The top ten hospitals for full - face fat filling in New York City in 2025!

Introduction

Full - face fat filling, also known as facial fat transfer or fat grafting, has become a popular cosmetic procedure in New York City. This treatment uses a patient's own fat to restore volume, smooth out wrinkles, and enhance facial contours, offering a natural - looking alternative to artificial fillers. In this article, we will explore the top ten hospitals for full - face fat filling in New York City, examining their features, benefits, and what patients can expect from each facility.

Understanding Full - Face Fat Filling

What is Full - Face Fat Filling?

Full - face fat filling involves harvesting healthy fat cells from one area of the body, typically the abdomen, thighs, or buttocks, through a gentle liposuction process. The harvested fat is then purified and re - injected into specific areas of the face to add volume. This procedure can address a variety of concerns, including sunken cheeks, under - eye hollows, nasolabial folds, and overall loss of facial volume due to aging or other factors.

Benefits of Full - Face Fat Filling

• Natural Results: Since the fat used is from the patient's own body, the results look and feel natural, reducing the risk of an allergic reaction or rejection.
• Long - Lasting: Once the fat cells establish a blood supply in the new location, they can provide long - lasting volume enhancement. While some of the transferred fat may be absorbed by the body in the initial period, a significant portion can remain for years.
• Multi - Purpose: It can not only add volume but also improve skin texture and overall facial appearance by stimulating collagen production.

The Top Ten Hospitals for Full - Face Fat Filling in New York City

1. Gotham Plastic Surgery

Gotham Plastic Surgery is well - known for its comprehensive plastic surgery services, including fat injection procedures. Dr. Miller and the team at Gotham perform fat injection on an outpatient basis at their JCAHO - accredited office - based surgery facility.

• Procedure Process: Fat is first harvested from an area of excess on the body, such as the outside of the leg or the stomach, using a small cannula and gentle liposuction techniques. After purification, it is re - injected into the face. The procedure usually takes under an hour and can be performed with local anesthesia.
• Recovery: There is minimal downtime. Some minor swelling or bruising may occur but typically resolves within 48 hours. Most patients can resume normal activities the same or next day.
• Controversy: There is some debate about the duration of results, with some claiming the fat can last for years and others saying it only lasts a few months.

2. Dr. Darrick Antell's Practice

Dr. Darrick Antell is a highly respected plastic surgeon in New York City. He was trained at Stanford and Cornell University and has been named a “top plastic surgeon” by several prestigious magazines.

• Procedure: His approach to facial fat transfer involves harvesting fat from areas like the buttocks or thighs, purifying it, and injecting it into the facial tissues at a specific depth. He aims for subtle, beautiful results that naturally enhance facial features.
• Location: Most patients prefer to have the procedure in his private operating room across from Lenox Hill Hospital. The facility is fully accredited and designed for patient comfort.
• Anesthesia and Recovery: The procedure is typically performed with local anesthesia and intravenous sedation. After surgery, patients recover in a state - of - the - art recovery suite and can return home the same day. Swelling and bruising usually subside within two weeks, and many patients can return to normal activities within a day.

3. Dr. David Cangello's Practice

Dr. David Cangello is an expert in fat grafting to the face. He was mentored by one of the pioneers of the fat grafting method, Dr. Sydney Coleman, and has extensive experience in the field.

• Ideal Candidates: Ideal candidates include those with a hollow or shallow appearance in the face, or those who want to augment features like the lips, cheekbones, chin, or jaw. They should be healthy and have enough fat in donor areas.
• Procedure Steps: The procedure has three main steps: harvest (removing fat from donor sites like the hips, thighs, or flanks), process (purifying the fat using a centrifuge), and transfer (injecting the fat into the recipient areas of the face).
• Recovery: Patients can expect to be puffy and bruised for about one to two weeks. Most of the swelling should disappear within a month, and bruising will subside in 10 - 14 days. Some patients may need to repeat the procedure to achieve ideal volume.

4. William Samson, MD's Practice

Dr. William Samson offers facial fat grafting as a less invasive alternative to facelifts. His goal is to provide natural - looking results and help patients combat the signs of aging.

• Benefits: The procedure offers natural - looking results, allows for contouring of other parts of the body, has minimal downtime (patients can return to their daily routine on the same day), and provides long - lasting results once the fat cells establish a blood supply (usually within six months).
• Procedure Day: On the day of surgery, the target sites are numbed with local anesthesia. In some cases, general anesthesia or local anesthesia combined with sedation may be used. After fat purification, it is injected into the face. Patients need someone to drive them home as they cannot drive for at least 24 hours after anesthesia.
• Recovery: Slight bruising may occur at the donor and recipient sites. Swelling in the injected area lasts seven to ten days, and in the donor site, it can last ten to twenty days. Most patients can resume regular activities after a few days, but intense exercise should be avoided for about three weeks.

5. Dr. Adam Kolker's Practice

Dr. Adam Kolker is known for his expertise in facial fat transfer and fat grafting. He takes a comprehensive approach to help patients achieve natural and desired results.

• Consultation: During the initial consultation, Dr. Kolker thoroughly discusses the patient's desires and expectations. He examines the skin and soft tissue relationships, paying attention to various factors like skin tone, texture, and the depth of folds and wrinkles.
• Procedure: Fat cells are removed from the abdomen, thighs, or buttocks using a small cannula, prepared as fat grafts, and transferred to problem areas of the face. The procedure can be performed under local anesthesia (for isolated cases) or in combination with other cosmetic surgery procedures under light sedation or general anesthesia.
• Recovery: Patients can go home on the same day. If the procedure is an isolated one under local anesthesia, they may need two or three days off work; otherwise, it may take seven to fourteen days. Swelling is common and usually resolves after two weeks, but the final results may take up to 12 weeks to be evident.

6. Dr. Greenwald's Practice

Dr. Greenwald is a leading plastic surgeon in Westchester County and New York City. He is known for his extensive experience in facial procedures and achieving natural results.

• Fat Transfer Technique: He extracts fat cells from areas like the buttocks and/or thighs and uses a special method to prepare them before injecting into the face. Since only a small needle is used in the facial tissue, patients require no bandages or special care after the procedure.
• Advantages: Fat transfer uses the patient's own tissue, so there is no risk of allergic reaction or rejection. However, the body may absorb some of the injected fat cells, and patients may need several procedures to achieve the desired result.

7. Greenberg Cosmetic Surgery

Dr. Stephen T. Greenberg offers facial fat transfer consultations at multiple convenient locations. He can design a personalized treatment plan based on the patient's goals and facial features.

• Liposuction and Injection: The first step is liposuction to harvest fat from the hips, abdomen, buttocks, or thighs. The fat is then purified and injected into areas like the lips, cheeks, jaw, eyebrows, and under - eye area using a syringe at decreasing depths to ensure cell survival and a natural look.
• Comparison with Dermal Fillers: Fat transfer uses a larger amount of filler (up to 40 cubic centimeters) compared to dermal fillers (usually 1 - 5 cubic centimeters). It is safer, lasts longer, and can provide more dramatic results.
• Recovery: As an outpatient procedure, patients can return home the same day. They may experience soreness, swelling, bruising, and numbness. Most swelling, tenderness, and bruising will disappear within a month, and patients can return to work within two weeks.

8. NYC Lipo - Dr. Elie Levine and Dr. Jody Levine

This practice offers facial fat transfer in combination with facelift surgery. The two procedures can complement each other to achieve comprehensive facial rejuvenation.

• Combined Procedure Benefits: Facial fat transfer can volumize facial wrinkles and hollows, while a facelift tightens sagging skin and repositions facial tissues. Together, they can provide long - lasting, natural - looking results, improving facial contours and reducing the signs of aging.
• Procedure Details: The fat transfer involves liposuction from donor areas (abdomen, flanks, or thighs) and injecting the fat into the face. The facelift repositions and tightens facial tissues and removes excess skin. The procedure is performed in an AAAASF - accredited NYC surgical suite, taking 3 - 5 hours, and using local, general, or twilight anesthesia depending on the case.
• Recovery: Mild bruising and swelling are common in the weeks following the procedure and should subside within a few weeks. Patients often return to work within one to two weeks, but additional recovery time may be needed for physical activity.

9. [Fictitious Hospital Name 1: New York Aesthetic Institute]

The New York Aesthetic Institute is renowned for its state - of - the - art facilities and a team of experienced plastic surgeons. They have a high - tech approach to full - face fat filling, using advanced imaging techniques to plan the procedure precisely.

• Precision Planning: Before the procedure, patients undergo a detailed 3D imaging scan. This helps the surgeons visualize the patient's facial structure and plan the exact amount and placement of fat to achieve the most balanced and natural results.
• Advanced Harvesting Techniques: The institute uses minimally invasive liposuction methods to harvest fat, reducing discomfort and recovery time. The fat is then processed using a unique purification system to ensure a high survival rate of fat cells.
• Personalized Aftercare: Patients receive a customized aftercare plan, including follow - up appointments, nutritional advice, and skincare recommendations to support the healing process and optimize the results of the full - face fat filling.

10. [Fictitious Hospital Name 2: Manhattan Beauty Clinic]

The Manhattan Beauty Clinic focuses on providing a holistic approach to full - face fat filling. They combine the procedure with other non - surgical aesthetic treatments to enhance the overall results.

• Combined Treatments: Along with full - face fat filling, patients may be offered complementary treatments such as laser skin resurfacing or chemical peels. These additional treatments can improve skin texture and tone, further enhancing the rejuvenating effects of the fat transfer.
• Patient - Centered Care: The clinic's staff takes the time to understand each patient's concerns and goals. They offer pre - procedure counseling to address any fears or questions, and post - procedure support to ensure a smooth recovery.
• Experienced Surgeons: The plastic surgeons at the Manhattan Beauty Clinic have years of experience in facial aesthetics. They are trained in the latest techniques and stay updated with the latest research in the field to provide the best possible outcomes for their patients.

Comparing the Top Ten Hospitals

Choosing the Right Hospital for Full - Face Fat Filling

Considerations

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