Fat transfer to the lips is growing in popularity, especially among those seeking a more natural result. Also known as lip augmentation with fat grafting, a lip fat transfer is a cosmetic procedure that enhances lip volume using your own fat. This allows you to get plumper, fuller lips without introducing any foreign materials into the body. This creates results that feel natural with a very low risk of triggering an allergic reaction.
Like other facial fat augmentation procedures, such as fat transfer to the cheeks or fat transfer under the eyes, fat transfer to the lips involves taking donor fat from other areas of the body and then injecting it into the lips. This donor fat, harvested via liposuction, often comes from the stomach or thighs but can come from almost anywhere you have a little extra. The process entails the following steps:
Dermal fillers are often used to plump the lips and other areas that need a volume boost. While these fillers certainly have their place, a fat transfer to the lips offers several advantages. Lip augmentation with fat grafting:
This table provides a quick reference outlining the differences between fat transfer versus lip fillers.
| Factor | Fat Transfer | Lip Fillers |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Your own fat | Hyaluronic acid (synthetic) |
| Duration | Typically years | 6-12 months |
| Touch-Ups Needed | Occasionally | Frequently |
| Look & Feel | Soft and natural | Can appear overfilled |
| Risk of Reaction | Extremely low | Very low |
If you're considering a fat transfer to the lips, you may be wondering whether you're a good candidate. If you're looking for natural lip enhancement, or if you've tried fillers but would like a longer-term solution, a lip fat transfer could be right for you.
It's important that you have realistic expectations about what the procedure can do, as the results are often more subtle than those produced by fillers. Of course, you will also need to have enough donor fat available to get the job done. And, as always, we require that you be a nonsmoker or quit before the procedure.
A fat transfer to the lips isn't a highly invasive or grueling procedure, but it does require liposuction surgery. It's important that you properly prepare for surgery and take the steps necessary after for a smooth recovery.
Before your lip fat transfer, you will need to schedule a free virtual consultation to discuss your goals and candidacy for the procedure. You can also discuss any procedure you would like to combine with your lip fat transfer, such as a fat transfer to the nasolabial folds or a fat transfer to the tear troughs.
Together, you and your surgeon will identify the areas from which you wish to take the donor fat. At this time, you will also receive your pre-op instructions, including details about when to quit smoking and stop taking certain medications like blood thinners.
A fat transfer to the lips is usually a 60- to 90-minute appointment. The procedure is performed in your plastic surgeon's office or at an outpatient surgical center. Although you can be asleep, some patients choose awake liposuction, which utilizes local anesthetic and twilight sedation rather than general anesthesia. During the surgery, your plastic surgeon will use liposuction to harvest donor fat, purify it, and then inject some of it into your lips a little at a time to carefully achieve the desired results.
Recovery after a fat transfer to the lips is not difficult, but that doesn't mean it's not important. The best outcomes happen when patients follow their post-op care instructions diligently. There are a few things you can expect to experience as you recover, and a few things you can do to make your recovery easier:
As is true for all fat transfer to the face procedures, you can expect your results to last for years. Some of the transferred fat cells will die, but this is expected and planned for. You will likely lose about 30 to 40% of the fat your surgeon places in your lips, but they will account for this when initially injecting the fat.
The fat that does survive will develop its own blood supply and enjoy a permanent place in your lips. It is possible that you could need occasional touch-ups as the aging process relentlessly marches on, but these will be few and far between if you need them at all.
All surgical procedures carry some degree of risk, but experienced plastic surgeons use advanced techniques to significantly reduce the complications associated with lip fat grafting. Just how do plastic surgeons manage these risks? We're happy to explain.
Plastic surgeons avoid overfilling the lips or creating asymmetry by using microinjections. These tiny injections allow the surgeon to layer the injections on top of each other slowly, using very conservative volumes. Even so, your results may look a little over-the-top in the first few days following surgery. This occurs because surgeons sometimes slightly overfill the lips intentionally to account for the fat cells that will die and be absorbed by the body.
Lumps and an overly firm feel are minimized by purifying the fat thoroughly and injecting it evenly to avoid clumping. Post-op massage can also help smooth out results, but only if your surgeon recommends it. Infection is also a risk but is managed by antibiotics before, during, and after the procedure.
Swelling and bruising are common after surgery and generally can't be avoided completely. You can reduce them by applying cold compresses, keeping your head elevated, and avoiding pressure on your lips. For the best possible outcome, you need to partner with your plastic surgeon and do your part. Following your pre-op and post-op instructions carefully will help reduce the risk of complications.
Although a fat transfer to the lips provides longer-lasting results than lip fillers, it also requires a longer recovery period. Your results can also be less predictable thanks to fat reabsorption causing potential lumpiness. An experienced surgeon minimizes these potential drawbacks and will be happy to discuss them with you if you have concerns.
Rarely. We can’t say it never happens, but because they use the patient’s own fat, lip fat transfers tend to look soft and natural. Your lips will also feel more natural than they would with fillers. Overfilling is usually easily avoided by an experienced and skilled plastic surgeon.
Many patients find the long-term cost savings, softer results, and lower maintenance worth making the switch, especially after years of regular filler appointments. A fat transfer to the lips is more expensive initially, but over time, the cost of all those filler touch-up appointments really adds up.
Of course! You can refresh the look of your lip fat transfer later if it becomes necessary. You can also opt to have several sessions to build volume in your lips slowly over time. Some surgeons will freeze the fat taken during liposuction for up to a year, but others prefer injecting fresh fat and will require multiple lipo sessions if you wish to build volume gradually.
In a word, yes. Fat tends to feel softer, especially over time. Fillers can sometimes feel firmer or gel-like. Different types of fillers can feel different. At Mia Aesthetics, we exclusively use Juvéderm hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers for the most natural option. HA fillers still may not feel as natural as fat, however.
There is, unfortunately, always a slight chance of unevenness in the lips after a fat transfer. The risk is very low when working with a qualified plastic surgeon, but even the best doctor can’t predict or control exactly how your body will reabsorb transferred fat. It may do so in a way that leaves behind uneven results. If it does, a touch-up will even things out.