Restore Natural Facial Volume
Facial rejuvenation isn’t always about tightening the skin or adding synthetic fillers. In many cases, restoring naturally lost facial volume can create a softer, healthier, and more youthful appearance while preserving the features that make you uniquely you. Facial fat transfer uses your body’s own fat to replenish areas that have become hollow or deflated over time, providing natural-looking enhancement that integrates seamlessly with your existing facial contours.
Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Darrick Antell performs facial fat transfer in New York City for patients looking for long-lasting facial rejuvenation using their own living tissue. By carefully harvesting, purifying, and strategically placing fat where additional volume is needed, he creates customized results that restore facial harmony while maintaining each patient’s natural character.
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Facial fat transfer, or fat grafting, is the harvesting of healthy fat cells from one area of the body (a donor site) for the purpose of re-injecting the cells into the facial tissues. This procedure can restore lost volume and smooth lines and creases, enhancing your facial features without manufactured fillers or implants.
Facial fillers can produce a beautiful effect on aging skin. While effective, the results fade with time, requiring retreatment. Facial fat transfer involves moving healthy fat cells to smooth a specific area of the face. As the cells become viable and establish a blood supply in the new location, they may have a longer-lasting effect than dermal fillers. Furthermore, facial fat transfer has the advantage of being entirely natural. As no synthetic material is involved, the body recognizes its own cells, meaning there is no risk of rejection.
A custom facial fat transfer can restore lost volume to the following facial areas:
This procedure involves harvesting healthy fat cells from an appropriate area of your body (a donor site), such as the buttocks or thighs. The fat is harvested using specialized, gentle techniques to ensure that the healthy cells are not damaged. Once the fat cells are extracted, they are purified and prepared for injection. The cells are injected at a specific depth in your skin tissue to add volume to the desired area.
Although facial fat transfer effectively restores lost volume on its own, it is often combined with other facial procedures to address additional aspects of facial aging or improve overall facial balance. Since each procedure targets a different concern, combining treatments can create more comprehensive rejuvenation while allowing patients to recover from a single surgical experience.
Facial fat transfer restores soft tissue volume, while facial implants enhance the underlying skeletal framework. Combining these procedures allows Dr. Antell to improve both facial structure and soft tissue contours simultaneously. Patients seeking greater definition of the chin or cheeks, along with restoration of youthful fullness, may benefit from this comprehensive approach.
Changes to the nose can significantly influence the balance of the surrounding facial features. Combining rhinoplasty with facial fat transfer allows Dr. Antell to refine the profile while restoring volume to areas affected by aging, such as the cheeks or under-eye region. Together, these procedures create a more balanced appearance by addressing both facial contours and facial proportions.
A facelift repositions underlying tissues and removes excess skin, while facial fat transfer restores the volume that naturally diminishes over time. Because aging affects both skin laxity and facial fullness, these procedures are often performed together to achieve more complete facial rejuvenation.
Facial fat transfer is well suited for patients seeking natural facial rejuvenation through volume restoration rather than synthetic injectable products. Around New York and beyond, ideal candidates often include individuals who:
Unlike synthetic fillers that are gradually absorbed by the body, facial fat transfer uses your own living fat cells to restore youthful facial volume and soften age-related contour changes. By carefully harvesting, purifying, and strategically placing fat where it is needed most, Dr. Antell can create subtle, natural-looking results that complement your existing facial features.
Potential benefits of facial fat transfer include:
Every facial fat transfer is planned strategically to ensure both the donor and treatment areas work together to achieve the best possible natural-looking results. During a consultation in New York City, Dr. Antell will assess areas of facial volume loss, identify appropriate donor sites for fat harvesting, and explain how fat grafting can be tailored to your facial anatomy and long-term aesthetic goals.
Before surgery, you’ll receive personalized guidance that may include:
Dr. Antell has privileges at numerous hospitals throughout New York City, but most patients prefer the procedure to take place in his discreet, private operating room just across the street from the world-renowned Lenox Hill Hospital. His facility has a private back entrance for maximum discretion, and all members of his staff have been thoroughly trained to provide personalized care. The state-of-the-art outpatient surgery facility is fully accredited, designed for your comfort, and equipped with the latest technology.
Many facial fat transfer procedures are performed using local anesthesia alone. However, when appropriate, we may recommend sedation (also known as twilight anesthesia) to enhance your comfort. Dr. Antell will discuss whether sedation is indicated for your procedure during your consultation.
Your Guide to Post-Facial Fat Transfer Care
After undergoing the surgery, you will recover in Dr. Antell’s state-of-the-art recovery suite while being monitored by one of his nurses until you feel well enough to be discharged. Facial fat transfer is an outpatient procedure, meaning you can return home the same day after the procedure. When performed with “twilight” sedation, you should be prepared to have an escort to bring you home, as you will not be able to drive for 24 hours after the administration of anesthesia. Upon leaving the facility, you will be provided with thorough discharge instructions that will guide you through the initial post-operative period. Throughout your recovery, Dr. Antell and his staff will be available to answer any questions you may have.
You will likely have some swelling and bruising, most of which will subside within the first 10-14 days. Applying ice to the area can be useful in reducing swelling. Many patients experience minimal downtime and can return to their usual daily activities within a day. The final result may not be visible for up to a month due to residual swelling.
The cost of a facial fat transfer in New York City varies. Facial fat transfer is a highly customized procedure because it involves two distinct components: harvesting healthy fat from a donor site and strategically placing it to restore facial volume. The complexity of the harvest, the number of facial areas being treated, and whether the procedure is combined with additional facial surgery all influence the overall investment.
After completing your consultation and facial evaluation, Dr. Antell will develop a surgical plan designed specifically for your goals. You’ll receive a comprehensive estimate outlining every aspect of your procedure, allowing you to fully understand your treatment before moving forward.
Dr. Darrick Antell is one of the world’s most respected and sought-after plastic surgeons, who has gained acclaim for his work throughout his illustrious career. He was trained at Stanford and Cornell University and has been named a “Top Plastic Surgeon” by Harper’s Bazaar, Town and Country, and Vogue, as well as being recognized among Newsweek’s America’s Best Plastic Surgeons in 2026.
Many new patients come to Dr. Antell through referrals, which speaks volumes about how satisfied his patients are with their results. His approach to his work is that “plastic surgery should whisper, not scream,” meaning his goal is to achieve subtle, beautiful results that naturally enhance your facial features. With Dr. Antell as your surgeon, you can feel confident that you will leave with a rejuvenated, refreshed appearance.
NYC Plastic Surgeon
MD, FACS
In-Office & Virtual Consultations with Dr. Antell are Available