Facial fat transfer (autologous fat grafting) harvests fat from the patient's own body, purifies it, and precisely injects it into areas of facial volume loss. Because the material is the patient's own living tissue, results integrate naturally with the face. Dr. Carlo Honrado performs facial fat grafting in Beverly Hills and Century City using low-trauma harvest and micro-injection techniques to maximize graft viability. Candidacy requires a formal consultation and facial assessment.
Procedure Overview
Recovery Begins
Days 1–7
Full Recovery
3–6 months
Technique
AUTOLOGOUS FAT GRAFTING
Performing Surgeon
Carlo Honrado, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Beverly Hills · Century City
Facial fat transfer — also called autologous fat grafting — is a procedure in which fat is gently harvested from the patient's own body (typically the abdomen, flanks, or thighs), purified, and precisely injected into areas of the face that have lost volume due to aging, weight loss, or structural deficiency. Because the material used is entirely the patient's own living tissue, fat grafting produces results that integrate naturally with the face — with a feel and appearance that is indistinguishable from native soft tissue.
Dr. Honrado's approach to facial fat grafting is guided by his understanding of three-dimensional facial anatomy developed through his training in both facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. Fat is harvested using a low-trauma technique to maximize fat cell viability. Purification is performed by centrifugation. Injection is performed in small, precise aliquots using micro-injection techniques to distribute the fat evenly through multiple anatomical layers — improving graft take and minimizing surface irregularities.
Fat transfer may address midface and cheek volume loss, under-eye hollowing and tear trough depression, temple volume loss, deepened nasolabial folds, thin lips (when combined with lip augmentation), jawline volume, facial asymmetry from volume discrepancy, and areas of structural volume deficiency not well addressed by fillers alone. Because transferred fat contains stem cells and growth factors, it may also improve the quality of the overlying skin over time.
Candidacy for fat transfer depends on the degree of facial volume loss, available donor fat, and overall health. Patients should be non-smokers, in good overall health, and have realistic expectations about the natural variability in fat retention. A formal consultation and facial assessment are required to determine whether fat grafting alone or in combination with other procedures is the most appropriate approach.
First week
Days 1–7
Significant swelling and bruising are expected at both the donor harvest site and the facial injection sites. Most patients plan a full week at home during the initial healing phase. Head elevation is recommended.
Weeks 2–4
Weeks 2–4
Swelling progressively resolves. Most patients are comfortable in social settings by two to three weeks. Bruising typically resolves within 7–14 days. The face may initially appear overfilled as some fat is reabsorbed during healing.
Final result
3–6 months
Approximately 40–70% of transferred fat typically survives long-term. Fat that does survive becomes a permanent part of the facial tissue. Final volume and contour become apparent at 3–6 months as the swelling fully resolves and the surviving fat integrates.
Next Step
A formal consultation with Dr. Honrado allows for personalized assessment of your anatomy, goals, and the most appropriate surgical plan.
Book a ConsultationContent reviewed by Carlo Honrado, M.D., F.A.C.S. · 2026-05-16
