Facial fat transfer cost in Turkey

What is facial fat transfer?

Facial fat transfer, or facial fat grafting, uses your own fat to add volume or soften selected facial contours. Fat is taken from a donor area, processed and injected into the zones agreed with the surgeon, such as the cheeks, temples, lips or under-eye area. The defined plan on this page is one limited facial transfer procedure.

Some transferred fat may be reabsorbed, so the final volume is not completely predictable and a later touch-up may be discussed. This is not a facelift and it does not guarantee wrinkle removal, permanent volume or perfect symmetry. The treating hospital or clinic handles appointments and communication and arranges practical services only where listed in the written offer; the named surgeon is responsible for the clinical assessment and procedure.

Who might consider facial fat grafting?

Patients may consider fat transfer when they want to restore selected facial volume, soften a hollow or improve proportion without a permanent synthetic facial implant. The consultation should cover your health, weight stability, donor fat, skin quality, previous facial procedures, medicines, smoking status, allergies and the result you hope to achieve.

Fat transfer is not a treatment for every wrinkle, sagging face or medical condition. A new lump, sudden facial change, infection, unexplained swelling or skin lesion needs medical assessment first. Surgery may be postponed if your weight is changing, you do not have a suitable donor area, a condition affects healing or anaesthesia, or expectations are unrealistic.

How is the facial fat transfer planned?

• Facial mapping: the surgeon assesses volume, proportions, skin, asymmetry and the zones that may benefit from a conservative injection.
• Donor area: a limited area of the body is selected for harvesting; this does not mean full-body liposuction or a guaranteed slimming effect.
• Processing: harvested fat is prepared before being placed in small amounts through carefully planned entry points.
• Staged expectations: the surgeon explains that some fat may not survive and that a second session, if later appropriate, is a separate plan.

The amount and placement are clinical decisions, not a package promise. Full-body liposuction, facelift surgery, breast or BBL transfer and a second touch-up session are outside this guide. Ask which facial zones and donor area are included in writing.

Operation time, anaesthetic and hospital stay

Limited facial fat transfer often takes around 1–3 hours, depending on the donor area, number of facial zones and anaesthetic plan. Local anaesthesia with sedation or general anaesthesia may be considered, with the surgeon and anaesthetist deciding what is appropriate.

Many limited procedures are day cases, although observation depends on the operation, anaesthetic and facility. The written quote should identify the surgeon, harvesting and injection plan, anaesthesia, theatre or clinic fees, tests, dressings, medication, planned checks and discharge criteria.

Planning your stay in Istanbul

Arrange your trip around assessment, the procedure, observation, a facial check and clearance to travel. UK NHS guidance advises avoiding flights for 5–7 days after procedures such as liposuction; facial fat transfer has its own swelling and pressure considerations, so your surgeon must set the safe interval and you should keep flights flexible.

Bring loose clothing and arrange help with luggage. Avoid pressure on the face, prolonged sun exposure, strenuous exercise, swimming and a tightly scheduled sightseeing programme during early recovery. Flights and extra accommodation are separate unless expressly included.

Preparing for facial fat transfer

• Share your medical history, weight changes, donor-area concerns, previous facial procedures, medicines, supplements, allergies, smoking status and any history of difficult healing.
• Explain the facial zones you want addressed and bring realistic expectations about fat survival, temporary swelling and possible staged treatment.
• Send clear photographs if requested, while remembering that they do not replace examination, measurements or medical assessment.
• Follow instructions about smoking, alcohol, fasting, medicines and supplements. Never stop a prescribed blood thinner without clinical advice.
• Arrange help with luggage and daily tasks and avoid planning facial treatments, dental work or strenuous activities around early recovery without clinical advice.
• Confirm facial and donor-site wound care, sleeping position, driving, exercise, sun protection, follow-up and travel instructions before booking.

Recovery and follow-up

Facial and donor-site swelling, bruising, soreness, tightness, temporary numbness and asymmetry can occur. The injected areas may look fuller initially as swelling settles. Protect the face from pressure and sun, follow wound-care instructions and do not massage or manipulate the treated areas unless instructed.

Some transferred fat may be reabsorbed, and weight change can affect the retained volume. The final appearance develops gradually, so early overcorrection is not a reason to arrange an immediate second procedure. Attend follow-up and discuss any touch-up only after the surgeon has assessed healing.

Possible complications include bleeding, infection, seroma, contour irregularity, asymmetry, fat necrosis, persistent swelling, skin or nerve changes, scarring, blood clots, anaesthetic complications and rare serious vascular or vision complications associated with facial injections. Contact the surgical team urgently about severe pain, sudden vision change, unusual skin colour, weakness, heavy bleeding, fever, increasing redness, shortness of breath or another unexpected symptom.

Questions from you

These notes answer questions people raise before they accept a written treatment plan. They describe what that plan should make clear. They are not a promise that any partner hospital uses a particular technique, device or payment arrangement. With your consent, an enquiry may be shared with an authorised healthcare partner.

What is the long-term volume effect of buccal fat removal or facial fat transfer?

ASPS notes that the cheek fat pad varies between people and between the two sides, and that removal is usually avoided in a thin, narrow face because ageing can make the cheeks look more hollow. With your own fat, the volume that remains cannot be known in advance. ASPS fat-graft principles list volume loss as a known risk, and there is no single injection standard. A possible second session should be separated from the first fee at the start. Fat entering a facial blood vessel can cause blindness or a stroke. The mechanism is fat forced backwards under pressure into the ophthalmic artery and the retinal branches. Published series concentrate that concern on the glabella, forehead, temple, nose and the area around the eye. There is no drug for fat that works the way hyaluronidase does for hyaluronic acid. A blunt cannula, small amounts, low pressure, injecting while withdrawing, and knowing the vessel depth are described as ways to reduce the risk. They do not remove it. Sudden loss of vision needs emergency eye care. Sources: ASPS buccal fat removal, ASPS fat transfer guiding principles.

If vision changes, the eye will not close, the face becomes weak, or a haematoma develops after I go home, what happens and who pays?

The symptoms that need review without delay depend on the operation. After a face, neck, brow or temple lift: rapidly growing swelling on one side, pain, breathlessness or new facial weakness. After eyelid surgery: a lid that will not close, severe pain, an eye being pushed forward, or reduced vision. After facial fat injection: sudden loss of vision. ASPS lists blindness among eyelid-surgery risks, while describing it as very rare. A significant haematoma is treated by evacuation, as described above. Fat in a vessel needs emergency eye assessment. The NHS asks people to settle in writing, before cosmetic surgery abroad, where reviews happen, what further surgery and a return journey cost, and whether the clinic’s insurance covers the patient. Travel insurance usually does not cover surgical complications. Follow-up after an operation in the UK is the surgeon’s responsibility. A clinic abroad may not offer the same follow-up or a doctor in your own country. The NHS uses 7–10 days after facial cosmetic surgery as a planning window before flying, because of clot risk. Your own surgeon gives the personal clearance. This page does not say that any partner pays for admission, revision or the return flight. Sources: NHS advice on cosmetic surgery abroad, ASPS eyelid surgery safety.