Fat Transfer in Sharjah
Medically reviewed by Dar Al Kamal Team
What is fat transfer?
Fat transfer, also called fat grafting, is a surgical procedure that uses your own body tissue to add volume where it is wanted. Fat is gently drawn from an area where there is a little to spare, such as the abdomen or thighs, then processed and re-injected into the area to be filled. Because the material is your own living tissue, the result feels soft and natural and blends with the surrounding area.
At Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah, fat transfer is used to restore or add volume in places that have lost fullness or that would benefit from a gentle contour change. Common areas include the face and cheeks, where volume softens the features, and the backs of the hands. The same procedure can refine a body contour by adding a small amount of shape where it is wanted. Taking the fat from the donor area often improves that area at the same time, so a single operation can achieve two aims.
Who fat transfer suits
Fat transfer suits an adult who has an area they would like to make fuller or softer and who has enough fat elsewhere to serve as a donor site. People choose it to restore facial volume lost with age, to smooth a hollow, to add fullness to the cheeks, or to refine the shape of a contour with their own tissue rather than a manufactured filler.
Suitability is decided individually. A person in good general health, with realistic expectations and a clear idea of the change they want, is well placed to benefit. The surgeon reviews your health, the area you wish to treat, and the donor sites available, then advises whether fat transfer is the right approach for you.
The consultation
Every fat transfer at Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah begins with a consultation. You describe the change you want, and the surgeon examines both the area to be filled and the possible donor areas. The surgeon explains what fat transfer can achieve for your anatomy, which donor site suits you, and how the two-stage nature of the procedure works.
This is also where your health, any medicines you take, and your expectations are discussed. The surgeon sets out the steps of the operation, the anaesthesia, the aftercare and a recovery plan shaped to you. You leave the consultation understanding the procedure, the realistic outcome and the alternatives, so any decision to go ahead is an informed one.
How the procedure is performed
Fat transfer is performed by a specialist general and cosmetic surgeon and has two stages within the one operation. In the first stage, the surgeon harvests fat from the donor area using gentle liposuction through small entry points. In the second stage, that fat is processed to separate the healthy fat cells, which are then re-injected in fine layers into the target area to build up volume evenly.
Injecting the fat in small amounts across many fine passes helps each portion settle into the surrounding tissue and take up a blood supply. The surgeon shapes the area gradually during this stage, adding volume where it gives the most natural result. The number of donor and treatment areas, and the amount of fat moved, follow the plan agreed at your consultation.
Anaesthesia and safety
Fat transfer is carried out under the care of a qualified anaesthesia team. Depending on the size and number of areas treated, the procedure may be performed under local anaesthesia with sedation or under general anaesthesia, and the anaesthetist discusses the right choice with you beforehand.
Throughout the operation the anaesthesia team monitors you closely and keeps you comfortable and safe. Performing the procedure within Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah means the surgical, anaesthetic and nursing teams work together in one place, with the support of a full hospital around them. Your suitability for the chosen anaesthesia is confirmed as part of your preparation.
Recovery and aftercare
After fat transfer you rest and are cared for while the initial effects of the anaesthesia settle. Both the donor area and the treated area are looked after: the donor site is dressed, and the surgeon gives guidance on caring for both areas as they heal. Mild swelling and bruising at either site are a usual part of healing and ease over time.
The surgeon gives you a recovery timeline shaped to your procedure and to you as an individual, along with clear advice on activity, dressings and follow-up visits. You are told which signs are a normal part of healing and which mean you should make contact. Follow-up appointments let the surgeon check how the transferred fat is settling and how both areas are healing, and this supported recovery is part of the care at Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah.
Related services
Frequently asked questions
Is fat transfer permanent?
Fat transfer moves living tissue, and some of the transferred fat settles into its new home while some is naturally reabsorbed by the body during healing. The final volume is what remains once healing is complete, and that portion tends to stay. Because of this, a surgeon sometimes plans a top-up procedure to reach the volume you want.
Will the results look natural?
Using your own fat gives a soft, natural feel and appearance, because the material blends with the surrounding tissue. Results vary between individuals, as they depend on your anatomy, the area treated and how you heal. The surgeon explains what is realistic for you at the consultation so you have an honest picture before deciding.
Why might a top-up be needed?
Some of the transferred fat is naturally reabsorbed during healing, so the volume seen straight after the operation settles to a final amount. Where a person wants a fuller result than the settled volume gives, the surgeon may plan a second, smaller session as a top-up. This is discussed as part of your plan at the consultation.
Where does the fat come from?
The fat is taken from an area of your own body where there is a little to spare, most often the abdomen or thighs. The surgeon chooses a donor site that suits your body and the amount of fat needed. Harvesting the fat by gentle liposuction often refines the donor area at the same time.
What areas can be treated with fat transfer?
Fat transfer commonly adds volume to the face and cheeks, softens hollows, and restores fullness to the backs of the hands. It can also refine a body contour by adding gentle shape. The surgeon reviews the areas you would like treated at the consultation and advises what fat transfer can achieve for each.
What type of anaesthesia is used?
Depending on the size and number of areas treated, fat transfer may be performed under local anaesthesia with sedation or under general anaesthesia. A qualified anaesthesia team cares for you throughout and monitors you closely. The anaesthetist discusses the appropriate choice with you before the procedure and confirms your suitability.
What is recovery like after fat transfer?
Recovery involves caring for both the donor area and the treated area, with mild swelling and bruising a usual part of healing. The surgeon gives you a recovery timeline shaped to your procedure and to you as an individual, along with advice on activity and follow-up. You are told which signs are normal and which mean you should make contact.
Do I need a consultation before fat transfer?
Yes. Every fat transfer is preceded by a consultation, where the surgeon examines the area to be treated and the donor sites, reviews your health, and explains what the procedure can achieve for you. You leave understanding the two stages, the anaesthesia, the recovery and the realistic outcome, so any decision to proceed is fully informed.
Who performs fat transfer at Dar Al Kamal Hospital?
Fat transfer is performed by a specialist general and cosmetic surgeon, supported by a qualified anaesthesia team and the nursing staff of the hospital. Carrying out the procedure within the hospital means the surgical, anaesthetic and nursing teams work together in one place, with the support of a full hospital around them.
How is fat transfer different from a filler?
Fat transfer uses your own living tissue to add volume, which gives a soft, natural feel and refines the donor area at the same time. A dermal filler is a separate, non-surgical injectable treatment. The surgeon explains both approaches at the consultation and helps you choose the one that suits your goals and anatomy.
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