Fat Grafting in NYC
Dr. Michelle Zweifler is a board-certified plastic surgeon with an office on Park Avenue in Manhattan’s Upper East Side, welcoming patients from across New York City.
Overview
Fat grafting uses your own fat, harvested by liposuction and reinjected elsewhere, to restore lost volume or add subtle contour. It’s most often used on the face — replacing volume lost to aging in the cheeks and under the eyes, or adding fullness to the lips — and can also be used for gluteal augmentation (a Brazilian butt lift). Fat grafting to the breast adds a small volume for enhancement.
Am I a Candidate?
Good candidates have enough donor fat available (commonly from the abdomen or thighs) and are looking for natural, modest volume restoration rather than the more dramatic size change implants can provide.
The Procedure
Fat is first removed from a donor site using liposuction, then specially processed before being carefully injected in small amounts into the treatment area to improve contour and volume. This is typically performed under local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia, often alongside another procedure like a facelift.
Recovery & Results
Swelling at both the donor and injection sites is common for the first one to two weeks, with initial volume appearing exaggerated as it subsides. A portion of grafted fat is naturally reabsorbed by the body, with final results assessed several months out.
Real Patient Results
Before
After
Before
After
Results shown are examples from Dr. Zweifler’s patients; individual results will vary. Patients’ eyes are covered to protect their privacy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much of the grafted fat stays permanently?
Some percentage of transferred fat is reabsorbed in the months after surgery; the fat that survives is considered permanent, and Dr. Zweifler will discuss realistic expectations for your specific goals. At times, a second stage of fat grafting is performed to help restore volume.
Is a Brazilian butt lift the same procedure?
A BBL uses the same fat-grafting technique, applied specifically to the buttocks for augmentation.
Where on the face can fat grafting be used?
Fat grafting is commonly used to restore volume in the cheeks and under the eyes and to add fullness to the lips. Dr. Zweifler tailors where and how much fat is placed to your anatomy and goals.
Can fat grafting be combined with a facelift?
Yes. Fat grafting is often performed alongside another procedure such as a facelift: the facelift repositions and tightens tissue, while fat grafting restores volume that has been lost with aging.
What is recovery like after fat grafting?
Swelling at both the donor and injection sites is common for the first one to two weeks, and the initial volume can look exaggerated before it settles. A portion of the grafted fat is naturally reabsorbed, so final results are assessed several months after the procedure.
