Safe and professional
Felt I was in very safe and professional hands from my first consultation with Bo. ESPECIALLY on the day of the operation itself, when I was very n…
Thomas Hansen
About the treatment
Fat grafting is an advanced treatment that restores volume using the body's own fat and gives soft, natural results.
Fat can be harvested gently from an area with excess fatty tissue, such as the abdomen, the thighs or the flanks, and is carefully purified before being injected precisely into the desired area. Because the treatment uses your own tissue, the result both looks and feels natural.
The method can be used to restore volume in the face, improve the shape of the breasts or buttocks, refine the body's contours, correct unevenness or rejuvenate the hands.
At Caolín, every treatment is planned individually, with a focus on surgical perfection, safety and a result that enhances your natural proportions.
At a glance
- Price
- On request
- Surgery time
- 1–3 hours
- Anaesthesia
- General anaesthetic
- Hospital stay
- 1-3 hours
- Downtime
- Days to weeks
- Final result
- After 3-6 months
What is fat grafting?
Fat grafting is a treatment in which the body's own fat is transferred from one place to another to add volume, improve contours or smooth out unevenness. The fat is first harvested by liposuction from a donor area such as the abdomen, the thighs or the flanks. The collected fat is purified and prepared, after which it is injected precisely into the desired area.
Because it is the body's own tissue that is used, the result is natural both to look at and to touch. The method is also known as lipofilling or fat injection, and is used today for a wide range of purposes, such as the face, breasts, buttocks and hands.
Approximately 50–70% of the transplanted fat survives permanently. The rest is naturally reabsorbed by the body. The final result is typically assessed after approximately 3 months. Longevity depends on healing, weight stability and lifestyle, as the transplanted fat behaves like any other body fat.
When is fat grafting relevant?
As some of the transplanted fat is naturally reabsorbed by the body in the months after the treatment, a follow-up treatment may be needed to achieve the desired result.
Volume loss in the face
With age, the cheeks, temples and lips lose their natural fullness, and fat grafting can restore a younger and more rested appearance.
Unevenness after liposuction or weight loss
Small ”dents” or asymmetries can be smoothed out with transferred fat.
Breast augmentation with your own fat (BFO)
For patients who want a more discreet augmentation without an implant.
Shaping the buttocks (BBL – Brazilian Butt Lift)
Fat is transferred to the buttocks for increased volume and a rounder, lifted shape.
Scars and skin quality
Fat contains stem cells that can improve the skin's texture and elasticity around scars or in aged skin.
Hands
Loss of subcutaneous fat can give the hands a thin appearance with visible veins. Fat grafting can smooth this out.
Technique and procedure
Fat harvesting
The fat is harvested gently with a fine cannula to preserve the viability of the fat cells. The method resembles ordinary liposuction, but is carried out more carefully to ensure a good survival rate for the transplanted fat.
Purification and preparation
The harvested fat is purified of blood, fluid and damaged cells, so that only healthy, viable fat cells are used for the graft.
Injection
The fat is injected in thin layers and from several angles, so that it is distributed evenly and gets the best possible blood supply, which is crucial for the fat cells to survive and for the result to be even.
Combination options
Liposuction
Fat grafting by its very nature requires liposuction of the donor area, and the two procedures are therefore performed at the same time.
Thigh lift or arm lift
Fat removed during these procedures can be reused for, say, a BBL or facial volume.
Facelift
Fat grafting is often combined with a facelift to restore both contour and volume.
Breast lift
BFO can be combined with a lift if the breast has also lost firmness.
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Questions and answers
Here you'll find the whole process step by step — from consultation to your first weeks at home. If there's anything you can't find an answer to, bring it along to your consultation.
The result is permanent, but some of the transplanted fat (typically 30-50%) is naturally reabsorbed by the body during the first 3-4 months. The fat that survives this period, on the other hand, remains permanently in its new location. (The result can, however, be altered by large fluctuations in weight).
The treatment is usually carried out under general anaesthetic, so the procedure itself is painless. Afterwards, there may be tenderness both in the donor area and where the fat has been injected, similar to after ordinary liposuction.
It depends on how much fat needs to be harvested and how many areas are being treated, but most treatments take between 1 and 3 hours.
There will be swelling for the first 2-4 weeks, which can make the area look larger than the final result. It typically takes 3-4 months before the swelling has completely gone and the fat that has survived has settled permanently.
There must be sufficient fatty tissue available in a donor area – typically the abdomen, hips or thighs. If you are very slim, an individual assessment is made at the consultation as to whether there is enough fat to achieve the desired result. As a general rule, however, even slim individuals can undergo fat grafting.
Every treatment at Caolín starts with a thorough, no-obligation consultation, where the surgeon assesses your donor areas (fat deposits), the anatomy of the area to be treated and the amount of volume you want. You then receive guidance on the technique and distribution that will give the best and most natural result.
You are welcome to bring someone with you, and there is always a minimum of 7 days' reflection time from the consultation to any surgery.
Yes. As it is your own fat cells that have been moved, they will behave like fat cells elsewhere in the body. That means they can shrink with significant weight loss.
Most people can return to work and lighter activities after 3-7 days. More strenuous physical activity and exercise should be avoided for 3-4 weeks, depending on which area has been treated.
As with all surgical procedures, there is a risk of infection and bleeding. Specifically for fat grafting, fat cysts or calcifications can occur in rare cases if some of the transplanted fat does not survive. There is also a risk of asymmetry or unevenness if the fat does not distribute completely evenly, as well as a smaller risk that the fat cells are reabsorbed faster than expected, so that the result is less than desired.
The process
What to expect at Caolín
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Consultation
You meet an experienced plastic surgeon for a thorough consultation, where your wishes, expectations and treatment goals are discussed and your anatomy is assessed. You will receive information about the procedure, the expected results, the healing process and the risks. You are of course welcome to bring a relative with you.
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Before the surgery
Before the surgery, you will receive thorough guidance on medication, smoking, dietary supplements and fasting. Good preparation gives the best conditions for a safe and reassuring process.
On the day of surgery, you are welcomed by our team, and the plan is gone through one last time before the treatment area is marked.
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During the surgery
The surgery is performed under general anaesthetic and typically takes 1-3 hours, depending on the extent. The fat is harvested by liposuction, purified and injected with a fine cannula into the desired areas.
The incisions are so small that they rarely need stitches. If they do need stitching, they are closed with dissolvable sutures and covered with tape, absorbent dressings and a compression bandage.
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After the surgery
You are monitored in the recovery room and can usually be discharged after a few hours. For the first 24 hours you should have an adult with you, as the anaesthetic can cause tiredness, nausea and dizziness.
For the first few weeks, swelling, tenderness and a feeling of tightness are entirely to be expected.
Book a free consultation at Caolín
Your journey begins with a personal consultation. Here we go through your wishes and options, so that together we can create a treatment plan that feels right for you.
The specialists
Bo Sonnich Rasmussen, MD, PHD
Founder & Chief Plastic Surgeon
Bo Sonnich Rasmussen is a consultant in plastic surgery and one of the Nordic region's leading specialists in cosmetic breast surgery and advanced facial surgery, and one of the few surgeons to master endoscopic facelifts with no visible scars. He holds a PhD in breast reconstruction with stem cell-enriched fat transfer and is internationally recognised for his work and research in the field.
Frederik Kølle, MD, PHD
Founder & Chief Plastic Surgeon
Frederik Kølle is a certified and internationally recognised plastic surgeon specialising in facial and cosmetic surgery as well as advanced fat transfer and body contouring. He is among the leading experts in the Nordic region and masters the full spectrum of facial and breast surgery.
Related treatments
Financing your treatment
We offer financing so you can spread the cost. If you have any questions about financing, you are always welcome to contact us – or ask at your consultation.
The calculation is for guidance only. Credit assessment and terms are set by Resurs Bank.