Facial Fat Grafting / Nano Fat Grafting
Restore Youthful Volume Naturally—With Your Own Fat
Volume loss is one of the most noticeable signs of facial aging. As collagen and fat diminish, areas like the cheeks, temples, and under-eyes can appear sunken or hollow, making you look older or more tired than you feel. At Midwest Facial Plastic Surgery, we offer traditional facial fat grafting and nano fat grafting to help restore balance and vitality using your body’s fat.
Serving patients in Woodbury, MN, and across the Twin Cities, our expert team uses advanced techniques to deliver natural, long-lasting facial rejuvenation—without synthetic fillers or implants.
What Is Facial Fat Grafting?
Facial fat grafting, or fat transfer to the face, involves removing fat from one area of the body (like the abdomen or thighs) and carefully reinjecting it into areas of the face where volume has been lost. It’s a minimally invasive alternative to synthetic fillers, offering subtle, natural-looking results with the added benefit of body contouring.
Facial fat grafting is ideal for addressing:
- Hollow cheeks
- Thinning under the eyes
- Deep nasolabial folds or marionette lines
- General loss of youthful facial contours
What Is Nano Fat Grafting?
Nano fat grafting is a more refined version of fat transfer that focuses on improving skin quality and fine lines rather than adding volume. After fat is harvested via liposuction, it’s processed into an ultra-fine, emulsified form. This “nano” fat contains regenerative components like stem cells and growth factors that can rejuvenate the skin on a cellular level.
Nano fat is not used for structural contouring—it’s best for delicate areas, such as:
- Fine lines around the mouth and eyes
- Dark circles or crepey skin under the eyes
- Lip lines or “smoker’s lines”
- Overall texture and tone improvement
These two treatments can be performed together or separately depending on your needs.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Facial Fat or Nano Fat Grafting?
You may be a good candidate for either or both procedures if you:
- Have facial volume loss due to aging or weight loss
- Want a natural alternative to dermal fillers
- Prefer longer-lasting results using your own tissue
- Have small areas of unwanted fat available for harvesting
- Are in good general health with realistic expectations
Nano fat grafting is especially beneficial for patients looking to enhance skin quality and restore volume.
What to Expect During the Procedure
Facial fat and nano fat grafting are typically performed under local anesthesia with mild sedation. The process includes:
- Harvesting Fat: Gentle liposuction removes a small amount of fat from a donor area—commonly the abdomen, thighs, or flanks.
- Processing: For facial fat grafting, the fat is purified and prepared for reinjection. For nano fat grafting, the fat is further filtered and emulsified into a finer consistency.
- Injection: Facial fat is injected deeper into the cheeks, temples, and folds for volume and contour. Nano fat is injected more superficially to improve tone, texture, and skin rejuvenation.
The combined procedure takes one to two hours and is performed in-office by our skilled Facial Plastic Surgery Team.
Recovery and Results: What to Expect
Recovery is generally well-tolerated for both procedures, with minimal downtime:
- Mild swelling, bruising, and tenderness in the donor and treated areas
- Most patients resume light activity within five to seven days
- Results appear gradually as swelling subsides
- Full outcomes are visible within two to three months
Because the body reabsorbs some fat, we may slightly overfill treatment areas to achieve long-term balance. The fat that survives becomes a permanent part of your facial structure.
Indications
- Hollow under-eye area
- Deflated temples, cheeks, and midface
- Tired, gaunt, aged appearance to the face
Benefits
- Permanent results
- Minimal downtime and discomfort
- More cost-effective than dermal fillers over time
- Can be performed with other facial surgeries to enhance results
- Low risk of reaction (uses the body’s own fat)
- Very natural-looking results
Benefits of Facial Fat Grafting and Nano Fat Grafting
Both procedures offer unique advantages and may be combined for more comprehensive results.
Benefits of Facial Fat Grafting:
- Long-lasting volume enhancement
- Natural look and feel using your own fat
- No risk of allergic reaction
- Can improve overall facial contours and symmetry
- Doubles as a body contouring procedure
Benefits of Nano Fat Grafting:
- Improves skin tone and texture
- Softens fine lines and wrinkles in delicate areas
- Stimulates collagen production and tissue regeneration
- Ideal for under-eye and perioral rejuvenation
- Can enhance the outcome of a facelift or other surgery
Cost of Facial Fat Grafting in Woodbury, MN
Pricing for the procedure varies based on several factors, including the number of facial areas being treated, whether nano fat grafting is included, and if it is combined with other procedures like facelifts or eyelid surgery.
During your consultation, we will provide a comprehensive quote that covers all costs, including the surgeon’s fees, facility and anesthesia (if required), and pre- and post-operative care.
Our approach to pricing is transparent and personalized, ensuring there are no surprises—just clear, upfront information tailored to your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do results last?
While some fat is reabsorbed, the remaining fat becomes a permanent part of your facial structure. Results from traditional fat grafting can last for years; nano fat’s regenerative skin effects also improve over time.
Is facial fat grafting painful?
Discomfort is minimal and easily managed. Both donor and treatment areas may feel sore or swollen for a few days, but recovery is smooth for most patients.
How much fat survives the transfer?
Typically, 60–80% of the transferred fat remains long-term. Slight overcorrection helps account for natural reabsorption.
Can these procedures be combined with others?
Yes. Fat grafting (especially nano fat) is often paired with facelifts, eyelid surgery, or laser skin resurfacing for enhanced rejuvenation.
What’s the difference between dermal fillers and fat grafting?
Fat grafting uses your own tissue, which is more natural and longer-lasting than most fillers. Nano fat also adds regenerative benefits fillers can’t offer.
Schedule a Consultation for Facial Fat or Nano Fat Grafting in Woodbury, MN
Whether you’re looking to restore lost volume or improve skin quality, our team at Midwest Facial Plastic Surgery can help you achieve natural, long-lasting facial rejuvenation with your own fat.
Contact Midwest Facial Plastic Surgery today to schedule your consultation and find out if facial fat grafting or nano fat grafting is right for you.
Related Procedures
Before + After Results
View before and after photos of surgeries performed by facial plastic surgeons Dr. Christopher Tolan, Dr. Garrett Griffin, Dr. Zachary Farhood, Dr. Sebastian Sciegienka, and Dr. Anna Bakeman in Minneapolis, MN.