qd fat grafting
Facial fat grafting restores volume to areas that have flattened or hollowed with age — the forehead, temples, cheeks and more — using your own fat. At QD Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, fat is gently harvested from a donor area such as the abdomen or thighs, purified, then injected in fine micro-droplets at several depths. It is performed under local anesthesia, often with light sedation. Because a portion of grafted fat is naturally reabsorbed, the retained volume varies. (Results vary by individual.)
is this for me
Who it’s for
Even if none of these describes you, we will look again at the consultation.
- Hollow or flat areas — temples, cheeks, forehead — that look tired or aged
- A wish to soften smile lines or add balance to the facial contour
- A preference for your own tissue rather than filler for volume
Because some grafted fat is reabsorbed, a touch-up may be considered; whether fat grafting or filler suits your goals is decided at consultation.
Before you pick a treatment name, start with the cause of your concern.
start with your concern
Even a treatment with the same name takes on a different role and scope depending on your current structure, the change you want, what you have had before and the recovery time you have.
01
Where you are now, and where we start
Volume distribution, how much is grafted where, and how differently it takes
02
The change you want, the impression you keep
We check the front and side views and expression, left-right differences, skin and deep tissue, and scars and function from earlier surgery.
03
How it differs from similar options
We compare incision and dissection, how much is removed, repositioned or fixed, the pros and cons of materials, and the option of no surgery at all.
04
Health information and recovery schedule
Anesthesia, preventing bleeding and infection, wound care, swelling and changes in sensation, and when to be seen again — all in one plan.
the
principle
We explain the donor site, the purification method and the individual variation in layer, volume and survival, then plan volume in stages instead of overcorrecting.
Fat grafting has three stages: harvest, purification and injection. Fat is gently harvested by liposuction from a donor area such as the abdomen or thighs, then purified — spun or filtered — to concentrate healthy fat and remove fluid and debris. The purified fat is injected in fine micro-droplets at several depths, so each droplet is surrounded by tissue and can establish a blood supply. Common areas include the forehead, temples, front cheek, cheeks, smile lines, front chin, or the full face. A portion of the graft is reabsorbed in the months after surgery, and the fat that survives can be long-lasting.
How it works
01
Three stages: harvest, purify, inject
Fat is gently harvested by liposuction from a donor area such as the abdomen or thighs, purified to concentrate healthy fat and remove fluid, then injected.
02
Micro-droplets at several depths
The purified fat is placed in fine micro-droplets at several depths so each droplet is surrounded by tissue and can establish a blood supply, which supports survival.
03
Your own tissue
Because it uses your own fat rather than a manufactured product, the fat that survives can be long-lasting, and it is placed to restore areas that have flattened or hollowed with age.
04
Some reabsorption is expected
A portion of the graft is reabsorbed over the first months, so the area may be slightly over-filled at first and a touch-up considered later. Performed under local anesthesia, often with light sedation.
The same treatment, never the same plan.
the qd standard
Rather than a fashionable name or a fixed package, we weigh the structure found at examination, safety, recovery and the limits within one plan.
- 01DIAGNOSIS FIRSTCause before nameWe first separate out the tissue and the function behind your concern.
- 02LESS, PRECISEOnly as much as neededRather than an excessive change, we plan the smallest scope with a clear role.
- 03HONEST LIMITThe limits, explained tooWe explain the change you can expect, the alternatives, individual differences and the risks.
From consultation to follow-up, planned as one flow.
personal plan
Facial fat grafting restores volume to areas that have flattened or hollowed with age — the forehead, temples, cheeks and more — using your own fat. At QD Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, fat is gently harvested from a donor area such as the abdomen or thighs, purified, then injected in fine micro-droplets at several depths. It is performed under local anesthesia, often with light sedation. Because a portion of grafted fat is naturally reabsorbed, the retained volume varies. (Results vary by individual.)
Anatomy and function exam
We check the front and side views and expression, left-right differences, skin and deep tissue, and scars and function from earlier surgery.
Comparing scope and method
We compare incision and dissection, how much is removed, repositioned or fixed, the pros and cons of materials, and the option of no surgery at all.
Surgery and recovery plan
Anesthesia, preventing bleeding and infection, wound care, swelling and changes in sensation, and when to be seen again — all set out in one plan.
What the procedure is like
- Consultation, facial assessment and planning of the volume areas
- Local anesthesia (often with light sedation) at the donor and treatment areas
- Gentle harvest of fat from a donor area such as the abdomen or thighs
- Purification of the fat, then micro-droplet injection at several depths
- Recovery and aftercare guidance for both donor and treated areas
Time: The procedure takes about 1–2 hours depending on the areas.
Please read this before treatment
- Performed under local anesthesia, often with light sedation; you can usually go home the same day.
- Entry points are small and closed with fine sutures or tapes if needed; there is swelling at both the donor and injected areas.
- Expect swelling and possible bruising for about 1–2 weeks — the area is often deliberately slightly over-filled to allow for reabsorption — with the volume settling over a few months.
- Side effects such as swelling, bruising, asymmetry, firmness, lumpiness or uneven fat survival may occur and are explained at consultation.
Safety & considerations
Possible reactions
- Swelling and possible bruising at both the donor and treated areas
- Asymmetry, firmness or lumpiness as the graft settles
- Uneven or partial fat survival, so a touch-up may be wanted
- Over- or under-correction of volume
- Rarely, oil cysts or calcification in the grafted area
When to take extra care
- Very thin donor-site fat, which may limit how much can be harvested
- Bleeding disorders or blood-thinning medication — tell your doctor
- Smoking, which can affect fat survival and healing
- Realistic expectations about reabsorption and a possible touch-up
- A tendency to keloid; significant weight change can affect the volume
what to expect
What to expect over time
A general guide to how the days and months after treatment usually unfold. Results vary by individual.
DAY 0
Surgery day
Performed under local anesthesia, often with light sedation; you usually go home the same day, with swelling at both the donor and injected areas.
DAY 1-3
Swelling & bruising
Swelling and possible bruising are usually most noticeable now, and the area is often deliberately slightly over-filled to allow for reabsorption.
WEEK 1-2
Settling
Much of the visible swelling and bruising eases over one to two weeks, and small entry points settle; the face can still look fuller than it will finally sit.
1-3 MONTHS
Volume settles
A portion of the grafted fat is reabsorbed while the rest establishes itself, so the volume settles over the first few months.
3-6 MONTHS
Retained volume
The volume that has survived becomes clearer, and a touch-up may be considered if more is wanted. The surviving fat can be long-lasting while aging continues. (Results vary by individual.)
Sessions & results
This is usually a single procedure, though because some grafted fat is reabsorbed over the first few months, a touch-up session may be considered once the volume has settled. The fat that survives can be long-lasting, while aging continues. (Results vary by individual.)
how it compares
How it compares
These options add volume in different ways, so the right one depends on the area, how much volume you want, and whether you prefer your own tissue. This is not a ranking.
| Fat Grafting | Hyaluronic-acid filler | Facial implant | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approach | Your own purified fat, injected in micro-droplets | Injectable product placed in a session | A solid implant placed surgically (e.g., chin) |
| Best for | Broader volume restoration using your own tissue | Targeted, adjustable, temporary volume | Defined structural projection |
| Anesthesia | Local, often with light sedation | Topical or local | Local with sedation, up to general |
| Recovery | Swelling ~1–2 weeks; settles over months | Little downtime | Surgical recovery |
| Longevity | Surviving fat long-lasting; some reabsorbs | Temporary — months to a couple of years | Long-lasting; removable |
Neither is “better” — they work differently and suit different goals. The right choice is decided after we assess your skin.
Before you decide, the questions people always ask
before consultation
The difference is that we move your own fat. Once it settles in, it lasts a long time, but how much of it remains varies a great deal from person to person, and the fat has to be harvested first. Filler can be placed exactly where you want it and can be reversed, but in exchange its duration is fixed.
This varies so much between individuals that we cannot promise you an exact survival rate. It depends on the area and the layer, the volume placed, and how the recovery period is managed. That is why we plan around what is likely to remain rather than placing everything you want in a single session, and top it up later if needed.
We usually take it from a site that harvests well, such as the thighs or the abdomen. The donor site also bruises and swells and needs its own recovery time, and you will keep it under compression for a few days. Which site we use is decided together in your consultation, based on your body and how much fat is needed.
Placing a large amount at once makes it harder for the fat to survive and raises the risk of lumps or cysts forming. For that reason the principle is to place moderate amounts spread across several layers. In many cases, planning the work in two sessions gives the better result.
Both the treated area and the donor site swell and bruise, and this settles over several weeks. In the early days you should avoid pressing or massaging the grafted area so that the fat can settle in. Smoking works against graft survival, so we recommend refraining from it before and after surgery.
The medical information on this page was reviewed by Hong Sahyeok, plastic surgeon and Medical Director of QD Clinic.
personal consultation
Tell us what bothers you now, the change you want, what you have had done before and any dates that matter. We will compare the possible approaches and their limits, calmly.
Consult now