Dilworth Facial Plastic Surgery
1819 Lyndhurst Ave.
Charlotte, NC 28203
Phone: (980) 949-6544
Monday–Friday: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Facial Fat Transfer in Charlotte, NC
Facial fat transfer is a natural alternative to dermal fillers that adds and restores volume using your own excess fat. It can be performed on its own for a natural-looking facial rejuvenation or combined with facelifts, eyelid surgery, and other facial plastic surgery procedures to address skin laxity and volume loss together.
At Dilworth Facial Plastic Surgery in Charlotte, North Carolina, dual board-certified, fellowship-trained facial plastic surgeons Dr. Andrea Garcia and Dr. Joshua Surowitz perform every procedure together, including more than 600 facial fat transfers. Patients benefit from the attention, expertise, and refined aesthetic eye of two surgeons.
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What Is Facial Fat Transfer?
Facial fat transfer, also called fat grafting, is a plastic surgery procedure that adds volume to the face by injecting the patient’s own purified fat.
Where Can Facial Fat Transfer Help?
Fat grafting can restore volume and support in areas that commonly become hollow or flattened with age or significant weight loss, including the:
- Temples
- Midface and cheeks
- Under the eyes (tear troughs)
- Around the mouth
- Pre-jowl area
- Chin
Facial fat transfer can also benefit younger patients with naturally occurring or congenital facial volume loss. Dr. Garcia and Dr. Surowitz restore volume based on each patient’s facial anatomy and needs, rather than following a prescribed injection pattern.
How Is Facial Fat Transfer Performed?
Facial fat transfer can be performed while you are under local anesthesia, sedation, or general anesthesia. Dr. Garcia and Dr. Surowitz begin by gently harvesting a small amount of fat from the abdomen, thighs, or flanks using liposuction. The fat is then purified and carefully injected with small cannulas into areas of the face where additional volume and support are needed.
Our surgeons use the Tulip® fat transfer system, with single-use harvesting and injection cannulas, which keeps the fat enclosed from collection through placement to minimize contamination and preserve viable fat cells.
Once the transferred fat has established a blood supply, the surviving fat integrates into the facial tissues, providing permanent volume restoration.
Meet Our Surgeons
Dilworth Facial Plastic Surgery combines the expertise of two dual board-certified, fellowship-trained facial plastic surgeons for unparalleled patient care. Dr. Andrea Garcia and Dr. Josh Surowitz offer a unique collaborative approach to facial plastic surgery, working as a compassionate and highly trained duo to bring out the very best in you.
Credentials You Can Trust
What Are the Advantages of Facial Fat Transfer vs. Dermal Fillers?
While hyaluronic acid (HA) dermal fillers, such as JUVÉDERM® and Restylane®, can be a good choice for many patients and concerns, Dr. Garcia and Dr. Surowitz prefer facial fat transfer for a variety of reasons, including:
- Provides a soft, natural look
- Lasts indefinitely once established, eliminating the need for maintenance treatments
- Addresses “filler fatigue,” the puffy, heavy, or distorted look that can happen with fillers
- Avoids the bluish Tyndall effect from HA filler placed too close to the surface of the skin
- Does not migrate or cause fluid retention
Our unique two-surgeon collaborative approach delivers the highest-quality results, with a naturally refreshed appearance, while always avoiding the “overdone” or “over-inflated” look. During your consultation, our surgeons will determine whether fat transfer, dermal filler, or another option is best suited to the result you want to achieve.
How Is Fat Transfer Used With Facial Surgery?
Facial aging involves both tissue descent and volume loss, so addressing both changes can create a more complete and natural-looking rejuvenation. Fat grafting benefits the following procedures:
- Deep plane facelift by restoring volume while repositioning tissues that have descended with age
- Lower eyelid surgery by filling under the eye hollows (tear troughs) and restoring volume in the upper cheek
Facial fat transfer can also refresh or refine previous facelift results without requiring another full facelift.
“We approach fat grafting as replacing volume that’s been lost due to time, age, and environmental factors. In addition to lifting the structures that need lifting, there’s also volume restoration, and we use fat over the bone to enhance support for all of the tissues we’ve lifted.”
Dr. Joshua Surowitz
Why Choose Dilworth Facial Plastic Surgery for Facial Fat Transfer?
The many reasons patients choose Dr. Garcia and Dr. Surowitz for facial fat transfer include:
- 600+ facelift and fat transfer procedures performed together: By working collaboratively, our surgeons have gained refined expertise across a wide range of patient cases.
- Facial specialists: Both are dual board-certified in otolaryngology–head and neck surgery and facial plastic and reconstructive surgery.
- Safe, effective fat transfer technology: Our surgeons use Tulip®, a closed, disposable fat transfer system that optimizes viable fat and minimizes contamination.
- Individualized treatment: Fat is placed based on each patient’s anatomy and areas of volume loss to restore a naturally youthful appearance.
With this collaborative approach, both surgeons contribute their experience and unique perspective to creating natural-looking results tailored to each patient.
Request a Consultation
To find out how fat transfer can enhance your look, request a consultation with Dr. Garcia and Dr. Surowitz at Dilworth Facial Plastic Surgery in Charlotte, or call (980) 949-6544 to schedule an appointment.
