Fat Grafting
Restore volume naturally using your own tissue.
Do You Want to Restore Volume Without Implants or Fillers?
Over time, natural volume in the face, breasts or body can reduce due to age, weight loss, surgery, or other life events.
For some, this creates a sense of imbalance or change that doesn’t feel like them anymore.
Fat grafting - or autologous fat transfer - restores subtle volume by using your own fat, gently harvested from one part of your body and placed precisely into another. No synthetic fillers. No foreign materials. Just you.
Who We Often Help With This Procedure
Fat grafting is chosen by people who want subtle, natural restoration, whether for cosmetic enhancement or reconstructive care:
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Those seeking natural restoration: Ideal for patients wanting volume enhancement in the face, breasts, or body without implants or synthetic fillers.
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Individuals addressing irregularities: Suitable for softening scars, correcting contour issues, or restoring symmetry after surgery or trauma.
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Women rebuilding after life changes: Including post-pregnancy, weight loss, or mastectomy aiming to restore confidence and body harmony.
Key detail: Many patients appreciate the dual benefit, reducing fat where it’s not needed, and restoring it where it is.
What Happens at a Fat Grafting Consultation?
Consultation
Your consultation with Mr Ollie Bassett at Tees Valley Hospital begins with a discussion about your goals, not just the physical outcome, but how you want to feel afterwards.
We’ll explore:
- Where you’d like volume restored
- Where you have unwanted fat to donate
- Whether fat grafting alone will meet your expectations
- How your skin quality and lifestyle may affect your outcome
A physical examination will assess donor areas (typically the abdomen, thighs, or flanks) and evaluate your desired treatment site. We’ll also discuss whether this is for cosmetic, reconstructive or combined purposes.
Questions
You’ll be able to ask about scarring, recovery, fat survival rates, repeat treatments, and whether fat grafting is better suited to your anatomy than synthetic options.
You’ll also have the chance to ask personal questions like:
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How long do fat grafting results last?
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Will all the transferred fat survive?
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Can fat be taken from any area of my body?
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Is fat grafting safer than implants or fillers?
Fat grafting uses your own fat to restore natural volume. Patients often ask about longevity, fat survival, and donor areas. Results are long-lasting, and because it's your own tissue, the procedure is safe, soft, and natural-looking.
Why Patients Choose Mr Ollie Bassett
Mr Bassett is a Consultant Plastic Surgeon with NHS reconstructive training and specialist expertise in aesthetic body surgery.
Mr Bassett is a Consultant Plastic Surgeon with extensive training in both aesthetic and reconstructive procedures.
He’s GMC-registered (GMC No. 7082713), and a full member of BAAPS.
Credentials you can verify:
What We’ll Discuss Around Safety, Scarring & Recovery
Medical diagram of female breast fat transfer augmentation
Fat grafting uses small incisions at both donor and recipient sites.
Scars are minimal, often no more than a few millimetres, and fade well over time.
You’ll receive clear aftercare guidance on:
- Swelling and bruising (at both sites)
- Compression garments for donor areas
- Restrictions on pressure or movement over graft sites
- Timing for return to work and activities
- What affects long-term fat survival
Initial swelling can last 2–3 weeks. Visible improvements appear after 4–6 weeks and final results settle over 3–6 months.
A Tailored Approach: Not a One-Size-Fits-All Surgery
Always Bespoke
Every fat grafting case is different. Some patients need just 10cc of volume to the cheeks or lips. Others may have over 1,000cc transferred for body contouring or breast restoration.
Planning includes:
- Donor site selection
- Graft site goals
- Expected fat survival
- Any need for secondary procedures
We also discuss volume targets carefully, overfilling is often planned, as some fat is naturally absorbed.
Example Techniques
Each technique will be discussed openly, with honest answers about limitations and expected results.
- Facial Fat Transfer – restores volume to cheeks, temples, lips or jawline
- Breast Fat Grafting – subtle augmentation or shaping without implants
- Scar Revision – softens contour irregularities with smooth, living tissue
- Post-Surgical Contour Repair – corrects indentations after liposuction or trauma
- Stem Cell Enhancement – includes regenerative benefit from adipose-derived cells
Thinking About Cost?
Costs vary depending on the donor site, volume transferred, complexity and whether you’ve had prior procedures. You’ll receive a personalised quote during consultation.
Clear Guidance, No Pressure
View typical fees and payment options on our pricing page via the link provided below.
What Our Patients Say
Patient Feedback
This was exactly what I wanted, a natural result, no implants, just me but more balanced.
Patient Feedback
I had fat transfer to my face after weight loss. People keep asking if I’ve just been on holiday. That’s the effect I wanted
Patient Feedback
No filler ever lasted. This has, and the difference in my skin is amazing too.”
Restore Softness With Your Own Tissue, Not Synthetic Materials
For many patients, the tummy area can be an issue. Whether due to pregnancy, weight loss, or natural ageing.
This often leaves behind loose skin, stubborn fat, or changes that don’t reflect how they feel inside. Fat grafting offers subtle, natural enhancement, not change, not volume for volume’s sake.
Whether you want to restore facial softness, rebalance your figure, or correct an old contour issue, the best results often come from within. We’re here to guide you through that choice, with honesty, care, and surgical skill.
FAQs
Our Most Frequently Asked Questions About Fat Grafting
Ready to take the first step?
We offer private, consultant-led consultations for fat grafting at Tees Valley Hospital in Middlesbrough, with patients travelling from Durham, Guisborough, Sunderland, and across the North East.
You’ll leave with a tailored plan, honest expectations, and the space to decide what’s right for you.