Facial Fat Grafting vs Fillers
Facial fat grafting vs dermal fillers compared: how each adds volume, how long it lasts, recovery, and which one Dr. Diego Franco recommends in Medellín.
At a glance
| Feature | Fat grafting | Dermal fillers |
|---|---|---|
| What it uses | Your own fat, moved from another area | A gel injected under the skin |
| How long it lasts | Fat that survives the transfer is permanent | Months to a couple of years, then it fades |
| Number of sessions | One surgical procedure | Repeat injections to keep the result |
| Recovery | Swelling for a week or two | Little downtime, some bruising |
| Best for | Larger volume loss, whole areas | Small touch-ups and early loss |
The difference in one line
Fat grafting moves your own fat from one part of the body to the face. Dermal fillers are a manufactured gel injected under the skin. One is surgery that gives a lasting change. The other is an office treatment that wears off.
How each one works
In fat grafting, the surgeon removes fat with liposuction, usually from the abdomen or thighs, purifies it, and injects it into areas that have lost volume, like the cheeks, temples and under the eyes. Some of the transferred fat reabsorbs, and the fat that survives stays for good. Fillers add volume in minutes with a needle, but the body breaks them down over time.
How long each one lasts
A filler result fades over months to a couple of years, and you return for more injections to keep it. Fat grafting has a longer recovery up front, but the fat that survives the transfer is permanent. That makes fat grafting the better value when you want one treatment instead of a repeating schedule.
Recovery
Fillers need almost no downtime. You may bruise at the injection points for a few days. Fat grafting is a surgical procedure, so expect swelling and bruising for a week or two, plus some soreness where the fat was taken from.
Which one fits you
Choose fillers if you want to try a change without surgery or if your volume loss is small and recent. Choose fat grafting if the loss is larger, affects whole areas, or you are already having a facial procedure and want the result to last. Dr. Franco tells you which approach matches your face after looking at your photos.
Cost
Both options are quoted by range in Medellín. Fillers cost per syringe and repeat over time. Fat grafting costs more in a single operation but does not need to be redone the same way. Your written quote depends on the areas you treat.
Related pages
- Facelift in Medellín: the full overview
- Deep plane facelift in detail
- Mini facelift: a smaller option
- Pricing overview
Next steps
Send three photos from the front and one from each side. Dr. Franco will tell you whether your face needs fat grafting, fillers, or neither.
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