Facial Fat Grafting in Nashville, TN

Facial Fat Transfer | Dr. Don Griffin, MD, FACS | Almost 30 Years Experience

A facelift lifts and tightens, but it does nothing to restore the volume the face has lost over time. That requires a separate step, and for Dr. Don Griffin, that step is almost always facial fat grafting. As the face ages, volume loss occurs in multiple areas simultaneously alongside skin laxity, jowling, and wrinkling. Addressing only one without the other produces an incomplete result. Younger patients who experience volume loss without significant skin laxity are also excellent candidates for fat grafting performed alone.

Restoring Youthful Volume With Your Own Tissue

Facial fat grafting transfers fat taken from another area of the body by liposuction, then injects microfat into the deeper layers of the face to restore lost volume, creating a fuller, more youthful facial contour. At Nashville Cosmetic Surgery, Dr. Don Griffin frequently combines fat grafting with facelift surgery, since addressing volume alongside sagging tends to produce a more complete and natural result. Curious whether fat grafting could restore volume to your face? Schedule a consultation to explore your options.

What Is Facial Fat Grafting?

Facial fat grafting, also called fat transfer or autologous fat grafting, uses a patient's own fat, harvested through gentle liposuction from areas like the abdomen or thighs, to restore volume to hollow or sunken areas of the face. Common treatment areas include the cheeks, temples, lips, and under-eye region, where volume loss is often one of the earliest signs of facial aging. Because the procedure uses a patient's own tissue, results tend to last significantly longer than injectable filler alternatives and integrate naturally with the surrounding facial anatomy. The fat becomes a living part of the face rather than a foreign substance placed within it.

Meet Dr. Don Griffin

Your Nashville Facial Fat Grafting Surgeon

Dr. Don Griffin is a dual board-certified plastic surgeon who completed his medical school training and general surgery residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, followed by fellowship training in plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. A member of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS) and the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ISAPS), he has specialized in cosmetic plastic surgery of the face, breast, and body for almost 30 years. As the son and grandson of surgeons, Dr. Griffin grew up with an early appreciation for symmetry and balance, values passed down through his family that eventually drew him to plastic surgery. That same eye for proportion plays a central role in fat grafting, where subtle differences in placement and technique can shift the entire look of the face. Dr. Griffin often recommends fat grafting as part of a broader facial rejuvenation plan, particularly for patients whose main concern is volume loss rather than sagging alone.

Benefits of Facial Fat Grafting

Because fat grafting uses a patient's own tissue, it offers a combination of natural results and an added benefit that most other procedures do not.

Restored volume in hollow or sunken areas of the face
A softer, more youthful facial contour
Natural-looking, long-lasting results using the body's own living tissue
A secondary contouring benefit at the fat harvest site
Significantly longer-lasting results compared to injectable fillers
An integrated component of facelift surgery for more complete rejuvenation

Schedule A Consultation

Request a Consult Call Us: (615) 206-2937

Are You a Good Candidate for Facial Fat Grafting?

You may be a good candidate if you have noticed hollowing in your cheeks, temples, lips, or under-eye area that makes your face look tired, gaunt, or older, even if your skin has not sagged significantly. Volume loss often precedes skin laxity, meaning fat grafting alone can be the right solution for patients who are not yet candidates for a facelift.

This procedure is also an excellent option for patients seeking a longer-lasting alternative to repeated filler injections. Good candidates are in good general health with enough donor fat available at the harvest site. During your consultation, Dr. Griffin will evaluate your facial volume patterns and discuss whether fat grafting alone, or in combination with a facelift, will best meet your goals.

“Dr. Griffin and his caring team has been nothing short of perfect. The attention to detail, care, and recovery support has been exceptional. I would highly recommend Dr. Griffin and his team for cosmetic surgical needs.”

Cheryl Startt

Fat Grafting Versus Dermal Filler: Which Is Right for You?

The right choice depends on how long you want results to last, whether you are comfortable with a surgical procedure, and how much volume you need to restore. Neither option is universally superior: the decision is anatomy-driven and goal-driven.

Some patients start with filler to preview a look before committing to fat grafting. Others move directly to grafting for its longevity and the secondary benefit of donor-site contouring. Dr. Griffin will discuss which approach makes the most sense for your anatomy, your timeline, and your goals during your consultation.

	Dermal Filler	Facial Fat Grafting
Tissue source	Synthetic or hyaluronic acid	Your own fat (autologous)
Procedure type	Non-surgical injection	Minor surgical procedure
Duration of results	Several months to 2 years	Long-lasting to permanent
Recovery	Minimal to none	1–2 weeks
Volume capacity	Moderate	Greater volume possible
Secondary benefit	None	Contouring at harvest site
Best for	Testing a look; smaller areas; maintenance	Long-term correction; larger volume needs; facelift combination

What to Expect During Your Facial Fat Grafting

Your facial fat grafting is performed at the NCS Surgical Center, our private accredited on-site facility. The procedure typically takes one to two hours when performed alone, or longer when combined with a facelift or other facial procedures in the same session. Dr. Griffin harvests fat through small incisions at the donor site, processes it into microfat and nanofat preparations, then carefully injects it in layers into the subcutaneous layers of the face. He will walk you through your specific donor and treatment areas during your consultation, along with realistic expectations for how much volume will remain long-term. Most patients return home the same day with clear recovery instructions and direct access to our clinical team.

Microfat and Nanofat: Dr. Griffin's Processing Technique

Not all fat grafting produces the same result. The outcome depends significantly on how the harvested fat is processed before injection. Dr. Griffin uses two distinct preparations depending on the treatment area and the goal. Microfat, fat processed into small, intact parcels, is used to restore volume in the cheeks, temples, jawline, and deeper facial structures, where bulk and structural support are needed. Nanofat, fat that has been further emulsified and filtered to a much finer consistency, is used in delicate areas such as the under-eye region and for overall skin quality improvement, where larger particles would be inappropriate. Nanofat contains a high concentration of regenerative cells that can improve skin texture and quality in addition to adding subtle volume. This distinction in processing technique produces more refined, targeted results than a single-preparation approach, and allows treatment to be precisely calibrated to each area of the face.

Recovery and Results Following Facial Fat Grafting

Recovery from facial fat grafting is generally well tolerated. Most patients describe the early period as swelling in the treated facial areas that may seem more pronounced than expected. This is normal, since some of the transferred fat is naturally reabsorbed by the body in the following weeks.

The face typically looks fuller than the final result in the first few weeks, then settles. Most patients take one to two weeks away from work and social activity. Swelling improves progressively, and most patients feel comfortable in public within two to three weeks.

Final results become clearer around three to six months, once the surviving fat has stabilized in its new location. The fat that survives this period is generally considered permanent. Our team checks in with you regularly throughout this process to monitor healing and answer questions.

Procedure	Return to Light Activity	Comfortable in Public	Final Results Visible
Fat grafting alone	5–7 days	2–3 weeks	3–6 months
Fat grafting + facelift	10–14 days	3–4 weeks	3–6 months
Fat grafting + additional facial procedures	10–14 days	3–4 weeks	3–6 months

Why Choose Nashville Cosmetic Surgery?

Fat grafting requires an artistic sense of proportion as much as surgical skill, and Dr. Griffin's almost 30 years of facial surgery experience reflect exactly that balance. Our private surgical center and concierge-style care mean every detail, from harvest site selection to final facial contour, is planned around your unique anatomy.

Dr. Griffin completed his medical school training and general surgery residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, followed by fellowship training in plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery, one of a small number of surgeons in Nashville to hold dual board certification in both disciplines. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, a member of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, and a member of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons. He has appeared on the RealSelf Top 100 list of leading cosmetic surgery experts. His nearly 30-year practice in Nashville operates within an accredited private surgical facility. Nashville Cosmetic Surgery serves facial fat grafting patients from Nashville, Belle Meade, Brentwood, Franklin, Green Hills, and throughout Middle Tennessee.

Facial Fat Grafting Frequently Asked Questions

Will all of the transferred fat survive permanently?

Not all of it. Some fat is naturally reabsorbed by the body in the months following surgery, which is why Dr. Griffin often transfers slightly more than the final desired volume. Fat grafting may be repeated if necessary to achieve the desired level of correction. Fat that survives the initial healing period is generally considered permanent.

How long do facial fat grafting results last?

Fat that survives the initial healing period is generally considered permanent, making results significantly longer-lasting than injectable fillers. Final volume becomes predictable at around three to six months, once the surviving fat has stabilized in its new location.

How much does facial fat grafting cost in Nashville?

Facial fat grafting pricing varies based on the number of treatment areas, whether the procedure is performed alone or combined with a facelift or other facial procedures, and the extent of volume restoration involved. Because every plan is customized to your facial anatomy and goals, pricing is discussed during your personal consultation after Dr. Griffin has evaluated your facial volume and developed a specific plan. Our team can discuss financing options at that time.

Can fat grafting be combined with a facelift?

Yes, and this is Dr. Griffin's most common approach to comprehensive facial rejuvenation. A facelift lifts and repositions tissue but does not restore volume. Fat grafting adds back what has been lost, producing a result that addresses all dimensions of facial aging rather than just one. The two procedures complement each other in a way that neither achieves independently.

Where does the fat come from?

Fat is typically harvested from areas with an adequate donor supply, such as the abdomen or thighs, through a gentle liposuction technique. The harvest site also experiences a secondary contouring benefit from the fat removal.

Is there scarring from the donor site?

Fat is harvested through very small incisions that typically heal with minimal, barely noticeable scarring. Dr. Griffin will discuss the planned donor site and expected incision placement during your consultation.

Schedule Your Facial Fat Grafting Consultation in Nashville

The best way to understand whether fat grafting is right for your face is to have the conversation. Dr. Griffin's consultations begin with a careful evaluation of your facial volume patterns: where loss has occurred, what the underlying anatomy looks like, and what a realistic plan would accomplish. From there, you make the decision with complete information. Nashville Cosmetic Surgery is located in Nashville, serving patients from Belle Meade, Brentwood, Franklin, Green Hills, and throughout Middle Tennessee. Request Your Consultation | Call (615) 206-2937