Fat Grafting Dallas, TX
Putting Fat Cells to Good Use
Facial volume treatments have become common, yet many patients would prefer to step away from ongoing filler appointments. Fat grafting offers a longer-lasting option using tissue your body already recognizes. Your fat is harvested, prepared, and placed with precision to restore shape without introducing a synthetic volumizer.
At Kelling Plastic Surgery in Dallas, Texas, Dr. Joseph Kelling uses fat transfer as a standalone procedure or as part of facial rejuvenation surgery. His placement strategy follows your proportions, so the added volume supports your features without overwhelming them.
Tissue Used With Purpose
Fat grafting, also called fat transfer, removes fat from one area of your body and places it into areas that need volume. Once the grafted fat develops a blood supply, the surviving cells become part of your living facial tissue.
Fat is harvested through liposuction from a donor site such as your abdomen or thighs. Dr. Kelling then purifies the tissue and injects small amounts into specific facial planes. Some fat is absorbed during recovery, so treatment planning accounts for an expected degree of volume loss.
Restoring Shape With Restraint
Fat grafting can restore volume to facial areas that have flattened or hollowed with age, weight loss, or previous surgery. It can also soften transitions between features and improve the balance of your face without the repeated maintenance associated with temporary dermal fillers.
Fat transfer adds volume, but it cannot remove excess skin or correct advanced sagging. If your concerns involve both volume loss and tissue descent, Dr. Kelling may recommend combining it with a facelift, neck lift or other contouring procedure.
Volume Where It Belongs
Adding volume to your cheeks can rebuild midface support and create a smoother transition into your lower eyelids.
Fat transfer can fill hollow temples while maintaining the soft contour of your upper face.
Small amounts of purified fat may improve under-eye hollows in good candidates. This delicate area requires conservative placement and close attention to injection depth.
Fat may be used to soften deeper folds or provide support around your jawline and other areas requiring structural correction.
A Natural Approach to Volume
The key advantage of fat grafting is its ability to restore volume using your own tissue.
The Right Fit for a Fat Transfer
Good candidates have enough donor fat for harvesting, healthy facial tissue, and realistic expectations about fat survival. You should also be in good health and able to follow the recovery plan.
The procedure may need to wait if you smoke, have an active infection, or have a condition that interferes with healing. Nicotine can reduce blood supply and lower the survival rate of grafted fat. Very lean patients may have limited donor tissue, although only a small amount is needed for many facial procedures.
Complete any requested medical testing and arrange to have reliable transportation home. Medications or supplements that increase bleeding may need to be paused with approval from your prescribing clinician. Avoid nicotine, fill prescriptions in advance, and follow the fasting and medication instructions from Dr. Kelling’s staff.
From Donor Site to Facial Contour
Dr. Kelling begins by removing a controlled amount of fat through a small cannula. Your abdomen, flanks, or thighs may serve as the donor site. The harvested tissue is processed to isolate healthy fat cells from fluid and damaged material.
Once purified, your fat is injected in fine layers throughout the planned areas. Placing small amounts near healthy tissue encourages access to the blood supply and supports graft survival. The technique also helps Dr. Kelling create smooth transitions instead of concentrated pockets of volume.
Fat grafting may be performed under local anesthesia, sedation, or general anesthesia, depending on the extent of your procedure and any surgery performed at the same time.
Giving Your Graft Time to Settle
Swelling and bruising can appear in your face and donor site. Most patients return to desk work and casual plans within one to two weeks, although residual swelling may remain.
Avoid pressing or massaging the treated areas unless Dr. Kelling instructs you to do so. You’ll receive guidance on sleeping, bathing, makeup, and incision care. Light walking is encouraged, while strenuous activity must wait until you receive clearance.
Volume That Becomes Your Own
You’ll see added volume right away, but early swelling makes the treated areas look fuller than the final result. Over the following weeks, swelling decreases, and your body absorbs a portion of the transferred fat.
Your outcome becomes easier to assess after several months. Fat cells that establish a healthy blood supply can remain long-term, although they will continue to respond to age and weight changes.
Choosing Your Source of Volume
Fat Grafting | Dermal Fillers | |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Your own fat | Injectable gel or collagen stimulator |
| Downtime | About one to two weeks | Often minimal |
| Longevity | May last for years | Temporary, depending on product |
| Best use | Broader volume restoration | Smaller corrections or trial treatment |
Dermal fillers offer immediate, predictable correction with less recovery. Fat transfer may suit you if you want broader restoration, longer-lasting volume, or an addition to facial surgery.
Experience Behind Every Injection
Dr. Kelling is a board-certified plastic surgeon trained at UT Southwestern. He performs every facial fat grafting procedure himself, including the harvesting, purification, and injection process from beginning to end.
His Dallas practice takes a conservative approach to facial volume. Your treatment plan is based on your bone structure, tissue quality, and existing contours, with enough correction to create visible improvement while preserving your natural character.
Bring Natural Volume Back Into Focus
Just a short drive from Downtown, visit us today at Kelling Plastic Surgery on North Washington Avenue to discuss fat grafting in Dallas. During your consultation, Dr. Kelling can determine if fat transfer, dermal fillers, or a combined surgical plan offers the right level of correction for you.
Cost depends on your donor site, the areas treated, anesthesia, facility fees, and any combined procedures. You’ll receive a personalized quote after your consultation.
Fat cells that establish a blood supply may remain for many years. Some grafted fat is absorbed during recovery, and the surviving tissue continues to age with your face.
Fat tissue contains several cell types, including stem cells. Standard fat grafting is performed to restore volume and should not be marketed as a stem cell treatment.
Some potential risks include bleeding, infection, asymmetry, prolonged swelling, lumps, fat necrosis, and unwanted volume changes. Rare vascular complications can be serious. If you suspect you may be experiencing a severe side effect after fat grafting, contact us immediately.
Absolutely. A facelift repositions sagging tissue, while fat grafting restores volume. Combining them can address two separate parts of facial aging during one surgical plan.
