Fat Transfer Reviews
52%
WORTH IT RATING
"Worth It Rating" shows the % of consumer reviewers that stated the procedure was "Worth It" or not. See more RealSelf Worth It Ratings or Add Your Review
Fat Transferbefore & after photos
View Before and Afters

Average Fat Transfer Cost: $3,950

Learn about Fat Transfer

1,092 people and 473 doctors are talking about Fat Transfer

Get Free Email Updates

Poor Results from Fat Grafting Around Eyes - California

Not Worth It
Spent: $4,000 in California

Comments (23)

Updated 19 Jan 2010

Posted 18 Jan 2010

I had a fat grafting around my eyes over 5 months ago. The effect has been poor. One eye has triple creases while the crease on the other one is gone because of the puffiness caused by the drapping fat. The doctor told me fat transfer is not permanent and I would need to go back for a refill in 8 to 12 months. I do not plan to go back to that surgeon at all or getting another fat grafting.

Pro: Eye bags are gone

Con: Uneven upper lids, puffiness

I did it because the doctor insisted this is the procedure I should use for the result I wanted - fuller, rounder eyes

I just wanted to know if it is true that the fat will be desolved and I can at least get back my pre-surgery look? Or I should start researching for another surgeon to fix my eyes? Thanks

This review is the subjective opinion of a RealSelf member and not of RealSelf, Inc.

Helpful review?

Comments (23)

Post a Comment Sort:
Vickisue (RealFriend) 27 Jan 2010
Hello, I think you look beautiful. You are young and that always bothers me. Plastic Surgery is aimed at the younger clientele, every year. It can destroy,deform your face as well as enhance it. I hope the younger people think twice before venturing into alterations of the face. Yes, Most fat injections or grafting are absorbed into your system over time. only about 10-20% stays. You can also massage the area and that helps with any lumping or evening out. Your eyes will return to there original state in time, (you got lucky) as your doctor stated. So stay beautiful and don't mess with what god gave you, until it really needs the help:)
yours2love 2 Mar 2010
Yes you truely are lovely! I'm 59 and just had a mid-plane face lift and wanted both my upper/lower lids done as well. MY Dr. suggested I have fat grafting as I had no bags, but lost volume in my checks and upper/lower lids. I'm 12 days into post op and my lids, directly under the brow look funny. Under my eyes-both are different, one puffier than the other, and hard. He's told me to "massage'the one eye, but now I'm nervous after reading a few of these posts! I am only 12 days into 5 facial procedures, and know it takes a good two to three months, but still, I wonder! Oh no! I was under the impression, fat grafting lasts as long as the other eye procedures hmmmmmmmmm!
Michelle 92122 23 Apr 2010
Hi, I just had fat grafting done in conjunction with a FL 12 days ago (Dr. suggested it) and I wish I hadn't. Extreme swelling and bruising, plus a lump under one eye. Has yours resolved? I'm kicking myself because this was an afterthought, it sounded like a good idea since I was doing the other anyway, but it's been the worst part of my healing. I'd really like to hear how you look now under the eyes. Thanks!
yours2love 16 Oct 2010
Hi, If you are refering to me(yours2love), it's been 7 months or so now and my Dr. suggested after one year to revise my eyes in 2/2011/(as he states, I'm the 1% that didn't do well w/this type of surgery) and my neck(not enough skin removed). He has told me it is his responsibility to correct($$$$), and is happy to do so(this surgery is not an exact science-my words not his-but understood-read between the lines so to speak).
I do look approx 10 yrs younger, changed my hair color,style and people tell me I look great w/out knowing why BUT- I wear glasses when I out to cover the double blugdles under my eyes and my(gobble-gobble) semi- turkey neck is only 50% better on one side and the other 30%.
I have the utmost faith in my Dr. and would highly recommend him to others. He excells in reconstructive surgery with patients with facial( predominatelty all he performs) deformities!
venusecret 11 Mar 2010
try the cincinnati facial plastic surgery. they have a good doctor who specializes in fat-transfer. I have had it done and so far so good.they also have a website.
Robert T (RealFriend) 16 Oct 2010
Are you wearing colored contacts?

Blue eyes in first photo
and brown in second.

Also Olive skin in the second photo???
yours2love 16 Oct 2010
Huh? Wowie, wow,wow. If that's all you see in those photos- it says a great deal. Thanks in behalf of her :)
Robert T (RealFriend) 16 Oct 2010
I see the bad after photo. Yes that's obvious that there is a problem.

The first photo and 2nd photo though are QUITE different in other parts.


Olive skin to white skin

Blue eyes to brown eyes.

eyebrows have a slightly different shape (which I admit could be the angle of the photographs)

I've known plenty of businesses who will post negative reviews of competitors. Something is off on this review and hence challenging it.

Your2love This website would benefit from you posting your OWN review. You've been commenting on everybody else's review yet have none of your own.
Gogi 16 Oct 2010
Both are real me. I understand you are trying to be fair but at the same time I am sure I am sure you wouldn't said those things if you were a woman. First of all, It is so easy to change skin tone color for the fact that first of all, Asian get tanned easily and secondly. First pic was me in my swimming suit in summer. Second pic was me after the surgery in JANUARY! Plus, one is outdoor lighting and the second is indoor with flash. Yes, I am was wearing color contact lens. Like I said, I am an Asian,,,don't think Asian have natural blue eyes, right?

Eyebrows change shape when you have different people pluge and trim for you..simple cosmetic effect every woman would know..but then you are a guy...so I understand.

However, thank you for noticing that...the fat graft ing CHANGED my eye shape IN A BAD WAY!!!!!!

Thank you Yours2love for defending for me. I stand by all my comments. I am a real patient, real victim. Please don't imply I was making this up. I have suffered enough to have to endure your accusation.
Lincoln9542 13 Sep 2011
-:- Message from RealSelf staff -:-

This comment does not follow our Community Guidelines and/or Terms of Service. We reserve the right to remove any post for any reason.
Portland3931 13 Sep 2011
Lincoln, what is the matter with you? People seek cosmetic surgery for many, many different reasons. You have no idea what motivated this young woman. Since her results were not satisfactory she deserves sympathy not contempt. Go hang out on some other blogs, you jerk.
Lincoln9542 13 Sep 2011
-:- Message from RealSelf staff -:-

This comment does not follow our Community Guidelines and/or Terms of Service. We reserve the right to remove any post for any reason.
Gogi 14 Sep 2011
Thank you Portland3931. I appreciate your kindness and sympathy. As for the person below you whom didn't deserve a proper response. All I have to say is that jumpinp into conclusion when one tries to attack other really won't land your feet nicely. I am over 40's but thanks for GUESSING I was 27. Why 27? Why not 26? or 28? Ha! Funny how you GUESSED again I was spoiled brat. I worked hard, supported myself through college and I never spent my parents a penny since I was 19. Never lived off a man. Worked hard and saved enough to purchase my FIRST property by myself at the age of 27. And oh...I paid for my surgery. Spoiled brat? me? haha what a joke. Thanks for the laugh.

And to anyone else who are reading this to for the purpose of research for your surgury decisions. This is my reason of posting my experience here. Not for sumpathy. I owned it up that it was my poor decision to let the doctor convince me fat grafting was the way to go. My decision, my consequences to bear and I did. I appreciate anyone's sympathy but that is what I am looking for. I posted here because I want to share what I know and hopefully help the next person who is trying to make a decision wiser than mine.
Portland3931 14 Sep 2011
That is exactly why I post, too; to help others make an informed decision and to be forewarned that things may not turn out as the doctor and the plastic surgery industry has stated and/or implied it would. Power to the consumer! ;)
Robert T (RealFriend) 16 Oct 2010
Sorry didn't mean to come off as an attack.

All I did was asking questions of things that weren't clear. It was asking for a clarification.
Gogi 20 Oct 2010
Robert, I think I also over reacted too. I also need to apologize :) I am quite emotional with the situation, please pardon me for being defensive.
Robert T (RealFriend) 21 Oct 2010
I understand.

Yours2love wasn't the most helpful as she kinda added gasoline to a fire.


I don't think you needed it on the upper eyes at all. Gravity takes care of that area already it's not normally an area fat is injected to.


A second fat transfer or an Upper Eyelid Surgery ie (Blepharoplasty)
or a MICRO liposuction would take care of it.

I think a micro liposuction with a slight fat transfer would be best bet.

(I'm not a plastic surgeon though I just study it too much) I can recommend somebody in Southern CA if you want. A doctor I heavily trust in on my review and the doctor who has worked on my girlfriend (different one I can also recommend)

Another suggestion is use this site and have a few doctors answer questions about your eyes. How to fix things?

Hope you are smiling soon.
God Bless.
yours2love 8 Apr 2011
I'm sorry as well! I'm also very emotional and upset. When I read Gogi's post, it remimded me of my own misfurtune with the same procedure. I have posted on the venue many times.
It has be in excess of 14 months since my upper and lower fat grafts to upper and lower eyes. I look as though I need to have my lower eyes done, they are awful and If been walking around with glasses for 14 months to hide them. I now live with buldges of fat and bags under my eyes which were not there prior to surgery. The Dr. now tellls me how GOOD I look PLEEEEEZE! And says he does not want to cut under the eye to remove the excess skin. So, where does that leave me? I went to my eye dr. Who does cosmetic surgery for the eye and he doesn't even know or dare to fix it. I have 2 other drs. to consult with and then, who knows, maybe I should have left well enough alone...... I'm so sad over this
Good face gone bad (RealFriend) 3 Dec 2010
Did things improve for you at all from the time of your initial post? I sympathize with your plight. I went to a well-regarded doctor in CA and yet, I am five months post fat transfer and very, very sad. I was swollen for 4 months solid and still have a little bit left. I look so stuffed by the nose, undereye and tear trough. No one tells me I'm pretty anymore or that I have beautiful eyes - perhaps because I hide them behind my hair so no one sees the irregularities. They just notice this rather unnatural effectin the cheek area.I had just wanted a little fill under the eyes and instead, the doctor determined that I needed this extra volume that wasn't there before.I liked the face I was used to.I don't feel right in this new face and I do have some lumps that require much more filler just to attempt to fix. I wish you the best of luck, but encourage people to be very, very careful with this procedure. It's so unpredictable.
Gogi 9 Apr 2011
@Goodfacegonebad: I am sorry for not replying. Somehow I missed the email notification of your post. I did find a different doctor. It was last June. He fixed me. I can't say I am 100% how I want it but close enough. Like you said, people need to be very, very careful with this procedure. My first doctor told me the effect is not permanent as the fat will dissolve in 6 to 12 months. This is not true. Not to me at least. I waited for 8 months, seeing the fat is still there (I can actually jiggle the fat underneath the skin with my finger!!) and decided to go for a second procedure to get it fixed. The second doctor who fixed me took out the fat graft for me. I heard the nurse asked which was the natural fat and which was the fat graft. Doc told her the yellowish ones are the fat graft (kind of weird to hear people discussing it when they were operating you lol) Anyway, I am happier now. Not 100% but I have to be "Glass Half Full"...The second doctor didn't go in to take out the fat injected under eye. But since it have been almost two years now, most of the fat is gone. However it actually left me a weird hallow concave under my eyes which were accentuated by the still swollen high cheekbone area. :(

Yours2love and Goodfacegonebad: Wishing both of you best of luck that you will find a fix.
Man on Mars_74 11 Aug 2011
I understand Robert : the two pictures really look like two different persons, I must admit.
I'm glad you, more or less, managed to remove that fat from your eye. What i don't understand which is the eye you are complaing about of the two, sure they are not symetrical :-( It looks to me like if your right eyebrow is fuller (i guess it's the fat graft - that looks good to me)while the left one junction between eyelid and eyebrow were not filled up enough.
Robert said "I don't think you needed it on the upper eyes at all. Gravity takes care of that area already it's not normally an area fat is injected to."
God, how untrue ! I LOVE full and fatty eyebrows that show very little eyelid, mine is not like that and the older i grow, the skinnier this part get, it looks like if my eyes have started sinking into the orbit, it gives you a "skeleton glance". Trouble is that "hollow eyes" are not easy to be treated and fat transfer and hyaluronic acid are the only solutions, but still risky. Honestly, i prefer by far a droopy upper eye-lid !
popthehood 28 Oct 2011
The pictures don't look too different if you consider the proportions, the eye with triple crease, and nose bridge. DUH!
Thanks2012 20 May 2012
So you had a a second procedure done? Asian with olive blue eyes whatever your still pretty and if it makes you happy I'm thinking of getting this procedure I've heard good results but still but yours is in Cali and I live there as well Palmdale and I'm in the same boat

Post a Comment

used for verification

Read more Fat Transfer reviews