As we age, most individuals lose the fat volume of certain facial regions that once gave them the "filled out" appearance of youth. This is most often evident in the folds that run from the base of the nose to the corners of the mouth, which are called the Nasolabial Folds. The cheeks and lips usually undergo the same process, however, in some individuals, the entire facial region loses fat volume.

This fat wasting can be easily seen in most individuals by studying their high school yearbook photographs and comparing them with a similar photograph taken some years later.

In some individuals, the fat loss comes from facial changes such as acne scarring, paralysis of the facial muscles or traumatic injuries.

Facial Fat Augmentation uses fat from another area of an individual’s body, often where they have excess fat such as in the belly area or hip area, as a "fat bank" to allow the excess fat to be put to a good use. The fat is removed with the same technique used in liposuction and is sterilely processed and reinjected in the fat deficient area(s) of the face. The excess fat removed can also be sterilely frozen for later augmentations. All the fat is harvested at the initial surgery so the patient receives two benefits. This procedure allows the patient to get rid of unwanted fat in an area that has too much, and use it in an area which has too little, thus improving the contour of both areas. The procedure is usually performed under IV or intravenous sedation and tumescent local anesthesia.

Once the fat is injected, the fat undergoes changes that allow approximately 40 to 60% of it to survive. Therefore, the patient will usually require two to five additional injections with the frozen fat to achieve the required augmentation. These reinjections are usually spaced three months apart and are performed under local anesthesia.

The same process is used to fill defects of body areas which require fat augmentation, such as traumatic injuries and defects resulting from poorly performed liposuction procedures.