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Surgery · 얼굴 지방이식

Facial Fat Grafting (Autologous Fat Transfer)

Volume added to hollow areas of the face using your own purified fat, harvested by small-cannula liposuction.

Quick facts
  • Korean name: 얼굴 지방이식
  • Procedure time: 1 to 2 hours
  • Anesthesia: IV sedation with local anesthesia
  • Sessions: 1 to 2, spaced 3 to 6 months apart
  • Downtime: 7 to 14 days of facial swelling; sore donor site
  • Results: Swelling settles over 2 to 4 weeks; retained volume assessed at 3 months
  • Lasts: Surviving fat is long-lasting and changes with body weight
  • Typical price: ₩2,000,000–₩4,000,000 (full face, one session, before VAT)

What is Facial Fat Grafting?

Facial fat grafting (얼굴 지방이식) is popular in Korea for rounding a flat forehead, filling hollow temples and cheeks, and softening nasolabial folds. Because it uses your own tissue, the fat that survives is long-lasting.

Not all grafted fat survives. Typical survival is about 30 to 60%, so a second session after 3 to 6 months is common.

How it works

Fat is suctioned from the inner thigh or abdomen through small cannulas, then purified by centrifuge or filtering. The surgeon injects it in tiny threads at several depths using blunt cannulas. Some clinics offer microfat or nanofat for fine areas, or SVF-enriched ('stem cell') grafting at a higher price, which has less evidence behind it.

Who it suits

  • Flat or sloping forehead
  • Hollow temples or cheeks
  • Sunken areas after weight loss
  • Patients who don't want repeated filler

Who should skip it or wait

  • Very lean people with little fat to harvest
  • Anyone planning major weight loss soon
  • Patients wanting an exact, predictable volume in one session

Side effects and risks

  • Lumps or uneven areas
  • Partial absorption needing touch-up
  • Overfilling that looks puffy
  • Fat embolism (rare but serious), mostly in the glabella and nose

Aftercare

  • Avoid pressing or massaging the grafted areas for 2 to 4 weeks
  • Wear the compression garment on the donor area
  • Avoid saunas and hot baths for 2 weeks
  • Keep body weight stable

Planning around your trip

Stay at least 5 to 7 days for a check and any donor-site stitch removal; flying after day 3 is usually fine, despite swelling.

Plastic Surgery clinics near Apgujeong

Last reviewed October 2026. General information only, not medical advice. A doctor confirms what suits you at consultation.

Facial Fat Grafting price in Apgujeong

₩2,000,000–₩4,000,000
full face, one session, before VAT

Typical range at clinics around Apgujeong, Sinsa and Cheongdam, checked 2026-10. Source: Korea Experience, Korea Plastic Surgery Cost Guide 2026. Cosmetic treatments in Korea carry 10% VAT; ask whether a quote includes it.

Facial Fat Grafting questions

How much of the fat will stay?

Expect about 30 to 60% survival, varying by area and technique. Areas with little movement, such as the forehead, tend to keep more.

Where is fat taken from?

Usually the inner thigh or lower belly. Bruising there lasts about a week.

Is 'stem cell fat grafting' better?

Some clinics enrich fat with SVF to improve survival. Evidence is mixed, and the price is higher, so ask what the extra cost actually buys.

Can I go back to filler later?

Yes, but wait at least 3 months so the grafted fat settles first.

Why do surgeons ask me to keep my weight stable?

Grafted fat behaves like the fat at its source. Losing weight shrinks it and gaining weight can make the face look fuller.

Is there a stitch to remove?

The face injection points are tiny and need no stitches. Donor site openings may have one stitch each, removed around day 5 to 7.

Plan your visit

Get a quote before you fly

Send the treatment, your dates and any past procedures. We reply in English with options, prices and clinic locations near Apgujeong Station.