How Long Will I Be Swollen from Fat Grafting?

Fat transfer is a fantastic technique to rejuevenate the face with natural appearing permanent volume.  It is personally my favored technique for facial rejuvenation.  

Advantages: no incisions, minimal pain, exceedingly rare risk of overcorrection, relatively permanent results in comparison to fillers, low rate of complications (as long as the fat is not injected too superfically!)

Disadvantages: trip to the operating room, cost is typically higher than fillers, 1-2 weeks of bruising, 3-6 weeks of swelling

One week after fat transfer is absolutely normal to have some bruising and apparently "over filled" cheeks.  It takes time for the fat grafts to settle down and for the inflammation (that causes the swelling) to subside.  Occasionally if patients are in need of a short term swelling fix for a social situation, a short dose of oral steroids (Medrol Dosepak) can be quite helpful.

Bottom line: be patient- your observations seem quite normal!


Good luck

More than likely, you will be swollen for a few weeks.Of course, it depends on how much fat you had transferred.  In cases where I inject 40-60 cc, patients may remain swollen for four weeks.  Over 80 cc and they may stay "puffy" even longer.  Depending on how you sleep and what you eat, your swelling will fluctuate.  It also depends on the area.  Temples don't swell as much as the lips, for instance.

Fat transfer is a wonderful way to naturally and beautifully restore lost facial volume. Although there are numerous options to revolumize, fat transfer has some major advantages: it is the longest lasting option to restore volume in the face, functioning essentially as native facial fat once it is transferred; it is your own fat being used, thus is 100% biocompatible; there is an abundant amount available on almost everybody, so there are no limitations to getting the volume you need and achieving full correction; fat is one of our best sources for stem cells, called adipocyte derived stem cells, which yield additional benefits due to the growth factors contained and their effects collateral tissue growth that extends well beyond just the zone of transferred fat, helping contribute to a global improvement in the facial aesthetic.
An extensive amount of planning goes into the fat transfer process, with a comprehensive look at the balance and proportion of the face being blended with the aging changes and anatomy of each individual patient.
The procedure itself is performed utilizing local anesthesia with or without sedation. Fat can be acquired from numerous sites, but choosing a site is usually best planned to help contour the body in the process, thus the abdomen, thighs, and waist are commonly utilized. 
After the fat is acquired, it is processed and prepared into micro- and/or nanofat, which have different properties and are chosen based on the desired areas to be treated. Transfer is then performed with blunt tipped cannulas, as opposed to needles. Different providers will likely have different processing protocols, but I prefer to maximize the stem cell content of my fat, further magnifying it’s benefit. This is a time-consuming and intricate process, thus some people take shortcuts, but the long-term benefits are well worth the extra effort in the preparation process. I also utilize other regenerative medicine modalities, such as platelet rich plasma, to improve the outcome from the fat transfer and expedite the recovery time.
Recovery from fat transfer includes swelling and some firmness that is subtle and can last several weeks to months after the procedure. The transferred fat establishes a blood supply in its new location, a very favorable process which contributes to that inflammation and swelling. 
It is key that the physician performing the fat transfer is well-versed in panfacial volumization, allowing an equal balance and harmony to be created and maintained in the face. Fat should not just be utilized in large volumes in a few spots, but instead utilized in strategic volumes over multiple areas of the aging face.
Overall, fat transfer provides an incredible option to restore volume that is very natural, long lasting and has the added benefit of a healthy dose of stem cells to rejuvenate aging tissues. 
To ensure you are receiving the highest level of care, seek out a modernly trained, new-school dermatologic surgeon, oculoplastic surgeon, facial plastic surgeon or plastic surgeon who is board certified and fellowship trained in one of these “core four” cosmetic specialties. Membership in organizations like the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery help to identify a highly trained surgeon.
Cameron Chesnut
#realself500 Physician