What facial fat transfer is
In facial fat transfer, a small amount of fat is taken with gentle liposuction – usually from the abdomen or thighs – then purified and injected in tiny amounts into the areas of the face that have lost volume. Typical areas are the cheeks, the temples, the hollow under the eyes (tear trough), the folds around the mouth, the lips and the jawline. Because your own tissue is used, there is no allergy risk and no foreign material.
Not all of the transferred fat survives. Part of it is absorbed by the body during the first months; what remains after about three months establishes its own blood supply and is long-lasting. That is the main difference from hyaluronic acid fillers, which are quick to inject but are gradually broken down. The facial fat transfer page of New City Clinic summarises it the same way: part of the fat is absorbed in the first months, and what remains is lasting.
Who is it for?
Facial fat transfer suits people who have lost volume in the cheeks, temples, under the eyes or around the mouth and would like to restore it with their own fat rather than with repeated fillers. It is also used to correct contour irregularities or asymmetries. Good candidates:
- are in good health and at a stable weight;
- have enough fat at a donor site – most people do, even when slim;
- want a natural, softer look rather than "filled" cheeks;
- accept that a second session is sometimes planned to fine-tune the result.
Fat transfer is often combined with other procedures. Volume and lift work together: a facelift repositions tissue, fat transfer replaces what has been lost. It also pairs well with eyelid surgery to soften the junction between lower lid and cheek, and with a lip lift when the lip is both long and thin. Note that fat transfer to the face is a small procedure; if you are interested in using fat for body or breast shaping, see breast augmentation with your own fat or BBL.
Fat transfer or fillers?
| Facial fat transfer | Hyaluronic acid filler | |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Your own fat | Synthetic gel |
| Procedure | Small surgical procedure with harvesting | Injections only |
| Duration | Surviving fat is long-lasting | Temporary, gradually broken down |
| Downtime | About a week of visible swelling | Usually minimal |
| Predictability | Part of the fat is absorbed; a top-up may be needed | Very predictable, adjustable |
| Best for | Larger areas, global volume loss | Small, precise corrections |
Neither is "better" in general. For fine lines and small touch-ups, aesthetic medicine with fillers and skin treatments is often the more sensible choice; for wider volume loss, fat can give a softer, longer-lasting result.
How the procedure is done
- Harvesting. Through entry points of a few millimetres, a small amount of fat is taken with fine cannulas, usually from the abdomen or thighs.
- Purification. The fat is processed to separate healthy fat cells from fluid and oil.
- Placement. Using very fine cannulas, the fat is injected in tiny droplets in several layers, so that each graft is surrounded by tissue that can nourish it.
- Finishing. The entry points are closed or covered with small dressings.
The whole procedure takes about 1–2 hours under local anaesthesia at a licensed partner hospital, and you go back to the hotel the same day. The careful, layered placement is what gives fat grafts the best chance of survival – rushing it with large amounts in one place is a common cause of lumps or poor take.
Your facial fat transfer in Istanbul, step by step
- Free assessment. Send front, three-quarter and profile photos of your face, ideally with an older photo for comparison, plus your health history. A doctor reviews them and New City Clinic sends a written plan and quote, usually within 24 hours.
- Arrival. You are met at the airport and taken to your hotel.
- Examination. The surgeon marks the areas to be treated and chooses the donor site.
- Procedure. About 1–2 hours under local anaesthesia; home to the hotel the same day.
- Check-up. The face and donor site are checked.
- Home. Total stay of about 4–6 days in Türkiye, with follow-up by photo and video call.
The flight from the UK or Ireland takes around four hours and is straightforward after this procedure. Our trip planning guide covers the practical side.
Recovery
The face is noticeably swollen for one to two weeks – often more than people expect, partly because the surgeon places a little extra fat to allow for the portion that will be absorbed. Bruising is common, and the donor area feels like a mild bruise.
- First week: sleep with your head raised, avoid pressure or massage on the treated areas, cool compresses (not ice directly on the skin).
- About seven days: desk work resumed.
- Three weeks: sport resumed.
- First three months: part of the fat is absorbed and the face settles.
- Around four months: the final result is visible; what remains is long-lasting.
Keeping your weight stable matters: transferred fat behaves like fat from its donor site, so large weight changes later can affect the result.
Risks
Swelling, bruising and tenderness at the face and donor site are expected. Possible complications include infection, lumps or irregularities, asymmetry, over- or under-correction, absorption of more fat than expected (requiring a top-up) and, rarely, cysts. Injections in the face carry a rare but serious risk of fat entering a blood vessel, which is why the procedure should only be performed by an experienced surgeon using blunt cannulas. Your surgeon explains your personal risks at the examination.
Results vary with how much of the fat survives, which differs between people and areas, and cannot be guaranteed. Our safety guide explains how to choose a provider abroad responsibly.
Facial fat transfer price and package
Facial fat transfer is quoted individually, because the cost depends on the areas treated and whether it is combined with a facelift, eyelid surgery or other procedures. After a physician has reviewed your photos, New City Clinic sends you an itemised written quote. Flights are not included.
The package normally includes the procedure at an authorised partner hospital, hotel, airport–hotel–hospital transfers, pre-operative tests where specified, a coordinator and interpreter, and complication insurance. Privately in the UK and Ireland, facial fat transfer as a standalone procedure is often quoted at approximately £3,000 to £6,000 or more – an indication only. See all packages on our prices page and the New City Clinic price list, and our explanation of what an all-inclusive package covers.
Why we recommend New City Clinic as the best clinic in Turkey for facial fat transfer
For us, the best option in Istanbul for facial fat transfer is New City Clinic – not because of slogans, but because of facts you can verify yourself. New City Clinic is authorised by the Turkish Ministry of Health and registered with HealthTürkiye, holds TÜRSAB licence no. 17659 and is certified to ISO 9001:2015, ISO 27001:2022, ISO 10002:2018 and ISO 31000:2018 (see the New City Clinic certificates). Patients looking for the best clinic in Turkey for facial lipofilling also value what comes with every New City Clinic quote: a licensed partner hospital named in writing, a specialist surgeon, complication insurance, an itemised price and a coordinator who stays with them throughout.
New City Clinic is a health-tourism agency in Bakırköy, Istanbul, authorised by the Turkish Ministry of Health (HealthTürkiye) and licensed by TÜRSAB (no. 17659). Procedures are performed by specialist surgeons such as Op. Dr. Fatih Kılıç – plastic, reconstructive and oncological surgeon with microsurgery experience – at licensed partner hospitals including Acıbadem, Medicana, Medipol, Medical Park and Biruni.
You receive the hospital, surgeon and itemised quote in writing before you travel, and a coordinator looks after you in Istanbul. Fat grafting is a technique the same surgical team uses in body procedures such as Lipo 360 and Lipo 360 with BBL. Read more on the profile of Op. Dr. Fatih Kılıç at New City Clinic and on our licences and certificates page.
Request your free facial fat transfer quote
Send New City Clinic front, three-quarter and profile photos of your face – and, if you have one, a photo from ten years ago to show where volume has been lost. A doctor reviews them free of charge and you usually receive a written plan and quote within 24 hours. Use the form or message the team on WhatsApp; there is no obligation.
Choosing the best plastic surgeon in Istanbul and the best clinic in Turkey is a personal decision – take your time, ask questions and compare written plans. When you are ready, the Facial fat transfer page of New City Clinic and the New City Clinic team on WhatsApp are one message away.
Frequently asked questions
How long does facial fat transfer last?
The fat that survives after about three months is long-lasting, although the face continues to age naturally. A stable weight helps keep the result.
Fat transfer or fillers – which should I choose?
Fillers are quick and temporary; fat transfer uses your own tissue and lasts longer but needs a small procedure. Fillers often suit small precise corrections, fat suits wider volume loss.
Where is the fat taken from?
Usually from the abdomen or thighs, through entry points of a few millimetres. Only a small amount is needed for the face.
How long do I stay in Istanbul for facial fat transfer?
About 4 to 6 days. The procedure is done under local anaesthesia and you go back to your hotel the same day.
When can I go back to work?
Desk work is usually possible within about seven days, although facial swelling is noticeable for one to two weeks. Sport is resumed after about three weeks.
Will I need a second session?
Sometimes. Because part of the fat is absorbed in the first months, a second session is occasionally planned to fine-tune the result. The surgeon discusses this with you in advance.
Is there a risk of allergy?
No. Your own tissue is used, so there is no allergy risk, although other surgical risks such as swelling, irregularities or infection apply.
How much does facial fat transfer cost in Turkey?
It is quoted individually after a free medical assessment, because the price depends on the areas treated and any combined procedures. New City Clinic sends you an itemised written quote; flights are not included.
