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Facial Fat Transfer, La Jolla
Facial fat transfer (fat grafting) moves a small amount of your own fat, often from the abdomen or thighs, to areas of the face that have lost volume. At your La Jolla consultation, Tim Sayed MD examines where volume has changed and discusses whether fat transfer, filler, a lift, or a combination fits your goals.
The La Jolla consultation office is in University City, at 4510 Executive Drive, Suite 210, San Diego, CA 92121. Consultations and follow-ups take place here. Surgery is performed only in accredited operating rooms separate from both consultation offices, not at the University City office.
The La Jolla consultation office is in University City, at ---
What it is
A procedure that moves your own fat from one area, such as the abdomen, to the face to replace volume lost with age or weight change.
Where it is used
Cheeks, temples, under-eye hollows, nasolabial folds, lips, and the jawline. It softens a tired, deflated look.
Anesthesia
Local anesthesia with sedation, or general anesthesia, often depending on whether it is combined with other surgery. It is usually an outpatient procedure.
Downtime
Expect swelling and some bruising at both the face and the donor area for one to two weeks. Most people are presentable within that window.
Results
A portion of the transferred fat settles permanently after the first few months. Your own tissue means a soft, natural, long-lasting result.
Who it suits
Adults with facial volume loss who prefer their own tissue over filler, in good health and with realistic goals. A consultation confirms candidacy.
Why patients choose Tim Sayed MD
Dr. Sayed is certified by both the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery, and he has been recertified in both after ten years. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
Request a fat transfer consultation in La Jolla · (858) 247-2933
Fat vs filler
Fat is removed with gentle liposuction from a donor area, processed, and injected in small amounts into the planned facial areas. Depending on whether it is combined with other surgery, it is performed under local anesthesia with sedation or under general anesthesia, usually as an outpatient procedure.
Plan for an adult to drive you home from the operating facility.
| Consideration | How they differ |
|---|---|
| Material | Fat transfer: your own fat. Filler: a gel, most often hyaluronic acid. |
| Longevity | Fat transfer: the fat that survives is long-lasting, often years. Filler: temporary, usually 6 to 18 months. |
| Procedure | Fat transfer: a minor surgery with harvest and injection. Filler: a quick in-office injection. |
| Downtime | Fat transfer: one to two weeks of swelling and bruising. Filler: little to none. |
| Best for | Fat transfer: larger or lasting volume restoration, often with a lift. Filler: smaller touch-ups and trying volume first. |
Practice pricing information for La Jolla patients · Financing information for La Jolla patients
Compare facial rejuvenation options
Consultation
Bring a list of medications and supplements, any history of facial filler or prior fat grafting, and your weight history. Photos from earlier years can help show where volume has changed.
Ask which facial areas would be treated, where fat would be taken from, how much of the transferred fat may not survive, and whether more than one session could be needed.
Related options include facelift surgery in La Jolla, eyelid surgery in La Jolla, and facial plastic surgery in La Jolla.
Compare fat transfer with a facelift
The procedure
Fat grafting may restore volume to areas such as the cheeks, temples, under-eye hollows, folds around the mouth, and the jawline. Because the fat is your own tissue, there is no allergy to a foreign material.
Some transferred fat is reabsorbed, so the amount that persists varies; additional sessions may be needed. Fat transfer restores volume but does not lift loose skin—when sagging is significant, a facelift or neck lift may be discussed. Fat may also be added during a facelift.
Related options include facelift surgery in La Jolla, eyelid surgery in La Jolla, and facial plastic surgery in La Jolla.
Risks include swelling, bruising, infection, lumps or irregularities, fat necrosis (fat that dies and forms firm areas or cysts), asymmetry, over- or under-correction, donor-site contour irregularity, and the need for additional procedures. Fat can be reabsorbed unpredictably.
Rarely, fat injected into the face can enter a blood vessel and block blood flow, which can cause tissue damage, vision loss, or stroke. Seek emergency care for sudden vision changes, severe pain, skin blanching or color change, weakness, or difficulty speaking.
Before and after
Ask to see before-and-after photographs relevant to your concerns. The same practice gallery is used for both offices; these are not location-specific results. Photographs do not guarantee your outcome. Practice photo gallery information for La Jolla patients
Photographs are examples of real outcomes and are not a guarantee. Individual results depend on anatomy, healing, and the specific plan. All photos are shared with patient consent.
Cost and financing
The current published guide for facial fat transfer on its own is about $5,000–$9,000, with a higher total when several areas are treated or it is combined with a facelift. The same guide applies at both consultation offices; it is not a La Jolla-specific market price.
Request a written quote for your proposed plan. Ask which fees it includes, such as the surgeon's fee, anesthesia, and facility fees, and what could add to the cost. Insurance rarely covers cosmetic surgery; check with your insurer if a functional concern is involved.
Ask about fat transfer financing
Recovery
Expect swelling and bruising at both the face and the donor area. Many patients feel ready for routine social contact in about one to two weeks; facial swelling can take longer to settle, and the final result becomes clearer over several months as some fat is reabsorbed.
Follow instructions about pressure on the treated areas, sleep position, and compression for the donor site. Ask when exercise can resume.
Ask about fat transfer recovery
Your surgeon
Dr. Sayed is certified by both the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery, and he has been recertified in both after ten years. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
He earned his medical degree at the UCSF School of Medicine, completed general surgery training at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard, and returned to UCSF for his plastic surgery fellowship.
Ask about fat grafting cases similar to yours, how much of the fat may be reabsorbed, and how lumps or under-correction would be managed.
Read the practice biography before your La Jolla consultation
American Board of Plastic Surgery
Board certified and recertified
American Board of Surgery
Board certified and recertified
UCSF School of Medicine
MD and plastic surgery residency
Harvard, Mass General
General surgery training
Kellogg School of Management
Executive MBA, Northwestern
Alpha Omega Alpha
National medical honor society
Office
For your La Jolla fat transfer consultation and follow-ups, use the University City office's San Diego postal address shown below.
Tim Sayed MD — La Jolla / University City consultation office 4510 Executive Drive, Suite 210 San Diego, CA 92121 Shared practice phone: (858) 247-2933
Confirm your appointment time when scheduling. On Mondays, this office opens at 9:00 AM, half an hour later than the Newport Beach office.
Choose the office you can return to for follow-ups, not just the first visit. Follow-up visits take place at your consultation office, so settle that choice before you schedule.
Consultation details for La Jolla · Compare the Newport Beach consultation office
Before surgery, ask the team for the operating facility's address, arrival time, and discharge instructions. Do not use the University City consultation address as your surgery destination. Arrange a ride from the accredited operating room, and plan your return trips to this office. If you will recover outside the area, ask how long to stay nearby and when you must come back; no fixed stay applies to everyone.
Tim Sayed MD, La Jolla / University City
Address
4510 Executive Drive, Suite 210, San Diego, CA 92121
Phone
(858) 247-2933
Hours
Mon 9:00 AM–4:30 PM; Tue–Fri 8:30 AM–4:30 PM PT; Sat–Sun closed
Surgery
Accredited operating rooms only, separate from both consultation offices
Approved copy
For your La Jolla fat transfer consultation and follow-ups, use the University City office's San Diego postal address shown below.
Tim Sayed MD — La Jolla / University City consultation office 4510 Executive Drive, Suite 210 San Diego, CA 92121 Shared practice phone: (858) 247-2933
Confirm your appointment time when scheduling. On Mondays, this office opens at 9:00 AM, half an hour later than the Newport Beach office.
Choose the office you can return to for follow-ups, not just the first visit. Follow-up visits take place at your consultation office, so settle that choice before you schedule.
Consultation details for La Jolla · Compare the Newport Beach consultation office
Before surgery, ask the team for the operating facility's address, arrival time, and discharge instructions. Do not use the University City consultation address as your surgery destination. Arrange a ride from the accredited operating room, and plan your return trips to this office. If you will recover outside the area, ask how long to stay nearby and when you must come back; no fixed stay applies to everyone.
The current published guide for facial fat transfer on its own is about $5,000–$9,000, with a higher total when several areas are treated or it is combined with a facelift. The same guide applies at both consultation offices; it is not a La Jolla-specific market price.
Request a written quote for your proposed plan. Ask which fees it includes, such as the surgeon's fee, anesthesia, and facility fees, and what could add to the cost. Insurance rarely covers cosmetic surgery; check with your insurer if a functional concern is involved.
Practice pricing information for La Jolla patients · Financing information for La Jolla patients
Expect swelling and bruising at both the face and the donor area. Many patients feel ready for routine social contact in about one to two weeks; facial swelling can take longer to settle, and the final result becomes clearer over several months as some fat is reabsorbed.
Follow instructions about pressure on the treated areas, sleep position, and compression for the donor site. Ask when exercise can resume.
Your follow-ups are at the same University City office where you had your La Jolla consultation. Ask when each check is needed and how to reach the team with concerns outside office hours. The office hours above are not an emergency-care schedule.
Fat grafting may restore volume to areas such as the cheeks, temples, under-eye hollows, folds around the mouth, and the jawline. Because the fat is your own tissue, there is no allergy to a foreign material.
Some transferred fat is reabsorbed, so the amount that persists varies; additional sessions may be needed. Fat transfer restores volume but does not lift loose skin—when sagging is significant, a facelift or neck lift may be discussed. Fat may also be added during a facelift.
FAQ
Facial fat transfer moves a small amount of your own fat from another part of the body to areas of the face that have lost volume.
Filler is a non-surgical injection with temporary results. Fat transfer is a surgical procedure using your own tissue; some of it may persist long-term, but survival varies. The better choice depends on your goals and anatomy.
The current published guide is about $5,000–$9,000 on its own, more when several areas are treated or a facelift is added. The same guide applies at both offices; request a written quote for your plan.
Fat survival varies from person to person. Some transferred fat is reabsorbed, and additional sessions may be needed.
Common donor areas include the abdomen, flanks, and thighs. The choice depends on where you have available fat.
Common areas include the cheeks, temples, under-eye hollows, folds around the mouth, and the jawline. Not every area suits every patient.
Many patients feel ready for routine social contact in about one to two weeks. Facial swelling can take longer to resolve, and the result becomes clearer over several months.
Fat that survives can be long-lasting, but survival is variable, and the face continues to age. Weight changes can also affect grafted fat.
Not in a guaranteed way. Some fat persists long-term, but some is reabsorbed, and aging continues.
Fat restores volume but does not lift loose skin. When sagging is significant, a facelift or neck lift may be discussed, sometimes with fat transfer.
It may help some patients, but the under-eye area is delicate and prone to lumps or irregularities. Discuss the risks and alternatives.
Risks include lumps, fat necrosis, asymmetry, unpredictable reabsorption, infection, and, rarely, blocked blood vessels that can cause vision loss or stroke.
Yes, fat transfer is sometimes performed with a facelift, neck lift, or eyelid surgery. Combining changes recovery and cost.
Candidates are healthy adults with facial volume loss, enough donor fat, a stable weight, and realistic expectations.
The office is in University City at 4510 Executive Drive, Suite 210, San Diego, CA 92121. Monday hours are 9:00 AM–4:30 PM; Tuesday–Friday hours are 8:30 AM–4:30 PM, Pacific Time. It is closed Saturday and Sunday. Confirm your appointment time when scheduling. Call (858) 247-2933.
Your follow-ups are at the same University City office as your consultation. Surgery is performed only in accredited operating rooms separate from both consultation offices. Get the operating facility's address before arranging transportation. If you are traveling, ask how long to stay nearby and when to return for follow-up.
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