There might be a cause for concern, but it is too early to tell.

Reza Nabavian, MD answers: Should I be concerned with eye bags or puffiness after fat transfer?

Two weeks ago, I had fat transfer/fat grafting on my under eye area-primarily on the area at the corner of the eye. This was suggested to me by my doctor who showed me how it would give my eye a nice contour. He also showed me many photos of patients whom he had done this procedure and I met two of his patients in person who had great results.

Two weeks after my procedure, a lot of the swelling has resolved and now I have big puffy bags under my eyes. They also appear to look the same as they did one week ago which makes me think what I am left with is just fat and not swelling. The under eye bags are soft to the touch except for one area that is a little more puffy and has some tiny, soft lumps under it.

While I am confident in my surgeon, I am concerned that I may not have been a good candidate for this procedure, and these under eye bags were never mentioned to me as a possible side effect. In fact, the only information I have found about under eye bags created by fat grafts appear to be the result of fat grafts gone wrong. Is this a common side effect or do I have cause for concern?


Reza Nabavian, MD
3 months ago
By Reza Nabavian, MD - Santa Monica Plastic Surgeon

Fat grafting can take longer than two weeks to stabilize.  Your surgeon should be able to advise you if he thinks your progress is within the norm.  Slight irregularity and small bumps may be a transient process.  I generally ask my patients to tape and massage the area.

If a patient has persistent irregularity or bumps after waiting a reasonable amount of time, then you can consider revision.  Persistent areas of scarring after surgery may respond to corticosteroid injection.  Persistent fat bumps can be considered for removal, either directly or through small cannula suction.

It sounds like you are under the care of a competent surgeon who should be able to advise you properly.

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