Surgical · 6 min read
Facial Fat Transfer: Natural Volume That Can Last
By Dr Hassan Soueid · MD, FRCS · Lead Surgeon, Kensington Cosmetic Clinic
Published 21 June 2026
TL;DR. Facial fat transfer takes fat from one area, purifies it, and re-injects it to restore lost volume in the cheeks, temples and around the eyes. The fat that survives becomes a permanent, living part of your face, which is why it can look so natural.
Why we use your own fat
Unlike filler, transferred fat is your own tissue, so there is no foreign material and the result moves and ages with you. It is well suited to the broad volume loss that comes with age rather than a single fine line.
How much lasts
Not all of the transferred fat survives. Typically a proportion settles permanently and the rest is reabsorbed in the first few months, which is normal and planned for. We slightly over-correct so the settled result is right.
Fat transfer vs filler
- Filler: quick, no downtime, reversible, but temporary and a foreign material.
- Fat transfer: a minor procedure with downtime, but natural, your own tissue, and potentially permanent.
Who it suits
Patients with generalised volume loss who want a natural, lasting result and have a little donor fat to harvest. If you only need a small, precise correction, filler may be the lighter choice.
Frequently asked
Questions we get asked about EnerPeel®
- Is fat transfer permanent?
- The fat that survives the first few months is permanent. We plan for some reabsorption so the final volume is right.
- Where does the fat come from?
- Usually the abdomen or flanks, harvested gently with a fine cannula under local or light anaesthetic.
- How long is recovery?
- Expect swelling and some bruising for a week or two. The result refines over a few months as the fat settles.