Facial fat grafting in Islamabad with Dr. Umbreen Munir Minhas moves a small amount of your own fat into hollow cheeks, temples and under-eye grooves for a softer, fuller face.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Umbreen Munir Minhas, MBBS, FCPS (Plastic Surgery). Last updated October 2026.
Facial fat grafting, also called facial fat transfer or lipofilling, takes fat from your abdomen or thighs by gentle liposuction. The fat is purified and injected in tiny amounts where the face has lost volume.
In a CT scan study that followed adults for 11 years, total facial fat fell from about 46.5 cc to 40.8 cc.
The deep fat pads of the midface shrink with age, and cheek fat loss usually starts in the 40s. The cheeks flatten, and the face starts to look tired and drawn.
Temple hollowing makes the forehead look narrow and the brow bone more prominent. It is common in slim people and after weight loss, and creams cannot replace the lost fat.
A deep groove between the lower lid and cheek casts a shadow that looks like a dark circle. Adding a little fat smooths the step and softens the shadow.
Rapid weight loss, illness or long training for sport can strip fat from the face first. In women, the facial bones also change noticeably between the ages of 41 and 64.
Fat placed over the cheekbones lifts the midface slightly and softens the folds beside the nose. It is the most common area treated in the face.
Filling the temples widens the upper face back to its younger shape. The fat sits deep, so the area looks smooth and natural from the front.
Very small amounts are threaded under thin lower lid skin. This area needs the most care, because too much fat can show as a visible lump.
Fat along the jaw and chin can sharpen a soft jawline and add mild chin projection. It suits small changes rather than a weak chin.
About 60% of the injected fat survives long term, so a little extra is placed at first. Judge the result after about 3 months, once swelling has gone. Photos below are shared with patient consent.
Illustrative images. See Dr. Umbreen’s patient results in the before and after gallery.
Dr. Umbreen maps the hollow areas on your face and checks your abdomen and thighs to choose a suitable donor area for the harvest.
Keep your weight stable before surgery. Stop smoking 4 to 6 weeks before, and stop aspirin and herbal supplements 2 weeks before.
It is done under local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia. Fat is placed through blunt cannulas, which lowers the chance of entering a blood vessel.
Most patients go home the same day. The face looks fuller than the final result at first, which is normal and part of the plan.
| Time After Surgery | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| Days 1 to 3 | The face is swollen and puffy, and the donor area feels sore. |
| Days 3 to 7 | Most people return to desk work. |
| Week 2 | Gym workouts and normal activity can restart. |
| Weeks 2 to 3 | Bruising on the face and donor area has faded. |
Wear the compression garment on the donor area day and night for at least 2 weeks. Do not massage or press the treated areas, as this can move the new fat.
A systematic review puts general complications at around 2%. Dr. Umbreen explains every risk before you sign consent.
Fat adds volume but does not lift loose, hanging skin. Jowls and a sagging neck need a lift, and pigment or fine wrinkles respond better to skin treatments.
Your fee is confirmed after consultation, once the areas and volume are planned. Ask for one written estimate covering surgeon, anesthesia and facility.
| Factor | How It Affects Your Fee |
|---|---|
| Number of areas | Cheeks alone cost less than cheeks, temples and under-eyes. |
| Sessions | A planned second session adds to the total. |
| Anesthesia | Local with sedation costs less than general. |
| Combined surgery | Adding a facelift or eyelid surgery changes the total. |
Check whether a quote includes both the fat harvest and the face injection, as some clinics price them separately.
Fat grafting is listed on her public profile, and she uses it in both cosmetic and reconstructive work. As a female surgeon, she aims for soft, feminine volume rather than an overfilled look.
Dermal fillers are hyaluronic acid gels injected in clinic to add volume without any harvesting.
| Feature | Facial Fat Grafting | Dermal Fillers |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Your own fat | Hyaluronic acid gel |
| How long it lasts | Surviving fat stays long term | Usually up to about a year |
| Can it be reversed? | No | Yes, with a dissolving enzyme |
| Recovery | Several days of swelling | Usually a day or less |
| Suited to | Larger areas and long-term volume | Small areas or a first trial |
Filler is a low-commitment way to see how added volume looks on your face before choosing fat for a longer-lasting change.
Dr. Umbreen sees patients privately at Omer Diagnostic & Specialist Clinics (ODC), 12-A, LG Floor, CBC Plaza, G-8 Markaz, Islamabad, Monday to Friday, 3:00 to 5:00 PM.
Bring a photo of yourself from 10 years ago, which shows exactly where your face has lost volume.
The face usually feels tight and swollen rather than painful. The donor area on the abdomen or thighs is often sorer for a few days, like a bruise.
Fat that survives the first few months behaves like normal fat and stays. It still ages with you and grows or shrinks if your body weight changes a lot.
One session is enough for most people. Larger hollows or very thin faces sometimes need a second session after a few months to build up volume safely.
Rarely. The face needs far less fat than a body procedure, and it can be taken from the inner thighs, abdomen, flanks or knees, so even slim patients usually have enough.
Yes. A facelift lifts sagging tissue, and fat replaces volume that has been lost. Combining them in one session gives a fuller, more natural result than either alone.
Some patients notice softer, brighter skin over grafted areas. Research into this effect is still limited, so treat it as a possible bonus rather than the main reason for surgery.
Patient guides on face surgery from Dr. Umbreen’s blog.
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