How long does swelling from fat graft last? 3 weeks post-op.

Dear haylieplum,

Thank you for your question. Facial swelling after fat transfer can take up to weeks to months to resolve. It also depends on how much fat injection your surgeon performed. I recommend you call or see you surgeon to further discuss your concerns. They may be able to offer additional treatment options to help decrease the swelling sooner. 

Swelling can last 3-6 months after fat transfer. I recommend prp to help improve final results. Icing the area, predisone, ibuoprofen and venus legacy treatments can help reduce swelling. See an expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Dear haylieplum,3 weeks after the surgery, swelling can still be present. But it is hard to tell for sure without an examination. It would be the best to follow your surgeon's instructions and in case of any concern discuss it with him/her. Daniel Barrett, MD, MHA, MS 
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery  
Member, Am. Society of Plastic Surgery

Swelling from a fat transfer can last anywhere between 3 to 6 months. You can also expect some reduction in volume as your body will absorb some of the fat from the fat grafting. Patients are over injected for this reason. A combination of icing, prednisone, and ibuprofen can help to reduce some of the swelling. Reduction in the amount of fat varies from patient to patient. 

It is still common to have swelling from fat transfer at 3 weeks. The swelling will continue to resolve over the next 3 months.  With most fat transfer, some of the fat grafting will not last, so you can also expect some reduction in volume of the fat over the next 3 months from fat loss. Typically this is around 30% reduction, but can vary per patient.