Facial Fat Transfer

Dr. Karam's facial fat transfer uses the patient's own harvested fat to restore lost volume in the temples, midface, and lips. The autologous approach avoids synthetic fillers and provides longer-lasting volume restoration. It is most commonly combined with Vertical Restore to address volume loss and structural descent together in a single operative session. Standalone pricing is $40,000.

Facial fat transfer at Amir Karam MD's San Diego practice is a natural volume restoration technique using the patient's own adipose tissue rather than synthetic dermal fillers. As the face ages, volume loss occurs unevenly — most prominently in the temples, upper midface, and lip area — creating a skeletonised or hollow appearance that lifting alone cannot fully correct. Fat transfer addresses this directly by harvesting fat cells from a donor site on the body (typically the abdomen or thighs), processing and purifying them, and micro-injecting them into depleted facial zones. Dr. Karam positions fat transfer as a complementary companion to Vertical Restore rather than a standalone procedure. The facelift repositions descended structures vertically, while fat transfer replenishes the volume that was lost. Performing both in a single operative session maximises the rejuvenating effect and avoids a second anaesthetic exposure. Target areas include the temporal hollows (which contribute to a gaunt appearance when depleted), the malar cheek fat pad region for midface fullness, and the lip area for subtle volume enhancement without the limitations of repeated filler injections. Because the transferred fat is the patient's own biological material, the results are permanent for the fat cells that survive and integrate — typically 50–70% of the transferred volume. The procedure is performed under local anaesthesia with IV sedation in the surgical suite at 11943 El Camino Real, Carmel Valley. Recovery mirrors that of Vertical Restore when combined (approximately two weeks), and patients travelling to San Diego are advised to remain locally for 10–14 days post-operatively. Standalone pricing is $40,000; combined package pricing with Vertical Restore and facility fees is available from $142,500 for women and $167,500 for men.