FatFat grafting

Under-Eye Fat Grafting

qd Under-Eye Fat Grafting

The tear trough and lower-eyelid-to-cheek transition are checked for a true volume deficit. Thin skin, protruding fat, swelling and pigmentation are distinguished before grafting is considered.

Under-Eye Fat Grafting is available at QD Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, Korea.

Generated explanatory model image, not an actual patient or surgical result.

is this for me

Who it’s for

Even if none of these describes you, we will look again at the consultation.

  • People seeking assessment of a local hollow that may reflect soft-tissue volume loss
  • People able to plan recovery and follow-up for both the face and donor area
  • People who understand partial absorption, asymmetry and the possibility of further correction

Fat grafting differs from repositioning existing lower-eyelid fat. It cannot correct every cause of dark circles, and thin skin may reveal small irregularities.

start with your concern

Before you pick a treatment name, start with the cause of your concern.

Even a treatment with the same name takes on a different role and scope depending on your current structure, the change you want, what you have had before and the recovery time you have.

  • Area and cause

    Skin thickness, fat protrusion, tear-trough depth and previous filler are examined. Eye conditions, lower-eyelid surgery and recurrent swelling can affect suitability.

  • Scope and limitations

    Fat grafting differs from repositioning existing lower-eyelid fat. It cannot correct every cause of dark circles, and thin skin may reveal small irregularities.

  • Follow-up

    Small amounts of swelling or surface change can be noticeable under the eyes. Do not rub or press the area; sudden visual changes or severe eye pain require emergency assessment.

the principle

How it works

Under-Eye Fat Grafting

The tear trough and lower-eyelid-to-cheek transition are checked for a true volume deficit. Thin skin, protruding fat, swelling and pigmentation are distinguished before grafting is considered. Autologous fat grafting transfers prepared fat from a donor area, such as the abdomen or thighs, to supplement soft-tissue volume. The graft needs to establish a blood supply, and some fat may be absorbed. Retention and contour vary; a fixed survival rate or permanently unchanged shape cannot be promised. Fat grafting differs from repositioning existing lower-eyelid fat. It cannot correct every cause of dark circles, and thin skin may reveal small irregularities.

Concept diagram identifying the area assessed for volume, not injection sites, depths or a predicted result.

How it works

  • Area and cause

    Skin thickness, fat protrusion, tear-trough depth and previous filler are examined. Eye conditions, lower-eyelid surgery and recurrent swelling can affect suitability.

  • Harvest and preparation

    The surgeon assesses donor fat and skin, then plans anaesthesia and harvesting. The harvested fat is prepared, and wound care and recovery at the donor site are explained alongside facial recovery.

  • Placement and review

    Placement is distributed according to tissue thickness and local vascular and nerve anatomy. Excessive filling in one session is avoided, and any further correction is considered after swelling and absorption have been reviewed.

the qd standard

The same treatment, never the same plan.

Rather than a fashionable name or a fixed package, we weigh the structure found at examination, safety, recovery and the limits within one plan.

  • DIAGNOSIS FIRST

    Cause before name

    We first separate out the tissue and the function behind your concern.

  • LESS, PRECISE

    Only as much as needed

    Rather than an excessive change, we plan the smallest scope with a clear role.

  • HONEST LIMIT

    The limits, explained too

    We explain the change you can expect, the alternatives, individual differences and the risks.

personal plan

From consultation to follow-up, planned as one flow.

The tear trough and lower-eyelid-to-cheek transition are checked for a true volume deficit. Thin skin, protruding fat, swelling and pigmentation are distinguished before grafting is considered.

Generated illustration of an area-specific consultation, not an actual patient appointment.
  1. Area and cause

    Skin thickness, fat protrusion, tear-trough depth and previous filler are examined. Eye conditions, lower-eyelid surgery and recurrent swelling can affect suitability.

  2. Harvest and preparation

    The surgeon assesses donor fat and skin, then plans anaesthesia and harvesting. The harvested fat is prepared, and wound care and recovery at the donor site are explained alongside facial recovery.

  3. Placement and review

    Placement is distributed according to tissue thickness and local vascular and nerve anatomy. Excessive filling in one session is avoided, and any further correction is considered after swelling and absorption have been reviewed.

What the procedure is like

  1. Skin thickness, fat protrusion, tear-trough depth and previous filler are examined. Eye conditions, lower-eyelid surgery and recurrent swelling can affect suitability.
  2. The surgeon assesses donor fat and skin, then plans anaesthesia and harvesting. The harvested fat is prepared, and wound care and recovery at the donor site are explained alongside facial recovery.
  3. Placement is distributed according to tissue thickness and local vascular and nerve anatomy. Excessive filling in one session is avoided, and any further correction is considered after swelling and absorption have been reviewed.

Anaesthesia and duration are planned after assessment of the recipient areas, donor site and health. Arrange transport home and early follow-up before surgery.

Plan it with our doctors

Please read this before treatment

  • Small amounts of swelling or surface change can be noticeable under the eyes. Do not rub or press the area; sudden visual changes or severe eye pain require emergency assessment.
  • Avoid firm pressure or rubbing over the graft. Follow individual advice on washing, sleep position and exercise, and check whether donor-site dressings or compression are needed.

Safety & considerations

Possible complications

  • Swelling, bruising, pain, bleeding, infection, scarring or altered sensation can affect the face and donor area.
  • Absorption, asymmetry, overcorrection, undercorrection, irregularity, nodules, fat necrosis or oil cysts may occur.
  • Rare vascular complications can cause skin injury, visual loss or neurological injury; anatomical assessment is essential.

Before surgery

  • Describe previous fillers, fat transfer, implants and facial operations, including dates, locations and materials.
  • Report medicines, supplements, allergies, bleeding conditions, smoking and recent weight changes; do not stop prescribed medicine yourself.

Sudden visual changes, severe pain, pale or dark skin, difficulty speaking or limb weakness require emergency assessment. Rapidly increasing swelling, fever or discharge also need prompt medical review.

what to expect

What to expect over time

A general guide to how the days and months after treatment usually unfold. Results vary by individual.

  1. Early care

    Avoid firm pressure or rubbing over the graft. Follow individual advice on washing, sleep position and exercise, and check whether donor-site dressings or compression are needed.

  2. Follow-up

    Facial swelling, colour and texture are reviewed together with donor-site wounds. Early asymmetry is not automatically the final outcome, but sudden pain or colour change must not wait.

  3. Contour assessment

    Volume is reassessed with photographs and examination over the months in which swelling and absorption settle. Remaining hollows and tissue condition guide whether and when another graft is appropriate.

Sessions & results

Small amounts of swelling or surface change can be noticeable under the eyes. Do not rub or press the area; sudden visual changes or severe eye pain require emergency assessment. Volume is reassessed with photographs and examination over the months in which swelling and absorption settle. Remaining hollows and tissue condition guide whether and when another graft is appropriate.

how it compares

How it compares

Fat grafting differs from repositioning existing lower-eyelid fat. It cannot correct every cause of dark circles, and thin skin may reveal small irregularities.

Comparison
Under-Eye Fat GraftingHyaluronic acid filler
Scope and limitationsAutologous fat grafting transfers prepared fat from a donor area, such as the abdomen or thighs, to supplement soft-tissue volume. The graft needs to establish a blood supply, and some fat may be absorbed. Retention and contour vary; a fixed survival rate or permanently unchanged shape cannot be promised.A manufactured gel adds local volume without fat harvesting. Suitability and duration depend on the product and area, and vascular complications remain possible. Equivalent amounts or recovery cannot be assumed.

before consultation

Before you decide, the questions people always ask

  • Grafting brings fat from another donor area to supplement deficient volume. Repositioning works with existing lower-eyelid fat and surrounding structures. The distribution of hollowing and protrusion helps determine which approach is appropriate. The procedures are not interchangeable or automatically required together.

  • A shadow from a hollow differs from pigment or visible blood vessels. Improving volume may change a shadow without changing the skin’s colour. Thin skin, recurrent swelling and protruding fat also need assessment. Volume correction and colour or skin management are discussed separately.

  • Small bumps or unevenness can be more visible through thin lower-eyelid skin. Skin thickness, old injectable material and the depth of the trough must be examined. Planning considers precise need and overcorrection risk, rather than maximum volume. Another approach or no procedure may be advised if grafting is unsuitable.

  • Residual filler and associated swelling can obscure the underlying volume deficit. Provide the product, date, location and any history of dissolving or recurrent puffiness. Additional assessment may be needed before deciding the order and timing of treatment. Unexplained lumps or swelling should not simply be covered by adding fat.

personal consultation

Tell us what bothers you now, the change you want, what you have had done before and any dates that matter. We will compare the possible approaches and their limits, calmly.

Consult now