Facial fat transfer is a cosmetic procedure that aims at restoring lost volume from the cheeks or other problem areas such as the area under the eyes or the nasolabial folds. The fat is grafted from an area of the body where there is some healthy fat tissue, and it is transferred under the skin in the facial area.

The procedure is also referred to as fat transplant or grafting and may be performed in two ways: suctioning the fat and injecting it into the target zone or fat excision and placement. The first technique is more commonly used as there will be no scarring. Up to 50 percent more fat is transferred, and after the procedure, the body will absorb some of the fat.

This procedure is an alternative to cheek or chin implants or may also be performed instead of a treatment with dermal fillers or a cosmetic lift. The advantages of this treatment is the duration of the results (e.g. up to eight years) and the fact that the procedure is less aggressive than a face lift.

The risks of a facial fat transfer include infections, nerve injury (especially in the areas where the fat is harvested from), or blood and fluid accumulation under the skin.