Facial Fat Transfer in Turkey
Restore youthful facial volume using your own natural fat, from £1,695 with hospital stay, 5-star hotel, transfers, and 12 months of aftercare.
As you age, your face naturally loses volume, cheeks become flatter, temples hollow, and lines deepen. Facial fat transfer (also called fat grafting or lipofilling) restores this lost volume using your own body fat. Fat is gently harvested from an area where you have excess (such as the abdomen or thighs), purified, and then carefully injected into the areas of your face that need it.
Because the volume comes from your own body, the result looks and feels entirely natural. There is no risk of allergic reaction or rejection. Once the transferred fat establishes its own blood supply, it becomes a living, permanent part of your facial tissue, far more natural and longer-lasting than synthetic fillers.
In the UK, facial fat transfer typically costs between £3,000 and £6,000. With The Health Store Turkey, your all-inclusive package starts from just £1,695, covering your procedure at a government-licensed hospital, 5-star hotel, VIP airport transfers, a personal translator, and 12 months of aftercare.
What Is Face Fat Injection?
Facial fat transfer (also known as facial fat grafting or autologous fat injection) is a procedure that uses your own fat to restore volume to the face. It is a two-step process: first, fat is harvested from a donor site on your body using gentle liposuction; second, the purified fat is carefully injected into the target areas of your face.
The procedure involves three stages:
Harvesting, A small amount of fat is collected from an area where you have excess, such as the abdomen, thighs, or flanks. This is done through tiny incisions using a gentle liposuction technique.
Processing, The harvested fat is purified and prepared for injection. This step removes excess fluid and damaged cells, leaving healthy fat cells ready for transfer.
Injection, The purified fat is injected in tiny, precise amounts into the target areas of your face using fine cannulas. Your surgeon builds up volume gradually, layer by layer, to ensure a natural result.
Facial fat transfer can address:
- Hollow or sunken cheeks
- Temporal hollowing (sunken temples)
- Deep nasolabial folds
- Under-eye hollows and dark circles
- Thin or ageing lips
- Sunken areas around the jawline
- Overall facial volume loss and a gaunt appearance
The procedure takes 1.5-2.5 hours under general anaesthetic. Not all transferred fat survives, typically 60-80% integrates permanently. Your surgeon accounts for this by slightly overfilling the treated areas.
Am I Suitable?
Facial fat transfer may be right for you if:
- Your face has lost volume and appears gaunt, hollow, or aged
- You want a natural-looking volume restoration using your own tissue
- You have enough donor fat available (even a modest amount is sufficient)
- You prefer a permanent solution over repeated filler injections
- You are in good general health and fit for general anaesthetic
- You are a non-smoker, or willing to stop smoking at least 4 weeks before and after
- You have realistic expectations, the goal is natural volume restoration, not dramatic enlargement
Facial fat transfer is also excellent for patients who have had poor results with dermal fillers or who prefer a completely natural approach. If you do not have sufficient donor fat, alternative volume restoration options will be discussed.
What Happens During the Procedure?
Before Your Procedure
Your journey starts with a free consultation, online, by phone, or at one of our UK consultation days. You discuss which areas of your face have lost volume, and your surgeon assesses both your facial needs and potential donor sites.
Once you decide to proceed, you receive a treatment plan and pre-procedure instructions.
During Your Stay in Turkey
Your VIP transfer takes you to your 5-star hotel. You attend the hospital for assessments, blood tests, photographs, and a detailed consultation. Your surgeon marks both the donor areas and the facial injection sites.
The procedure is performed under general anaesthetic and takes 1.5-2.5 hours. Fat is harvested, processed, and injected in a single session. You stay in hospital overnight with nursing care.
After Your Procedure
You will have small dressings at the liposuction sites and your face will appear slightly overfilled and swollen. This is intentional, your surgeon accounts for the fact that some fat will be naturally reabsorbed. Cold compresses manage facial swelling. Your surgeon checks your healing before you travel home. You receive aftercare instructions and 12 months of support.
Recovery & Aftercare
Recovery from facial fat transfer involves healing at both the donor site and the facial injection sites.
Day 1-3: Your face will look noticeably swollen and slightly overfilled, this is expected and temporary. Bruising may appear on the face and at the donor site. The donor area (e.g. abdomen) may feel sore, similar to after exercise. Use cold compresses on your face. Keep your head elevated.
Day 3-7: Facial swelling begins to settle. Bruising changes colour and fades. The donor site discomfort improves. Avoid touching or massaging your face, the fat needs time to establish its blood supply.
Day 7-14: Most visible swelling has resolved. The overfilled appearance softens. You can return to work and social activities. The donor site heals quickly.
Week 3-6: The transferred fat is integrating with your facial tissue. Some reabsorption occurs (typically 20-40%), which is why initial overfilling is important. Your face starts to look naturally refreshed.
Month 2-6: The fat that has survived is now permanent. Your final result becomes apparent, natural facial volume, smoother contours, and a refreshed appearance.
Risks & Considerations
Facial fat transfer is a well-established procedure with a strong safety profile. Using your own tissue eliminates the risk of allergic reactions or rejection.
Common effects (expected and temporary):
- Facial swelling and bruising, resolves within 1-3 weeks
- Donor site soreness and bruising, resolves within 1-2 weeks
- Temporary overfilled appearance, settles as some fat is reabsorbed
- Mild lumpiness during early healing, smooths out over weeks
Less common considerations:
- Asymmetry, minor differences can occur; your surgeon injects carefully to ensure balance
- Over-reabsorption, if more fat is reabsorbed than expected, a touch-up session may be offered
- Fat calcification (small, firm nodules), very rare
- Infection, uncommon with sterile technique
- Oil cysts at the donor or injection sites, rare
How your safety is managed: Your procedure takes place at a government-licensed, JCI-accredited hospital. Using your own fat eliminates foreign-body risks. Your 12 months of aftercare ensures your result is monitored and any concerns are addressed.
UK vs Turkey: What You Save
UK prices are indicative ranges based on private healthcare providers. Your THST price is confirmed during your free consultation.
UK Aftercare: We Are Here When You Get Home
Unlike other medical tourism companies, we do not leave you on your own once you are back in the UK. We have two dedicated aftercare clinics staffed by NHS-registered wound care specialists, so you can see a professional face-to-face for wound checks, dressing changes, and recovery support.
Medical disclaimer: Results of any surgical or interventional procedure may vary from person to person. You are advised to consult your physician for detailed information before undergoing any procedure. The information on this page is for general guidance only and does not constitute medical advice. See our Medical Disclaimer for full details.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Dermal fillers use synthetic hyaluronic acid to add volume temporarily (lasting 6-18 months). Facial fat transfer uses your own natural fat, which integrates with your tissue and becomes permanent once established. Fat transfer looks and feels more natural, carries no risk of allergic reaction, and does not need to be repeated. It is a one-time procedure rather than ongoing maintenance.
Typically 60-80% of transferred fat survives and becomes permanent. Your surgeon accounts for this by slightly overfilling the treated areas. The fat that survives establishes its own blood supply within the first 2-3 weeks and remains as living tissue in your face permanently. If more fat is absorbed than expected, a small touch-up can be performed.
Fat is usually harvested from the abdomen, inner thighs, or flanks (love handles), areas where most people have a small amount of excess fat. Only a relatively small volume of fat is needed for facial treatment. The donor site heals quickly, and there is an added cosmetic benefit of a slight reduction in fat at the harvesting site.
Yes, facial fat transfer is frequently combined with a face lift, eyelid surgery, or other facial rejuvenation procedures. The combination of lifting and volume restoration creates the most comprehensive result. Fat transfer can also be performed alongside non-facial procedures such as liposuction, using the harvested fat for the face.
Because the volume comes from your own body, the result looks and feels entirely natural. There is no artificial firmness or visible signs of treatment. Your surgeon injects the fat in tiny, precise amounts to build volume gradually. The goal is a refreshed, naturally fuller face, not an overfilled or "done" appearance.
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