Introduction

Autologous fat filling for the face has become an increasingly popular cosmetic procedure in New York City. This technique, which involves transferring a patient's own fat to areas of the face that have lost volume due to aging, weight loss, or other factors, offers a natural - looking and long - lasting solution. In this article, we will introduce the top 3 doctors in New York City with a good reputation for performing autologous fat filling for the face, along with in - depth information about their practices, techniques, and patient experiences.

Top 3 Selected Doctors with Good Reputation for Autologous Fat Filling for Face in New York City! 2025

Understanding Autologous Fat Filling for the Face

What is Autologous Fat Filling?

Autologous fat filling, also known as autologous fat transfer or facial fat grafting, is a cosmetic procedure that harvests fat from one part of the patient's body, typically the abdomen, thighs, or hips, and injects it into specific areas of the face. The procedure can be used to add volume to the cheeks, lips, under - eyes, and other facial areas, reducing the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and hollowness. Since the fat used is from the patient's own body, there is a low risk of allergic reactions or rejection.

Benefits of Autologous Fat Filling

Natural Results: The transferred fat blends seamlessly with the existing facial tissue, providing a more natural - looking enhancement compared to synthetic fillers.
Long - lasting: While some of the transferred fat may be reabsorbed by the body, a significant portion can remain in place for many years, offering long - term results.
Improved Skin Quality: The fat contains growth factors that can help improve the skin's texture and tone, making the skin look healthier and more youthful.
Dual Benefit: In addition to enhancing the face, the procedure also helps in contouring the donor area by removing excess fat.

Top 3 Doctors for Autologous Fat Filling for the Face in New York City

Dr. Michael Koch

About Dr. Koch

Dr. Michael Koch is a plastic surgeon who offers facial fat grafting procedures in New York. He has a high - rated patient satisfaction, with a 4.9 - star review from his patients. His practice is known for its professional and caring approach to cosmetic surgery.

Ideal Candidates

Dr. Koch considers patients who want to add natural - looking volume to specific areas of their face as ideal candidates. This includes those with laugh lines, crow's feet, smile lines, pitted areas, scars, and those who want to add volume to their lips and cheeks for a more youthful appearance. Patients should have enough excess fat to meet their goals.

Surgical Technique

Facial fat transfer with Dr. Koch is a two - part process. First, he performs liposuction to remove fat from areas such as the hips, flanks, or abdomen, usually under local or twilight anesthesia. The harvested fat is then purified and prepared for injection. He uses different injection angles and techniques to ensure ideal immersion rates into the skin and create symmetry. The fat is transferred to areas like the cheeks, lips, and beneath the eyes to add volume and correct fine lines, wrinkles, and facial depressions.

What to Expect

After the procedure, patients' incisions will be stitched and cleaned, and they will be monitored in a recovery area. Dressings and compression garments will be applied. Dr. Koch will provide post - operative instructions on how to heal faster and properly. Recovery time varies depending on the amount of fat removed and transferred, but patients should plan to rest for a couple of weeks. They may experience soreness, bruising, and swelling in the liposuction and transfer sites. Some improvements may be visible right away, but the final results will take several weeks to appear. With appropriate care, the results should last for many years.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question	Answer
How much does facial fat grafting cost?	The cost includes liposuction and depends on the amount of fat extracted and the size of the area that needs volume. Dr. Koch will determine the cost after a thorough assessment and create a custom treatment plan. The practice accepts many payment methods, including low - interest medical financing.
Should I get a dermal filler or fat transfer?	Both can improve the appearance of lines and wrinkles and add volume. While dermal fillers can give good results, a fat transfer often looks more natural and lasts longer. Dr. Koch may suggest starting with dermal fillers to determine the desired amount of fat and location, then performing a facial fat transfer for long - term results.
Can facial fat grafting be combined with another procedure?	Yes, it can be combined with non - surgical treatments like Botox or skin treatments such as chemical peels or dermabrasion. It is also a popular complement to facial surgeries like facelifts, neck lifts, or chin augmentations.
How long does facial fat grafting take?	The procedure time varies depending on the amount of fat removed and the volume needed. Dr. Koch will discuss the expected time during the consultation, which includes liposuction, fat preparation, and grafting.
Which areas of the face can be improved with fat grafting?	It can be used to fill in volume in the mid - face or cheekbones, as a natural lip filler, to fill the hollow areas under the eyes, and to improve the appearance of pitted acne scars and static wrinkles.

Dr. Gerald Imber

About Dr. Imber

Dr. Gerald Imber is an internationally renowned plastic surgeon who has performed over 25,000 surgical procedures. He popularized the S - lift and developed the limited incision facelift technique. He is dedicated to helping patients achieve natural - looking results.

Autologous Fat Transfer

Autologous fat transfer, also known as fat grafting, is the use of a patient's own fat as a filler. This minimally invasive procedure can fill in lines and folds, build up cheekbones and chin, and eliminate facial depressions. About 35% of the transferred fat remains in place as a permanent natural filler.

Fat Transfer Goals

As people age, they lose facial volume, resulting in a decrease in facial angularity and slackness. Fat transfer aims to replace this volume loss naturally by injecting fat in a way that allows it to develop its own blood supply and be retained for permanent correction of defects.

Natural Filler Option

Body fat is an excellent natural filler as it is not artificial or synthetic, and there is a very low risk of allergic reaction or rejection. It also looks more natural than commercial fillers.

Treatment Areas and Donor Sites

Treatment areas include creases in the middle forehead, temples, tear trough, periorbital area, cheeks, nose, mouth, jawline, and chin. The required fat can be harvested from areas such as the abdomen, hips, inner thighs, and buttocks.

Procedure and Preparation

Before the procedure, patients need to take a break from certain medications, such as blood thinners, non - steroidal anti - inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and herbal supplements for at least a week. They should also avoid drinking and smoking. The fat is harvested through liposuction or syringe aspiration, and the harvested fat cells are processed in a centrifuge to purify them before injection.

What to Expect

A facial fat transfer requires minimal downtime. Most patients can resume their daily routine with some restrictions in 24 hours, although there may be slight bruising and swelling. The results can be 50 - 75% permanent depending on the location.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question	Answer
What are the benefits of a fat transfer?	It is a natural filler, there is no risk of allergic reaction to one's own fat, and a large percentage of the transplanted fat can survive permanently. It has negligible downtime and complications.
Are there any non - invasive alternatives?	There are hyaluronic acid fillers that can temporarily improve the area, but a fat transfer gives the most natural results and a significant portion of the transferred fat is permanent.
Do I need any special garment or bindings?	No, the practice will provide everything needed pre - and post - surgery.
Why do I need a board - certified plastic surgeon?	A board - certified plastic surgeon holds the highest levels of education and training, meeting the standards of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, and can deliver the best results.
Will there be any scarring?	No, there won't be any scarring with a fat transfer.
How much does a fat transfer cost?	The cost depends on the areas selected for treatment. Dr. Imber and his surgical coordinator will review all pricing during the consultation.

Dr. David Cangello

About Dr. Cangello

Dr. David Cangello is a renowned expert in fat grafting to the face. He was mentored by and shared a practice with one of the pioneers of the fat grafting method, Dr. Sydney Coleman. He has specialized training and extensive experience, allowing him to produce superior results for those seeking a fat transfer procedure in NYC.

Ideal Candidates

Ideal candidates include men and women who notice a hollow or shallow appearance in individual or multiple areas of the face, or those who desire augmentation of features such as the lips, cheekbones, chin, or jaw. Candidates should be healthy and have enough fat on potential donor areas, like the hips, flanks, and thighs. They should also have realistic expectations about the outcome and understand that the procedure may need to be repeated to achieve ideal results.

Fat Grafting to the Face Procedure

The procedure generally has three steps: harvest, process, and transfer. First, the donor site is injected with an anesthetic, and a small incision is made to harvest the fat using a specialized cannula. Then, the fat is processed in a centrifuge to separate it from fluids and oils, ensuring only healthy, viable fat cells are used. Finally, the fat is transferred to the recipient area through a tiny incision using a cannula.

Areas of Application

Fat grafting to the face can be used for facial rejuvenation, lip enhancement, facial sculpting, and improving surface depressions. It can fill in hollowed - out areas, enhance lip fullness, provide fullness to areas lacking volume, and improve the appearance of acne scars and post - surgical dents.

Recovery and Results

Recovery from fat transfer usually involves about one to two weeks of looking puffy and bruised. Mild discomfort may be experienced during the first week, and appropriate pain medication will be prescribed. The majority of swelling should disappear within a month, and bruising will subside in about 10 - 14 days. Approximately 50 - 60 percent of transferred fat cells will survive, and patients may need to wait around three - to - six months after the first procedure to decide if an additional treatment is necessary. The results can last for many years, but significant weight fluctuations may affect them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question	Answer
What is recovery like after a fat grafting to face procedure?	Patients should expect to look puffy and bruised for about one to two weeks. Mild discomfort may occur during the first week, and the majority of swelling will disappear within a month, and bruising will subside in 10 - 14 days.
Will my facial fat grafting need to be repeated?	Since about 50 - 60 percent of transferred fat cells will survive, it's common for the procedure to be repeated. However, it's difficult to predict if a patient will need another treatment, and usually, patients wait three - to - six months after the first procedure to decide.
Where will my facial fat transfer in NYC be performed?	The procedure will be performed in Dr. Cangello's state - of - the - art, fully accredited operating room in his NYC office. For patients who prefer a hospital setting, he also has operating privileges at Lenox Hill Hospital and Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital in NYC.
How long do the results of fat transfer to the face last?	The transferred fat cells that survive will generally stay in the treatment area indefinitely, but they may decrease in volume over time. The results can last for many years, and it's best to stay at a stable weight for optimal results.
Will a fat transfer to face procedure give me scars?	The incisions are usually very small and located within natural creases of the body. Once healed, any remaining scars will likely be imperceptible.
Are there any risks from facial fat grafting?	Facial fat grafting carries few risks when performed on appropriately selected patients. Complications are rare and usually include asymmetry or poor healing, but in the hands of a board - certified surgeon, the procedure will be carried out with high - standard care and safety.

Comparing the Three Doctors

Doctor	Reputation	Technique Highlights	Recovery Expectations	Cost Considerations
Dr. Michael Koch	High patient satisfaction with a 4.9 - star rating. Known for a professional and caring approach.	Two - part process with different injection angles for symmetry. Uses local or twilight anesthesia for liposuction.	A couple of weeks of rest, soreness, bruising, and swelling. Final results in several weeks.	Cost depends on fat extraction and area size. Accepts multiple payment methods.
Dr. Gerald Imber	Internationally renowned, performed over 25,000 surgical procedures.	Emphasizes the naturalness of fat as a filler. Harvests fat through liposuction or syringe aspiration and processes it in a centrifuge.	Minimal downtime, most patients can resume daily routine in 24 hours with some restrictions.	Cost depends on treatment areas, discussed during consultation.
Dr. David Cangello	Specialized training from a pioneer in fat grafting. Produces superior results.	Three - step process of harvest, process, and transfer. Uses centrifuge to ensure viable fat cells.	One to two weeks of puffiness and bruising. Swelling reduces in a month, bruising in 10 - 14 days.	Not explicitly detailed, procedure factors may affect cost.

Choosing the Right Doctor for You

Considerations

Reputation and Experience: Look at the doctor's patient reviews, number of procedures performed, and any specialized training or awards.
Technique and Approach: