Fat Transfer
While many treatments address aging by tightening the skin, true rejuvenation often requires restoring the volume we lose over time. A fat transfer uses your body's own natural tissue to replenish sunken cheeks, hollow under-eyes, and thinning lips. At Integrated Facial Aesthetics in Tullahoma, Tennessee, we use this biocompatible liquid gold to create fullness that synthetic fillers cannot replicate. By combining surgical artistry with a holistic approach, we help you achieve a glow that is entirely your own.
What Is Fat Transfer?
Fat transfer — also called autologous fat grafting — is a procedure that harvests excess fat from the abdomen, flanks, or thighs and strategically reinjects it into the face. The result is a restoration of the heart-shaped facial contour associated with youth: fuller cheeks, smoother nasolabial folds, and a rejuvenated under-eye area.
Because the graft material is your own living tissue, it is inherently biocompatible. A significant portion of the transferred fat establishes a permanent blood supply, integrating seamlessly with the surrounding tissue and aging naturally alongside you.
Dr. Licata's dual expertise in facial plastic surgery and otolaryngology provides a uniquely comprehensive understanding of facial anatomy. This allows him to place every microdroplet with architectural precision — restoring volume where it matters most while preserving the natural contours that make you you.
How Does It Work?
A multi-step process refined for maximum fat cell survival and natural-looking results.
Harvest
Gentle extraction using low-pressure micro-cannulas from the abdomen, flanks, or thighs. This minimizes trauma to the delicate fat cells and preserves their viability.
Purify
The harvested fat is carefully purified and concentrated, removing excess fluid, oil, and damaged cells to isolate only the healthiest, most viable adipocytes.
Inject
Multi-planar injection places microdroplets at various depths throughout the treatment area, allowing each tiny graft to establish its own blood supply and thrive.
Dr. Licata's architectural approach ensures that fat is not simply deposited but strategically layered — creating a scaffold of living tissue that integrates permanently. This meticulous technique is what separates a truly natural result from one that merely adds volume.
Book NowThe Benefits
Restores Youthful Volume
Replenishes the fullness that time gradually diminishes from the mid-face, temples, and jawline.
Enhances Cheek & Lip Contours
Sculpts soft, natural definition in the areas that frame your expressions.
Uses Your Own Natural Tissue
Biocompatible fat eliminates the risk of foreign-body reactions or synthetic materials.
Improves Skin Texture
Stem cells and growth factors within transferred fat can rejuvenate skin quality from within.
Smooths Under-Eye Hollows
Gently fills the tear-trough area for a rested, refreshed appearance without synthetic filler.
No Allergic Reaction Risk
Because the graft material is your own tissue, biocompatibility is inherent.
Long-Lasting & Permanent
Once fat cells establish a blood supply, they remain and age naturally with you.
Subtle, Soft & Natural Feel
Transferred fat integrates seamlessly, producing results you can feel confident about.
The Treatment Process
Consultation & Assessment
Your journey begins with a thorough volume assessment by Dr. Licata. He evaluates areas of facial deflation, identifies the ideal donor site — typically the abdomen, flanks, or thighs — and may review your nutritional status to optimize fat cell survival. Together, you develop a personalized treatment plan aligned with your aesthetic goals and overall wellness.
Surgery Day
In our private surgical suite, the procedure is performed under local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia, typically lasting one to two hours. The three-stage process — harvest, purify, reinject — is carried out with meticulous precision, ensuring every microdroplet is placed for optimal integration and longevity.
Recovery & Healing
Mild swelling and bruising are expected and resolve steadily. Most patients return to normal routines within seven to ten days. Dr. Licata may incorporate adjunctive therapies such as red light therapy and EMF grounding techniques to accelerate tissue healing, reduce inflammation, and support the body's natural recovery processes.
Results & Beyond
Immediate improvement is visible once initial swelling subsides. Final results mature over three to six months as transplanted fat cells establish a permanent blood supply. Because the volume is living tissue, it ages naturally with you — no maintenance appointments, no repeat injections, just enduring, authentic rejuvenation.
Common Questions
Is fat transfer better than dermal fillers?
Fat transfer and dermal fillers serve different purposes. Fillers offer quick, targeted correction with no downtime, while fat transfer provides a more comprehensive, permanent volume restoration using your own tissue. For patients seeking long-lasting, natural-feeling results and who are comfortable with a short recovery, fat transfer is often the superior choice. Dr. Licata can help determine which approach — or combination — is ideal for your goals.
Where does the fat come from?
Fat is harvested from areas where you have a small surplus — most commonly the abdomen, flanks (love handles), or inner thighs. The donor site is chosen based on fat availability and your body type. An added benefit is a subtle improvement in contour at the harvest area.
How much of the transferred fat stays permanently?
Approximately 60 to 80 percent of properly processed and injected fat establishes a permanent blood supply and survives long-term. Dr. Licata uses refined micro-cannula techniques and multi-planar injection to maximize fat cell survival. A small amount of initial over-correction accounts for the natural resorption that occurs in the first few weeks.
Can fat transfer be combined with rhinoplasty or other procedures?
Absolutely. Fat transfer pairs beautifully with rhinoplasty, facelift, blepharoplasty, or non-surgical treatments like BOTOX. Combining procedures can enhance overall facial harmony and reduce total recovery time compared to staging them separately.
Will fat transfer leave visible scars?
The incisions for both harvesting and injection are tiny — typically just one to two millimeters — and are placed in discreet locations. These micro-puncture sites heal to become virtually invisible within a few weeks.
Why does Dr. Licata recommend red light therapy after fat transfer?
Red light therapy (photobiomodulation) stimulates cellular energy production, increases local blood flow, and reduces inflammation at both the donor and recipient sites. These effects can enhance fat cell survival, accelerate healing, and improve overall skin quality — aligning with our holistic, whole-body approach to recovery.
True beauty is found in balance and vitality
Schedule a consultation with Dr. Licata and discover how fat transfer can restore your natural radiance — from the inside out.
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