Fat Transferin Charlotte, NC

Name: Fat Transfer
Brand: Criswell & Criswell Plastic Surgery & Medspa
Rating: 4.8 (458 reviews)

Fat transfer—also called fat grafting—restores or enhances volume using your own purified fat. By gently moving fat from one area of the body to another, this technique can soften hollows, refine contours, and improve balance in a way that looks and feels like you—because it is you.

Fat Transfer at Criswell & Criswell

At Criswell & Criswell Plastic Surgery, fat transfer is treated as both a science and an art. Dr. Kara Criswell and Dr. Bryan Criswell take time to understand your goals, evaluate your anatomy, and design a plan that supports your desired result while respecting your natural proportions.

Some patients want to add fullness to the face after aging or weight loss. Others are looking to enhance curves in the breasts, buttocks, or hands using a more natural alternative to implants or fillers. Because everybody stores fat differently, your procedure is tailored to the areas you’d like to refine, both where fat is removed and where it’s placed.

woman smiling with both hands on her hips

Understanding Fat Transfer

Fat transfer is a multi-step procedure that harvests fat from one part of your body, processes it into a purified form, and re-injects it into another area to add volume or improve contour. The transferred fat becomes living tissue in its new location, creating long-lasting enhancement.

Fat transfer can be used to:

Restore facial volume in the cheeks, temples, under-eyes, or lips
Smooth contour irregularities or asymmetry
Enhance breasts or buttocks using your own tissue
Improve the appearance of aging hands
Support reconstruction after prior surgery or trauma

Schedule A Consultation

Dr. Bryan Criswell and his entire team at Criswell & Criswell Plastic Surgery & Medspa Plastic Surgery were absolutely amazing from start to finish. They were professional, kind, and incredibly thorough, answering all of my questions and making me feel completely comfortable leading up to the procedure. The surgery itself went smoothly, and the aftercare has been just as impressive. Dr. Criswell and his staff provided such thoughtful follow-up, and I’ve always felt supported and well-informed every step of the way.

A.H.

About the Fat Transfer Procedure

Fat transfer involves three carefully controlled stages. Each step matters in creating a smooth, lasting result. The procedure typically includes:

Comfortable anesthesia, depending on the extent of transfer
Fat harvesting using gentle liposuction, often from the abdomen, flanks, thighs, or hips
Purification and processing to isolate healthy fat cells
Strategic fat placement through small injections to sculpt shape and restore volume
Recovery begins immediately after the procedure

Your surgeon focuses on precise placement and conservative layering, which helps transferred fat survive and creates a natural contour.

Why Charlotte, NC Patients Choose Criswell & Criswell for Fat Grafting

Patients choose Criswell & Criswell because they want outcomes that are elevated but never artificial. Dr. Kara Criswell is known for her detail-oriented, patient-centered approach and offers a refined perspective on natural enhancement. As one of Charlotte’s few female plastic surgeons, she brings a thoughtful understanding of aesthetic goals that often go beyond “bigger” or “tighter.”

Ideal candidates are in good overall health, maintain a stable weight, and have significant skin laxity in both vertical and horizontal directions. Patients should be nonsmokers or willing to quit before surgery to support healing. A consultation at Criswell & Criswell Plastic Surgery & Medspa ensures candidacy is carefully evaluated, with attention to medical history, goals, and readiness for recovery. This personalized approach ensures safety and sets realistic expectations for outcomes.

Am I a Candidate?

You may be a good candidate for fat transfer if you want to restore volume or enhance shape using your own fat and have enough donor fat available for transfer. Ideal candidates are in good overall health, at a stable weight, and seeking results that feel natural rather than dramatic overnight change.

During your consultation, your surgeon will assess donor areas, skin elasticity, and your goals. Together you’ll decide whether fat grafting alone—or paired with another procedure—fits your vision.

Recovery and Long-Term Results

Benefits of Fat Transfer

Because fat grafting uses your own tissue, results often look softer, more natural, and more integrated than synthetic fillers or implants. It’s also one of the few procedures that improves two areas at once—removing fat where you don’t want it and adding volume where you do.

Benefits include:

Natural-looking volume restoration or enhancement
No foreign material or implant involved
Improved contours at both donor and treatment sites
Long-lasting results once fat is established
Soft, living tissue that moves naturally
Potential skin-quality improvement in treated areas

Variations in Technique

Fat grafting can be performed as a standalone procedure or combined with surgery to enhance overall results. The technique—and volume—are adjusted based on your anatomy and desired level of change.

Facial Fat Transfer
Adds softness and structure to areas affected by aging or genetics

Breast Fat Transfer
Subtle volume enhancement or contour refinement, often after implants or reconstruction

Buttock Fat Transfer (Brazilian Butt Lift)
Builds shape and projection using your natural curves

Hybrid Approaches
Fat transfer paired with lifts, liposuction, or implants for more complete reshaping

Recovery and Expected Results

Recovery varies based on how much fat is transferred and where it’s placed.

After surgery, you can expect swelling and mild bruising in both the donor site and the treated area. Most patients return to light activity within a few days. You’ll want to avoid pressure on the grafted area early on (especially with facial or buttock fat transfer) so the fat can settle and establish its blood supply.

Some of the transferred fat will naturally reabsorb during the first few months. Once swelling resolves and the surviving fat stabilizes, results become long-lasting. Final outcomes are usually clear around three to six months after treatment.

Schedule Your Private Consultation

If you’re looking for a natural way to restore volume, refine contours, or enhance your features using your own tissue, fat transfer may be a beautiful option. Schedule a private consultation with Criswell & Criswell to explore what’s possible and create a plan tailored entirely to you.

Frequently Asked Questions Fat Transfer

How long does the fleur-de-lis surgery take?

The procedure generally takes three to five hours, depending on the extent of correction and whether it is combined with other procedures.

Are the scars more noticeable than a tummy tuck?

Yes, additional vertical scars are present, but they fade over time and are often outweighed by the dramatic contour improvements.

Is the procedure safe?

Yes, but like all surgery, risks include bleeding, infection, or delayed healing. Choosing board-certified surgeons reduces these risks significantly.

Will insurance cover this surgery?

Most cases are cosmetic, though coverage may be possible if excess skin causes medical issues such as rashes or hygiene difficulties.

Can this procedure be combined with liposuction?

Yes. Liposuction is often paired with fleur-de-lis to refine contours and remove stubborn fat deposits.