How Much Does Facial Fat Transfer Cost?

Facial fat transfer costs $5,000 on average, according to 737 patient reviews on RealSelf, but the price can range as high as $15,000. This is an elective cosmetic procedure, so insurance doesn’t cover it. 

Also called facial fat grafting, this multi-step cosmetic surgery procedure involves: 

1. removing excess fat from another area of the body via liposuction (the hips, flanks, and lower abdomen are common donor sites)
2. processing the fat to ensure it’s clean
3. injecting it into select areas of the face

The fat can be processed into microfat or nanofat. The former lends facial volume (to flattened cheeks and sunken temples, for instance), while the latter improves skin quality—thickening and brightening the skin, due in large part to stem cells in the mix—which is why doctors love to use nanofat under the eyes, especially. 

Nanofat can also be stamped into the skin to reduce the appearance of scars and creases, like upper lip lines and marionette lines.

Because facial fat transfer uses your own fat to treat volume loss, some consider it to be a natural alternative to synthetic dermal fillers—one that produces long-lasting results. That said, body fat behaves differently than facial fat—vacillating with weight fluctuations—so some argue that it’s not truly a natural substitute for what’s been lost.

Read on to find out what the total price includes, why it can vary so much, and whether real patients think their results were worth the investment.

Related: Everything You Need to Know About Facial Fat Transfer

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What should your price quote include?

During your initial consultation with a surgeon, ask them to map out a comprehensive treatment plan and provide an all-in price quote that includes:

• The surgeon’s fee
• Local anesthesia and, possibly, a sedative (or general anesthesia or IV sedation if you’re pairing facial fat injections with another procedure, like a facelift)
• Facility fees for the hospital or surgery center
• Any lab work and medical tests
• Any follow-up appointments
• Recovery supplies, such as a compression garment (if you’re having a significant amount of liposuction)

If any of those line items aren’t included in your doctor’s estimate, you’ll still need to factor them into your total budget.

Why do facial fat grafting costs vary?

The cost of facial fat transfer can vary by thousands of dollars. These are the biggest factors that will impact the price you pay.

1. The complexity of your procedure

Fat transfer costs increase with the volume of fat harvested and transferred, as well as the number of areas where it’s injected. 

Common areas for facial fat injections include:

• Temples
• Upper and lower eyelids
• The cheekbones and cheek hollows
• The preauricular area (in front of the ears)
• The chin
• Etched wrinkles, like marionette lines, crow’s feet, and lip lines
• Scars

Full facial rejuvenation will be much more expensive than injections in one or two specific areas, simply because it takes more time to complete a more extensive procedure. 

“At our practice, we charge by the milliliter of fat that is transferred up to a certain amount,” says Dr. Benjamin Caughlin, a facial plastic surgeon in Chicago. “For instance, 1 mL of fat to transfer is $900. For a full facial rejuvenation, we typically require anywhere from 25-45mL of fat, so in that case, we offer a flat rate of $4,500.”

Surgeons also follow different processing protocols and rely on different tools for purification and filtration—some being more sophisticated and costly than others. 

“The success of fat transfer depends on the technique of harvest, the purification of fat cells/stem cells, and the technique of reinjection,” says San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Salvatore Pacella. “Fat that is simply removed and reinjected without purification usually does not last.” The purification method that’s used can impact your price.

Gentle handling of the fat is key to successful “take” or tissue survival, surgeons say, so proper technique and equipment must be used throughout the facial fat grafting process. This may include specialized harvesting devices like BeautiFill, as well as cannulas that deposit only the tiniest parcels of fat. Precision tools can influence the price of your procedure.

2. Whether it’s a standalone or add-on procedure

Not all plastic surgeons offer facial fat transfer as a standalone procedure, and those who do will generally charge a higher fee for fat grafting in isolation versus fat grafting as part of a larger surgical procedure, like a blepharoplasty, brow lift, or facelift. 

In fact, some plastic surgeons include fat transfer at no extra charge when performing other facial plastic surgeries, viewing the procedure as a non-negotiable finishing touch for patients who can really benefit from it.

3. Whether you need more than one fat grafting procedure

Only about 50% of the transferred fat survives long-term, so you may want an additional transfer procedure to achieve your desired outcome. 

Even if you have more than one procedure, it could still be more cost-effective, long-term, than an ongoing series of temporary filler injections (depending on the size of the treatment area). Once you’re happy with your facial fat transfer results, they will be long-lasting: the surviving fat cells will live on as part of your body.

4. Your doctor’s qualifications and expertise 

Unlike noninvasive dermal filler injections (which are routinely done by nurses and physician assistants), facial fat grafting is surgery. It should be performed only by board-certified plastic surgeons, facial plastic surgeons, oculoplastic surgeons, or dermatologic surgeons.

Providers with more impressive credentials, years or decades of experience, and an extensive gallery of before and after photos will undoubtedly charge more than those with less expertise, but that could be money well spent. This procedure takes precision to create an optimal result, so choose your provider carefully. 

5. Where your procedure is performed

As with all aesthetic procedures, geography influences the cost of fat transfer: medical practices in areas with higher costs of living typically charge more. Prices can vary even by neighborhood, so it may be worth your time to get personalized treatment plans and price quotes from qualified doctors in different parts of town, especially outside the downtown core. 

The type of surgical facility can also impact fat transfer prices. Lipo and facial fat transfer must be performed in an operating room, not an exam room. (That’s another reason the procedure is far more costly than temporary injectable fillers, which can be administered in-office.) 

Your surgeon’s own private surgery center will probably charge a lower facility fee than a hospital.

6. The type of anesthesia you have, and who administers it

When performed as a standalone procedure, facial fat transfer is typically performed with local anesthesia, possibly with an oral sedative to relax you (for an additional charge). Both of these options can be administered by your surgeon or a member of their staff, so this is the most cost-effective option.

If fat grafting is done at the same time as facial plastic surgery procedures, like a facelift or eyelid surgery, patients are commonly given general anesthesia or IV sedation. Either of these options has to be administered by an anesthesiologist (an MD) or a nurse anesthetist (CRNA), which adds fees for their services and anesthesia supplies to your total bill. Anesthesiologists charge higher fees because of their advanced training.

Is facial fat transfer worth the money?

Facial fat transfer has an 85% Worth It Rating from patient reviews on RealSelf. So while most were satisfied with their results, not everyone was happy with their investment. 

Those who say it was worth it report long-lasting results and natural-looking volume. Many also note skin-rejuvenation benefits, enhanced facial proportions, a more youthful look, and a boost in confidence.

Among those who say it wasn’t worth what they paid, common complaints include uneven and distorted features, complications like persistent lumps, and unanticipated side effects and outcomes, such as fat growth with weight gain. (An ideal candidate for facial fat grafting will be at a stable weight.)

Facial fat transfer results are permanent, but only about half of transferred fat establishes blood supply and survives the move. That makes outcomes somewhat unpredictable. An experienced surgeon will be able to mitigate this to some degree, but they won’t have as much control over the result as they would with synthetic dermal fillers. 

It’s also important to note that unlike hyaluronic acid fillers, fat lends more substance than shape. For example, it’s better for filling under-eye hollows or gaunt cheeks than defining a weak jawline.

Good candidates with realistic expectations about what fat can and can't do are less likely to be disappointed by their results.

Can you finance a facial fat transfer procedure?

Yes, most plastic surgeons offer payment plans or accept third-party financing options for this and other cosmetic procedures.

The CareCredit credit card is widely accepted by providers across the U.S., for both plastic surgery and nonsurgical procedures.

Facial fat transfer costs in U.S. states

Browse average facial fat transfer costs in U.S. states, according to recent RealSelf member reviews (as of July 2023). States not currently listed did not have enough data to include.

Facial fat transfer costs in major U.S. metros