18 May 2026 | by Akshay Sanan, MD, FACS
Facial aging is always multi-factorial. Volume loss, however, is one of the earliest and main contributors. If you had a round, baby face when you were younger, you may fare better than someone who did not. But at a certain point, your face will no longer be as plump. Fine lines and wrinkles, sunken cheeks and temples, drooping skin at the skin/neck juncture and hollows under the eyes are common side effects of the inevitable loss in volume that occurs for all us with time. Dermal fillers are often a go-to procedure for many to reverse some of this loss. But not everyone likes the idea of using a synthetic product, no matter how safe. Furthermore, there are certain benefits to choosing facial fat grafting to address volume loss. As a Double Board-Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon, I have extensive experience in all areas of facial rejuvenation. I will use facial fat grafting as a stand-alone procedure, but also in conjunction with a facelift or neck lift in order create proper proportion among all your facial features.
What is Facial Fat Grafting?
Facial fat grafting is a natural approach to restore lost volume by using your own fat cells. As we age, everyone’s face gradually loses volume in areas such as:
• Mid-face/cheeks
• Temples
• Under eyes
When the middle of your face/cheeks lose their plumpness, this lack of structure can have an adverse affect on the skin and tissues around your mouth and jawline. Fat grafting to the face can be an excellent first step for improving tone in the lower face for anyone with mild to moderate skin laxity who may not be ready for or want a facelift. A hollowing at the temples can also change your facial proportion so re-plumping this area may provide a “lift” both physically and emotionally. Hollow areas under the eyes are often age-related although some patients simply have a genetic predisposition. Filling in this area with an appropriate amount of fat is a pretty simple way to rejuvenate the entire eye area.
Benefits of Facial Fat Grafting in Boston
There are numerous benefits to choosing facial fat grafting to improve volume loss. These include:
• Biocompatible so minimal risk of an adverse reaction
• Long lasting results
• Improves skin quality and texture
• Safe
• Effective
Facial fat grafting can be an effective procedure for improving some of the changes that occur with age while maintaining your natural facial movement and expression. Since this fat is harvested from your own body, there is very little risk of an adverse or allergic reaction. While restoring volume in the face doesn’t require a lot of fat, some patients do combine facial fat grafting with liposuction in order to get a 2 for 1 benefit. The results of using your own fat as opposed to a dermal filler are much longer lasting. While not all of the fat may “take” with one treatment, once we get your volume where we want it to be and as long as your weight stays stable, the injected fat is not going anywhere.
Combination Facial Rejuvenation Procedures with Fat Grafting
As mentioned, facial fat grafting can be a stand-alone procedure, particularly for younger patients. However, I frequently combine facial fat grafting with a surgical facial rejuvenation procedure such as:
• Deep Plane Facelift
• Neck Lift
• Upper or Lower Eyelid Surgery
I find this combination to be a safe, efficient way to create balanced, comprehensive rejuvenation while still preserving your natural features. A pillar of my practice philosophy is to always deliver an elegant, natural-looking result. I want you to look like you, only you at your best.
To find out more about facial fat grafting, or any other surgical or non-surgical procedure with Dr. Akshay Sanan at the Boston Center for Plastic Surgery, contact us today or call (617) 402-2768 to schedule a consultation.
