Why Combine the Two
A facelift repositions descended soft tissue but does not add volume. Aging also produces true volume loss in the temples, cheeks, and periorbital area. Autologous fat grafting harvests fat from a donor site (commonly abdomen or thigh), processes it, and injects it into deficient facial areas to restore proportion.
Common Grafting Zones
- Temporal hollows
- Lateral cheek and malar area
- Tear troughs (with care)
- Perioral and chin regions in selected patients
Expected Retention
Fat graft retention varies. Reported long-term survival is commonly cited in the 30–70% range depending on technique, injection site, and patient factors. Surgeons typically overcorrect slightly to account for expected resorption.
Recovery Considerations
Adding fat transfer to a deep plane facelift may modestly increase swelling in the injected areas during the first 4–6 weeks. Total recovery timeline is generally similar to facelift alone. See the recovery timeline.
Alternatives
Hyaluronic acid fillers are a non-surgical alternative for volume restoration but require ongoing maintenance and do not provide autologous tissue. Fat grafting is generally longer-lasting when graft take is favorable.
Educational content only — not medical advice. Results vary.
Medical Review
Reviewed by: Juan Cuellar, MD — Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
- Content reviewed
- Combined deep plane facelift and autologous fat grafting.
- Last reviewed
- June 2026
Selected sources