Medically Reviewed By: Dr. Anup Dhir (Last Updated: 09 Nov 2026)
Fat grafting, also called fat transfer, moves fat from one part of your body to another. A plastic surgeon takes fat from the abdomen, flanks or thighs by gentle liposuction, cleans it and injects it into the face, breasts, hands, buttocks or scars to restore volume. Part of the fat is absorbed in the first months, so results are not fully predictable. Dr. Anup Dhir performs fat grafting in Delhi after an in-person assessment.
| Fat grafting | Dermal fillers | Implants | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Material | Your own fat | Gel such as hyaluronic acid | Silicone or saline device |
| Surgery needed | Yes, liposuction and injection | No, clinic injection | Yes, implant placement |
| Lasts | Part of it stays, often long term | Months to a couple of years | Years, with possible replacement |
| Best for | Natural volume in face, hands, small breast changes | Small, quick, reversible changes | Large, predictable volume change |
| Main drawback | Unpredictable survival, two sites to heal | Repeat treatment | Foreign material, revision surgery |
Good things about fat grafting.
Many people wonder if fat grafting can help with cellulite. Cellulite makes skin look dimpled and uneven on thighs, hips or buttocks.
Fat grafting might improve cellulite in some patients by filling in the spots and smoothing out contours. It can also make skin look better in some cases.
Fat is used on the cheeks, temples, jawline and hollows that appear with age or weight loss. Small amounts are placed in thin layers through fine cannulas. Surgeons usually add slightly more than the final amount because some will be absorbed. The skin under the eyes needs a conservative approach, because lumps and unevenness show more there, and other options may suit that area better.
Fat grafting can make modest changes to breast size and shape, improve contour after surgery, or refine a reconstruction. It will not match the volume change of an implant. Some fat may harden into small lumps called fat necrosis, and these can be seen on breast imaging. Tell your radiologist about the procedure, and keep records.
However, deaths have been reported around the world who had buttock fat transferred with fat being injected into or below the muscle and therefore entered into large veins. The main plastic surgery organizations recommend placing fat only in the subcutaneous layer. Discuss with any surgeon why the fat goes somewhere else and how he/she can ascertain the depth of the cannula. If it doesn't provide a specific answer to the question then look for a different surgeon.
As people get older, hands will start to lose fat and veins and tendons will become visible. Fat grafting replaces padding, but the skin may remain thin. Fat can soften tight, stiff or sunken scars such as burn and surgical scars in scars. This is frequently performed in conjunction with other scar treatment.
People are marked up while standing because the body is different in lying down. Small areas can be done under local anaesthetic with sedation and larger areas under general anaesthetic. The surgeon removes the fat using small incisions with a thin tube (cannula) and separates the fat from the blood and fluid. It is injected in small quantities from a number of angles using very fine cannulas, to distribute evenly. The length of time in the operating room will be based on the number of areas treated.
The time needed for grafting depends on the area being treated and how much fat needs to be moved. Small facial procedures may not take time, while bigger body contouring procedures can take more time.
You might be a fit for fat grafting if:
Fat grafting should not be used if there is not an adequate supply of donor fat, if the patient is pregnant, if they have an infection or if they have a bleeding disorder that has not been evaluated. Surgery requires patients to quit smoking in advance as it will compromise blood flow and increase fat loss. Diabetes increases risk of infection and slow healing. Let Dr. Dhir know of all medications you use, including blood thinners.
Soreness and bruising at the donor site should be anticipated in the first week and swelling and bruising where fat was placed. Follow compression garment instructions; do not press on treated areas. Most people return to work within a few days or weeks, but if there is swelling of the face, more time will be needed. The bruising and swelling have cleared up by weeks 2-6. At three to six months, the result is clearer as most of the fat that will be absorbed is gone. Only strenuous exercise after the surgeon has given permission.
One common question patients ask is how long fat grafting results last. The body naturally absorbs some of the transferred fat during healing. The remaining fat cells usually stay for a time. Final results become clearer after swelling goes down.
Keeping a healthy weight and lifestyle can help make results last longer. When you are thinking about getting grafting done in Delhi, it is a good idea to have a consultation first.
This consultation is very important because it helps the doctor understand what you want to achieve with grafting. The doctor will ask you about the things that are bothering you, what you hope to get from the treatment, and they will also want to know about your history and which parts of your body you want to work on. The doctor uses all this information to make a treatment plan that is just right for you.
There are some clinics that offer stem cell fat grafting, adipose-derived regenerative cells or stromal vascular fraction. The concept is that additional cells are found in the fat that promote survival or skin quality. There are limited indications that this is more effective than standard, properly prepared fat grafting and no clinic can guarantee it. Nanofat is fat that has been broken down into a fine liquid. Completely lacks intact fat cells and it is not used for volume, but rather for skin quality. Inquire what is being done to the fat before it returns to the clinic and if this step is permitted in India.
Ensure photos are all taken in the same light, angle, pose and that after photos are at least 3 months old. The image is captured a few weeks after surgery – not the outcome. Question the patients if they undergo any other procedure concurrently and if editing is performed. Exercise caution with any gallery that only presents ‘best cases'.
Support the donor area with the garment, treat the area following facial grafting by sleeping with head elevated and refrain from pressing or massaging treated areas unless instructed. Adequate hydration and no smoking.
Here are some tips to follow for healing:
The consultation fee will be Rs. 2,000, either online or cliniques. Ideal treatment cost for fat grafting in delhi is ₹58,300 – ₹1,11,247 and it varies according to the number of areas treated, the amount of fat removed, the anaesthetic used, the clinic and if the procedure is combined with another treatment. If it's a second session, it will be a second cost, so ask before you begin how much does a touch-up cost?
Find out if it's a formal plastic surgery training and inquire how many fat grafting cases they have performed annually. Request to view pictures of babies that have the same needs who were photographed at three months or later. Inquire about the consequences if you need a touch-up, who will attend to emergencies, and where the surgery will take place. Dr. Anup Dhir is based in 101, Ansal Tower, 38 Nehru Place, near Nehru Place Metro Station, New Delhi.
Fat deposits tend to be found where there is a comfortable overproduction, typically, in the abdomen, flanks, inner thighs or hips. Surgeons prefer an area that will be fat that will also enhance the contour. Slender individuals might not have sufficient fat on which to graft and this too can be the difference between fat grafting failure and success. Small incisions and a little numbness will occur at the donor site after liposuction.
Never smoke before or after surgery. The surgeon might want you to stop aspirin, some painkillers, herbal supplements, and blood thinners, but never stop a medication prescribed by your doctor. Have someone pick them up at home and return them home during the first couple of days. Clothes that can be purchased separately are preferable and the compression garment should be brought if one was used to fit.
Symptoms include bruising, swelling, tightness and soreness. Rare complications include infection, lumps or hard areas, irregular results, fat necrosis, and irregular contour of the donor site. In rare cases, fat can travel into a blood vessel and damage it, and in some cases lead to damage to the lungs, eye and skin. That is why it is important to have good technique and that the surgeon has depth and experience. If pain increases, if there is fever, if the area becomes red and spreads, if vision becomes affected or if breathing becomes difficult, call the clinic.
It will not tighten loose skin, eliminate wrinkles by itself or provide a guaranteed shape. It will not prevent the ageing of the face. If you are mainly worried about the laxity in your skin, then a skin lift or other skin procedure might be more appropriate for you. Any surgeon worth his salt will let you know that from the first appointment, not after you pay.
Fat grafting is routinely performed in conjunction with a facelift, eyelift, liposuction and/or breast surgery. A longer operation, more swelling to deal with and one anaesthetic and one recovery. Dr. Anup Dhir will suggest if it is advisable to do so for your situation or if this is best staged.
Dr. Anup Dhir inquires what you want to alter, checks out the donor and treatment areas, and reviews your health history. He describes when it's an appropriate technique to use, what might be possible, and what may be alternative techniques. A written plan that outlines the costs and timeline is provided. Take any old photographs and list of medicines.