Face contouring
Facial fat grafting in Korea
Facial fat grafting moves your own fat, usually from the thigh or abdomen, into hollow areas such as the forehead, temples, cheeks or under the eyes. It suits a thin or sunken face. Under sedation it takes 30 minutes to 1 hour. Stitches are removed on day 7 to 10, so most people plan 7 to 10 days in Seoul.
Who is a good candidate for facial fat grafting?
- Your face looks thin or hollow, for example at the temples, forehead, cheeks or under the eyes
- You want softer contours with your own tissue instead of filler
- You are a man with a thin face, or hollows that make a strong brow, cheekbone or jaw look harsh
- You have some fat to spare on your thighs or abdomen
When it may not be the right choice
- Your main concern is loose or sagging skin. Fat adds volume but does not lift skin, and a facelift may suit you better
- You want a change that is quick, easy to adjust and needs little recovery. Filler may suit you better
- You have very little body fat to take from
Which method fits you?
Facial fat grafting is also called facial fat transfer. The clinic offers it on its own and with PRP, including a version tailored to men. The steps are the same. The difference is what is mixed into the fat.
| Method | What happens | Suits | Downtime |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fat grafting | Your own fat is taken with a thin tube, cleaned and injected in small amounts into hollow areas. | Hollow temples, forehead, cheeks, smile lines or chin, and a thin face | About 1 week. Stitches out on day 7 to 10 |
| Fat grafting with PRP | The same steps, with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) from a small sample of your blood mixed into the fat. | The same areas. Studies suggest PRP may help more fat survive, but results vary between studies | About 1 week, the same as fat grafting alone |
What happens on the day of facial fat grafting?
- Consultation. The surgeon marks the hollow areas on your face and chooses where to take fat from, usually the thigh or abdomen.
- You are given sedation and stay deeply relaxed while fat is taken and then injected into your face.
- Fat is taken through tiny openings with a thin tube, cleaned and injected into the face in small amounts. With PRP, a small blood sample is prepared and mixed in. About 30 minutes to 1 hour in total.
- The small openings are closed with fine stitches. You rest, then go back to your hotel the same day.
What is recovery like after facial fat grafting?
- Days 1 to 3
- Swelling and bruising on the face are at their peak, and the area where fat was taken feels sore. Your face can look fuller than the final result.
- Days 7 to 10
- Stitches come out. Most visible swelling has gone down, and most people are back to daily life after about a week.
- Weeks 2 to 4
- Some swelling and firmness remain. Avoid pressing or massaging the treated areas unless your surgeon tells you to.
- Months 3 to 6
- The fat that has survived has settled, and the result is usually judged now. Some people plan a second session for areas that lost volume.
How long should you stay in Seoul after facial fat grafting?
A stay of 7 to 10 days in Seoul fits facial fat grafting, because the stitches at the small openings come out on day 7 to 10 and you fly once they are out. Your face can look fuller than the final result at first, so some swelling on the flight is normal. For the first week or two, keep away from saunas and alcohol and do not press on the treated areas.
What are the risks of facial fat grafting?
- Rarely, fat enters a blood vessel and causes vision loss or a stroke. Reported cases most often involve the forehead, the area between the brows, the temples and the nose. If your vision changes, or you have severe pain or a change in skin color after treatment, get emergency care first, then tell the clinic. Sudden weakness of the face or an arm, or slurred speech, is also an emergency
- Part of the fat is absorbed, sometimes unevenly, so a second session may be needed
- Lumps, uneven areas or an overfilled look, which may need correction
- Swelling, bruising and soreness on the face and where fat was taken
- Infection, or small firm lumps where grafted fat has not survived
- Dents or uneven areas where the fat was taken, and the general risks of sedation
What affects the cost of facial fat grafting in Korea?
Facial fat grafting has no price on this page yet. The clinic works one out from your photos. What changes the quote: the number of hollow areas filled, the amount of fat they need, whether PRP is mixed in, and any other surgery, such as a facelift, done at the same time. A clear written quote names the surgeon, lists the treated areas and the donor site, and says whether a second session is included or charged separately.
More questions
How long does facial fat grafting last?
Part of the fat is absorbed in the first months. The fat that survives after that tends to stay. It takes several months to see the lasting result, and some people need a second session.
Should I choose fat grafting or filler?
Filler is quick, needs no fat harvest and wears off over time. Fat grafting uses your own tissue and lasts longer once it settles, but it is surgery with a week or so of recovery. Rarely, injected fat can block a blood vessel, so ask the surgeon how they lower this risk in each area. The surgeon can tell you which suits the areas you want to treat.
What is PRP fat grafting?
PRP is platelet-rich plasma, prepared from a small sample of your blood and mixed into the fat before it is injected. Some studies suggest it helps more fat survive, but methods and results vary, so the evidence is not settled.
Is facial fat grafting done for men?
Yes. The clinic offers PRP fat grafting tailored to men, for a thin face or hollows that make strong bones look harsh. The surgery time and recovery are the same.
When can I fly home after facial fat grafting?
Most people fly after the stitches come out on day 7 to 10. Some facial swelling on the flight is normal.
Related procedures
Sources
- Clinic figures as published by Urban Plastic Surgery, collected October 3, 2026. Your surgeon confirms your own plan.
- Autologous Fat Grafting for Facial Rejuvenation. StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf, US National Library of Medicine
- Facial fat grafting vs facial fillers. American Society of Plastic Surgeons
- Complications Associated with Facial Autologous Fat Grafting for Aesthetic Purposes: A Systematic Review of the Literature. PubMed Central, US National Library of Medicine
- Arterial Embolism After Facial Fat Grafting: A Systematic Literature Review. PubMed Central, US National Library of Medicine
- Symptoms of a stroke. NHS
- A Systematic Review of Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma and Fat Graft Preparation Methods. PubMed, US National Library of Medicine
Cases and clinic figures come from our partner clinic, Urban Plastic Surgery. The partnership does not change what we publish about risks and recovery.