Is there a difference between the recovery period and full recovery for facial fat grafting?
Jun 30, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Introduction
The recovery period after facial fat grafting is different from the fully recovered state, and there is a distinction between the two. During the recovery period, the face undergoes processes such as swelling reduction, bruising resolution, and fat stabilization, and the appearance may look unnatural. After full recovery, symptoms disappear completely, the grafted areas appear fuller and more natural, and the facial contour is improved, showing a significant difference compared to the recovery period.
Generally, facial fat filling involves using excess fat from the patient's own body, which is processed and then injected into sunken areas of the face to improve issues such as skin laxity and sagging. The usual reference price for facial fat filling is 2000-5000 yuan per session, with visible improvement generally noticeable after 2-3 weeks. The recovery phase and the post-recovery phase following facial fat filling are typically different, as analyzed below:
The recovery period after facial fat filling refers to the phase during which the patient is currently in recovery but has not yet fully recovered. In the early recovery stage, facial swelling and bruising may occur. During the middle recovery stage, the swelling and bruising can gradually subside but may not completely disappear. By the late recovery stage, the localized bruising and swelling has completely subsided, and the soft tissues at the injection sites gradually soften, with the fat cells becoming more stable, although they have not yet returned to a completely natural state. Therefore, the face may still appear somewhat stiff and unstable in appearance.
When recovery after facial fat filling is complete, it indicates that the patient has now recovered to a better condition, with all the aforementioned symptoms having completely disappeared. The soft tissues are relatively soft, and the filled areas appear fuller and more defined. The overall appearance looks quite natural, with minimal visible signs of surgery. At this point, the facial contour will have experienced significant improvement. Compared with the recovery phase, there is a noticeable difference.
The recovery period and full recovery after facial fat filling are distinct phases with differences between them. If there are concerns about poor recovery, regular follow-ups are necessary for timely intervention and management.
