Fat is collected
Fat is obtained with liposuction from a suitable donor area such as the abdomen or thighs, depending on the patient's anatomy and plan.
St Mary's Medical Clinic · Plastic Surgery
Fat Grafting in Malta
Fat Grafting, also called fat transfer, uses your own fat to add volume or improve contour. Fat is first harvested with liposuction, then processed and transferred in carefully planned amounts to another area.
Fat transferFaceBreastsHandsBody contouringYour own tissue
How fat transfer works
One procedure involves both a donor site and a recipient site.
Fat Grafting is not simply an injection. It combines liposuction, fat preparation and placement into a new area, which means recovery involves more than one treatment zone.
The harvested fat is processed
Collected fat is prepared so suitable fat can be transferred to the target area.
Volume is rebuilt or enhanced
The prepared fat is placed in controlled amounts to improve contour, restore volume or create a fuller shape.
Assessment & planning
The plan depends on both where you want volume and where fat can be safely harvested.
We assess the target area, available donor fat, skin quality, asymmetry, previous procedures, weight stability and whether fat transfer is the right tool for the goal.
Face
Fat can be used to restore or enhance facial volume in selected areas such as the cheeks or other contour deficits. The required volume and placement are different from body fat transfer.
Breasts and body contour
The live page lists breasts and body-contouring areas among the uses of fat grafting. The achievable change depends on donor fat, tissue characteristics and the amount that can be transferred safely.
Hands
Fat transfer can restore volume to selected ageing hands, helping soften visible contour changes where volume loss contributes to the appearance.
Buttocks and BBL
A Brazilian Butt Lift is a specific application of fat grafting to the buttocks. Because it has its own surgical planning and recovery requirements, it is presented separately on the dedicated BBL page.
Procedure & recovery
Both the liposuction area and the grafted area need time to settle.
Recovery depends on how much fat is harvested, where it is transferred and the total scale of the procedure.
Consultation
We assess the area needing volume, the available donor fat and whether fat transfer is suitable for the requested change.
Harvest
Liposuction is used to collect fat from the selected donor area.
Preparation
The harvested fat is processed before transfer.
Transfer
Prepared fat is carefully placed into the recipient area in a planned pattern.
Recovery
Swelling affects both donor and recipient sites. Follow-up is used to monitor healing while the grafted fat stabilises.
Results & limitations
The stable result is not the same as the immediate post-treatment volume.
Early swelling can make the treated area look fuller. Over time, swelling decreases and some transferred fat may be reabsorbed, leaving the more stable result.
Natural tissue
The transferred material is your own fat rather than a synthetic filler or implant.
Variable retention
Not all transferred fat necessarily survives, so the final retained volume varies between patients.
Long-term change
The fat that survives behaves like living fat tissue and can respond to future weight change.
Current pricing
Fat Grafting pricing
The live page currently lists the price as being provided during consultation.
Fat GraftingPrice provided during consultation
Practitioner
Meet the team involved in your care.
Your consultation is where the procedure, expected recovery, limitations and individual suitability are discussed before a decision is made.
Doctor
Dr Frank Farrugia
Fat grafting & body contouringDr Frank Farrugia is the doctor currently listed for Fat Grafting at St Mary's Clinic.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Fat Grafting.
These answers are general guidance. Your consultation is where we assess your anatomy, medical history, expectations and the procedure-specific risks that matter in your case.
01 Where can fat be transferred?
The current page lists the face, breasts, hands, body-contouring areas and buttocks among common treatment sites.
02 Where does the fat come from?
Fat is harvested with liposuction from a suitable donor area such as the abdomen or thighs.
03 Does all transferred fat survive?
No. Some transferred fat can be reabsorbed, which is why the stable result should be judged only after healing.
04 Is Fat Grafting the same as fillers?
No. Fat Grafting uses your own tissue and requires liposuction; dermal fillers use manufactured injectable products.
05 When can I return to normal activities?
The live page says many patients can resume light activities within a few days, while strenuous exercise should be avoided for a few weeks.
06 Can Fat Grafting be used for a BBL?
Yes. A Brazilian Butt Lift is a specific form of fat transfer to the buttocks.