Fat Grafting in San Diego

Name: Fat Grafting
Brand: Gupta Plastic Surgery
Rating: 4.7 (72 reviews)

Fat grafting restores youthful volume and enhances your natural contours. The procedure uses liposuction to gently remove fat from one area of the body and strategically place it in another.

woman standing next to a huge fern leaf in brown bathing suit

What Is Fat Grafting?

Fat grafting, also known as fat transfer, is a cosmetic procedure that uses your own natural fat to restore volume and improve contour in targeted areas of the body. Many patients in San Diego choose fat grafting to enhance their appearance using a natural approach that avoids synthetic fillers. During the procedure, fat is gently removed from areas such as the abdomen, thighs, or flanks, processed for purity, and then carefully injected into areas that need added volume.

The most common treatment areas include:

Face to restore youthful fullness to the cheeks, under-eye area, or temples
Breasts to enhance shape or improve symmetry
Buttocks to create full, natural contours
Hands to smooth thin or aging skin

Fat grafting can be performed on its own or combined with other cosmetic procedures to enhance overall results. During your consultation is San Diego, your surgeon will help determine whether fat grafting is appropriate for your goals and anatomy.

Begin Your Journey Schedule A Consultation

Why Choose Dr. Gupta for Fat Grafting?

Dr. Gupta is a board-certified plastic surgeon with more than 25 years of experience and subspecialty training at world-renowned institutions. When you choose him for fat grafting in Encinitas or San Diego, you can expect:

Personalized care: Every consultation, surgery, and follow-up is performed directly by Dr. Gupta
Surgical precision: Including careful harvesting, purification, and placement of fat for maximum retention and smooth results
Natural artistry: With an emphasis on balance and subtle enhancement, not exaggerated changes

Learn More about The Science of Fat Grafting

Benefits of Fat Grafting

Natural Results Using Your Own Tissue

Fat grafting uses your body’s own fat cells, creating results that look and feel natural while blending seamlessly with your existing features. Because no synthetic materials are used, there is a minimal risk of allergic reaction or rejection.

Enhanced Contouring at Both Donor and Treatment Areas

Fat is gently removed from areas such as the abdomen, thighs, or flanks, helping refine the donor site while restoring volume where it is needed. This dual benefit allows for smoother, more balanced body and facial contours.

Long-Lasting Results

Once transferred fat cells establish a blood supply, they can remain in place for many years. This makes fat grafting a durable option for restoring volume and improving shape when compared to temporary fillers.

Improved Skin Quality and Texture

Fat contains regenerative cells that may improve skin tone, elasticity, and overall texture at the treatment site, offering benefits beyond simple volume restoration.

Versatile Treatment Options

Fat grafting can be used to restore youthful fullness to the face, enhance breast shape or symmetry, create natural-looking buttock contours, and rejuvenate aging hands, making it a highly adaptable cosmetic solution.

No Implants or Synthetic Fillers Required

Because fat grafting relies entirely on your own tissue, it is an appealing option for patients in San Diego seeking a more natural approach to facial and body enhancement.

Who Is a Candidate for Fat Grafting in San Diego?

Fat grafting is a versatile procedure that can benefit many patients in San Diego who want natural volume enhancement without implants or synthetic fillers. Ideal candidates typically:

Have enough excess fat for harvesting
Want to restore or enhance volume
Are in good overall health
Prefer a natural approach to enhancement

A personalized consultation with your surgeon is the best way to determine if fat grafting aligns with your goals, anatomy, and desired results.

Your Consultation in San Diego

During your consultation, Dr. Gupta will assess your donor areas and determine where added volume will create the most balanced and natural-looking improvement. He’ll also evaluate your skin tone, tissue quality, and overall proportions to decide if fat grafting can deliver the outcome you want. From there, he will explain each step of the process, from fat harvesting and purification to precise reinjection techniques that maximize fat survival.

You’ll learn how your own fat can be used to restore volume to the breasts, buttocks, face, and more. Together, you’ll review realistic expectations, recovery details, and how long-lasting results are achieved through his meticulous and layered approach. Throughout this appointment, Dr. Gupta’s focus will be on education, comfort, and safety. His reconstructive background and decades of surgical experience ensure that every plan is customized for harmony, proportion, and lasting beauty.

The Fat Grafting Procedure

Step 1: Harvesting

Dr. Gupta will perform gentle liposuction to remove fat from your abdomen, flanks, or thighs.

Step 2: Purification

From there, he will process and purify the harvested fat to isolate the healthiest cells for the transfer.

Step 3: Placement

He will meticulously inject the purified fat into the treatment area in small amounts, ensuring smooth integration and long-lasting results.

Recovery and Results

Your recovery after fat grafting will depend on the treatment area and how much fat was transferred. Most of our San Diego and Encinitas patients experience mild swelling and bruising in both the donor and recipient sites.

Downtime: You can expect to resume light activity within a few days
Results: Early improvements are visible right away, with the final results emerging in several weeks
Longevity: Fat that successfully integrates with your body will remain in place, although some volume loss can occur over time

Fat Grafting Frequently Asked Questions

How much fat is needed for the procedure?

It depends on your treatment goals and how much fat you have available. Dr. Gupta can provide a definitive, personalized answer for you during your consultation.

Is fat grafting permanent?

Once the transferred fat establishes a blood supply, the results will be extremely long-lasting. With that said, some patients benefit from a maintenance procedure moving forward.

How is the fat prepared before it’s injected?

After liposuction, Dr. Gupta will carefully purify the harvested fat to remove excess fluid, oil, and damaged cells. He uses advanced filtration and gentle handling techniques to preserve the integrity of the healthy fat cells. This improves fat retention and creates smoother, more consistent results.

What techniques does Dr. Gupta use for fat placement?

Dr. Gupta uses a microinjection technique, placing tiny amounts of purified fat in multiple layers of tissue. This approach allows each droplet to establish its own blood supply, increasing graft retention and creating even volume. It also gives him the ability to precisely sculpt subtle contours.

Can fat grafting be combined with other cosmetic procedures?

Yes, fat grafting is often combined with other procedures such as facial rejuvenation surgery, breast procedures, or body contouring to enhance overall results. Combining treatments can create more balanced outcomes and may reduce overall recovery time. Your surgeon will determine the best approach based on your goals and health history.

How much downtime should I expect after fat grafting?

Most patients experience mild swelling and bruising for one to two weeks after fat grafting. Downtime varies depending on the treatment area and whether the procedure is combined with other surgeries, but many San Diego patients return to light activities within a few days.

Will fat grafting feel natural once healed?

Yes. Because fat grafting uses your own tissue, the transferred fat typically feels soft and natural once healing is complete. As swelling subsides and the fat integrates, the treated area moves and responds like natural tissue.

Can fat grafting improve skin quality as well as volume?

In addition to restoring volume, fat grafting may improve skin texture and quality due to the regenerative cells contained within fat. Many patients notice smoother, healthier-looking skin in the treated area over time.

Schedule Your Fat Grafting Consultation

If you’re considering naturally enhancing your body contours, schedule your consultation for fat grafting in San Diego or Encinitas with Gupta Plastic Surgery today.