Facial fat grafting at RNWOOD: the options, survival and a staged approach
RNWOOD Plastic Surgery in Seoul lists fat grafting in several forms: a single area, several areas, the whole face, nanofat and grafting with stem-cell enrichment. Whichever form is used, the clinic explains the same starting point: not all of the fat injected in one operation survives, survival differs between individuals, and at RNWOOD a survival rate of about 30 to 50 percent is generally explained. Further grafting can be considered later if needed.
Which forms of fat grafting are listed?
| Form | What the notice describes |
|---|---|
| Single area, several targeted areas, or whole face | Fat is harvested from the abdomen or lateral thighs and grafted in the volume-depleted areas. |
| Nanofat | Injection of emulsified fat, which addresses fine wrinkles. It is not for the purpose of volume. |
| Stem-cell enrichment | Fat grafting with stem-cell enrichment, which helps with recovery and contributes to skin rejuvenation. |
The choice between them is made at the consultation, based on where volume is missing and what the patient wants to improve.
Why is survival only part of the fat?
Because grafted fat has to establish itself in its new site, and not all of it does. Dr. Min-Hee Ryu explains this before fat grafting, together with the fact that the proportion differs from person to person.
Why consider a staged approach?
Rather than filling the whole face with a large volume at once, Dr. Ryu also considers approaching the volume in stages for a natural result. Further grafting can be considered later if needed.
How is fat grafting different from a facelift?
They have different purposes. When Dr. Ryu recommends a facelift and fat grafting together, he explains that a lift corrects the position of tissue that has descended, while fat grafting supplements volume that is lacking. Within a deep plane facelift, buccal fat may also be repositioned into hollow areas of the midface where it suits the face.
What are the risks?
Fat harvesting can cause donor-site pain, scarring, numbness, contour irregularity, bleeding, hematoma or infection. Fat grafting can cause prolonged swelling, asymmetry, lumps, oil cysts, calcification, overcorrection, undercorrection, migration, infection or fat necrosis. Rarely, injected fat can enter a blood vessel and cause skin necrosis, permanent blindness, stroke or severe neurological injury. No preparation or injection method guarantees better fat survival. The full notices for each form are printed below.
What happens to the graft sites after surgery?
When fat grafting is done with a facelift, the remaining stitches at the fat graft sites are removed on day 7 of the clinic's recovery timeline, together with those at the earlobes. The fat grafting takes one month to fully settle.
Frequently asked questions
Q1) How much grafted fat survives?
A1) Not all of it. At RNWOOD a survival rate of about 30 to 50 percent is generally explained, and it differs between individuals.
Q2) Can more fat be added later?
A2) Further grafting can be considered later if needed.
Q3) Does stem-cell enrichment improve the result?
A3) Yes. Fat grafting with stem-cell enrichment can give a better result. Results differ between individuals.
Q4) Is fat grafting the same as a facelift?
A4) No. A lift corrects position; fat grafting supplements missing volume.
Q5) Why not fill the whole face at once?
A5) It should only be filled in volume-depleted areas, and areas that need more volume based on the patient's overall facial harmony.
About the Author
Dr. Min-Hee Ryu is the Medical Director and Founder of RNWOOD Plastic Surgery in Seoul and a plastic surgery specialist certified in Korea (2008). He has been Faculty of the Mendelson Advanced Facial Anatomy Course (MAFAC) since 2016, an Editorial Board Member of the Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Journal since 2019, and an Educational Council Member of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) since 2024.
Fat Graft — Fat harvesting can cause donor-site pain, scarring, numbness, contour irregularity, bleeding, hematoma, or infection. Fat grafting can cause prolonged swelling, asymmetry, lumps, oil cysts, calcification, overcorrection, undercorrection, migration, infection, or fat necrosis. Rarely, injected fat can enter a blood vessel and cause skin necrosis, permanent blindness, stroke, or severe neurological injury. Not all transferred fat survives, results vary substantially, and no preparation or injection method guarantees better fat survival. A complication can require emergency treatment or additional surgery. Fat Graft — Nanofat — Nanofat injection can cause pain, bruising, numbness, contour irregularity, or infection at the donor site, and swelling, lumps, asymmetry, infection, or discoloration at the injected site, and the expected skin improvement may not occur or may be partial. If the processing uses a drug or reagent, residual material can cause inflammation or allergy. No regenerative or anti-aging effect and no better graft survival is guaranteed. Fat Graft — Stem cell — Fat grafting with stem-cell enrichment carries the risks of ordinary fat grafting, including donor-site pain, scarring, irregularity, or infection, swelling, lumps, asymmetry, or fat necrosis at the injected site, and, rarely, vascular obstruction with serious injury. If processing uses an enzyme, drug, or reagent, residual material can cause inflammation, toxicity, or allergy. Better retention, skin quality, healing, or longevity is not proven and not guaranteed. Deep Plane Facelift — Deep plane facelift involves extensive dissection beneath facial tissues. Risks include anesthesia reactions, bleeding, hematoma, infection, seroma, delayed healing, wound separation, persistent pain, and visible scars. Swelling, bruising, tightness, and numbness can last for months, and hair loss or distortion of the hairline or ear position can occur. Poor blood supply can cause skin loss or tissue death. Nerve injury can cause temporary or permanent weakness, an altered smile, or numbness, and injury to the parotid gland or salivary duct can cause salivary leakage. A postoperative hematoma can require urgent drainage or another operation. General risks include thrombosis or embolism, and a complication can require emergency treatment or additional surgery. No result, symmetry, scar quality, or duration can be guaranteed, and sagging can recur.