20+ Years of Facial Plastic Surgery 100,000+ Procedures Performed 4.9★ from 1,100+ Google Reviews
Board Certified & Recognized
Four years running
Dr. Shervin Naderi, named to Newsweek America’s Best Plastic Surgeons
2023
2024
2025
2026
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Results
Fat Transfer Before and After
Tap a patient to see every angle.
Fat, CO2 laser and a temporal brow liftFat to restore youthful volume, with full-face CO2 laser resurfacing and a temporal brow lift.See all views
Lower eyelid surgery with fatA young woman with tired-looking eyes. Lower eyelid surgery with fat grafting for a more rested, youthful look.See all views
Softer, fuller contoursHer own fat restored lost volume for a naturally fuller, more balanced face.See all views
Facial fat transferHer own fat, layered to lift the mid-face, soften hollows and support the jawline. Photos at 4 months.See all views
Mid-face, under the eyes and templesFat to the mid-face, under the eyes and the temples, with deep full-face CO2 laser resurfacing.See all views
Fat with eyelid surgeryFat to the orbital rim and mid-face, with upper and lower eyelid surgery and CO2 laser resurfacing.See all views
Fat with a faceliftFat to the cheeks, pre-jowl area and temples, with a lower face and neck lift.See all views
Real patients of The Naderi Center. Each patient is unique and individual results vary.
Why Patients Choose Dr. Naderi for Facial Fat Transfer
Fat looks natural only when the right amount goes into the right layer of the face. Dr. Naderi performs every fat transfer himself, on its own or together with a facelift, eyelid surgery or brow lift, with the goal of a rested, younger version of you, never an overfilled look.
20+Years of facial surgery experience
100,000+Procedures performed at The Naderi Center
Double Board Certified, FACSCertified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
Focused on the Face, Nose and NeckDr. Naderi is a facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon whose surgical practice is focused on the face, nose and neck.
Fat as Part of Facial SurgeryHe adds fat during a facelift, eyelid surgery or brow lift to restore the volume that surgery alone cannot, so the face looks refreshed rather than just tightened.
Micro and Nano Fat Around the EyesUnder the eyes and along the brow bone, he places fat in very small amounts, finely processed, for a smooth result in the thinnest skin of the face.
Done Asleep, So More Fat TakesFat transfer is done under general anesthesia with a board-certified anesthesiologist. Numbing medicine such as lidocaine can harm fat cells, and avoiding it helps more of the fat survive.
Facelift Textbook AuthorCo-author of the facelift chapter, “Rhytidectomy,” in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Third Edition (Thieme).
Board ExaminerHas served as an Oral Board Examiner for the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, helping evaluate surgeons seeking board certification.
Trained by a Past President of the AAFPRSFellowship in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery under Dr. Stephen W. Perkins, past president of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Dr. Naderi later served as an officer of the Academy and taught as a clinical assistant professor at Indiana University School of Medicine.
Recognized by Newsweek and WashingtonianNamed to Newsweek’s list of America’s Best Plastic Surgeons four years running, a Washingtonian Top Doctor for 2026 and a Castle Connolly Top Doctor for 2027, and recognized as an Arlington Magazine Top Doctor and in Best of Bethesda.
“Friends and family have commented on how natural my results look.”
“After consulting with five highly respected facial plastic surgeons, I ultimately chose Dr. Naderi, and I can honestly say it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. … One of my biggest fears was looking like a different person. … Even with swelling still present, I already look like me... only better. Friends and family have commented on how natural my results look, which is exactly what I hoped for. … My recovery has been remarkably smooth, with very little pain, and my results continue to improve every day.”
★★★★★S.J.Google reviewDr. Naderi, facial surgery
“Makes me look 10 years younger.”
“I live in North Carolina and drive to VA just to see Dr. Naderi. He is extremely knowledgeable, great bedside manner and makes me look 10 years younger. He’s truly skilled at what he does and I will continue to be a client of his as long as he’s in practice!”
★★★★★S.C.Google reviewDr. Naderi
“No one has ever guessed I get work done.”
“He is extremely personable and I love that he makes sure to keep it natural. He is conservative and I have always felt that he listens, is very attentive to my goals and has made excellent well received suggestions! No one has ever guessed I get work done, and yet never believe my age! … If you want the best, peace of mind and someone who will take great care of you, come here!”
★★★★★L.E.Google reviewDr. Naderi
“My results are even better than I imagined.”
“I went to three different surgeons in search of the right doctor and I knew right away after meeting him that Dr. Naderi was "the one." … He is realistic and thorough. My results are even better than I imagined. I had very little bruising thanks to Dr. Naderi’s skill and detailed pre and post op instructions. I have a fear of being put under and was very scared to have surgery but it helped knowing I was in such good hands and Dr. Naderi reassured me throughout the process. Despite surgery anxiety it was completely worth it!”
★★★★★K.R.Google reviewDr. Naderi, surgery
“Less than two weeks after my surgery by Dr. Naderi, I was receiving tons of compliments.”
“This is by far the best plastic surgery center. Less than two weeks after my surgery by Dr. Naderi, I was receiving tons of compliments. Several individuals even asked me for Dr. Naderi’s name so that they could meet with him and discuss surgery. I 100% recommend the Naderi Center.”
★★★★★J.L.Google reviewDr. Naderi, surgery
“By following their instructions I had nearly zero bruising.”
“The Naderi Center exceeded my expectations. I was so nervous at first but the staff is assuring, the literature on point and the surgery seamless. By following their instructions I had nearly zero bruising. I honestly cannot believe it! I highly recommend the Naderi Center.”
★★★★★D.P.Google reviewSurgery
“I wanted my changes to be subtle, proportional, and natural.”
“Dr. Naderi is an artist. I wanted my changes to be subtle, proportional, and natural, and that is Exactly what he gave me. I couldn’t believe how quickly I recovered and how little pain was involved. The IV was definitely the worst of it! So glad I found Dr. Naderi and The Naderi Center.”
★★★★★L.A.Google reviewDr. Naderi
“He is very meticulous, honest and minimalist.”
“I chose The Naderi Center because I heard a lot about Dr. Naderi and his work from my colleagues and friends. He is an amazing Physician, he is very meticulous, honest and minimalist. He is not too pushy and will come up with a treatment plan during the first visit without wasting time. I am also impressed with the entire staff very kind, caring and very knowledgeable.”
Facial fat transfer, also called fat grafting or fat injections, moves a small amount of your own fat to areas of the face that have lost volume. Because it is your own tissue, it is the longest-lasting way to restore volume in the face. It restores lost volume in the face and around the eyes, on its own or together with a facelift or eyelid surgery.
Fat transfer is surgery. Dr. Naderi performs it in the operating room under general anesthesia, and it takes 90 minutes to 2 hours on its own. One session is usually enough, though a touch-up is sometimes needed. Naderi’s surgeon’s fee, which includes your follow-up visits. Anesthesia and surgical facility fees are separate.
What the research shows: in his landmark review of structural fat grafting, Dr. Sydney Coleman described fat as a long-lasting way to restore facial volume that can also improve the quality of the skin over it (Coleman, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2006).
Facial fat transferA patient of The Naderi Center. Individual results vary.
Treatment Areas
Where Can Fat Be Added?
Facial fat transfer at The Naderi Center is for the face, with special attention to the areas around the eyes.
Where Dr. Naderi places fat
Tap or hover an area to see where fat is placed.
01
Under the eyes
For a true hollow under the eyes, fat is the longest-lasting option. Dr. Naderi places it as micro and nano fat along the tear trough and usually treats the mid-face at the same time, since most people who need one need both.
A hollow upper eyelid and a hollow along the brow bone make the eyes look tired and older. Rather than removing a lot of skin, Dr. Naderi often restores this volume with fat, usually during eyelid surgery.
Volume added in front of and behind the jowl, and sometimes at the chin, can soften a jowl. When a facelift is planned, Dr. Naderi adds this fat during the facelift.
Dr. Naderi performs fat transfer on its own or during other facial surgery, most often a facelift or eyelid surgery.
“If you want something more permanent, it’s fat injections, micro and nano fat.”
Dr. Shervin Naderi
With a facelift. When a facelift is planned within about a year, Dr. Naderi adds volume with fat during the facelift instead of filler beforehand. Facelift
With upper eyelid surgery. He removes skin only where it is needed and restores volume with fat in the upper eyelid and along the brow bone, so the eyes don’t end up looking hollow or tight. Eyelid surgery
With lower eyelid surgery. When he removes the fat pads that cause under-eye bags, he often grafts fat below them to smooth the eyelid into the cheek, which can give an even better result.
With laser resurfacing. Fat restores volume, while laser resurfacing treats the skin itself, and the two can be combined. CO2 laser resurfacing
Technique matters
Dr. Naderi injects fat perpendicular to the area being filled. Fat placed at the wrong angle can leave a lumpy, sausage-like ridge that is very hard to fix.
Is It Right for You?
Who Is a Good Candidate for Fat Transfer?
Often a good fit
Volume loss under the eyes, in the upper eyelids, cheeks or temples
Planning a facelift or eyelid surgery
Wanting the longest-lasting option rather than repeat filler
In good general health, with some fat to spare
Able to stop all nicotine at least 2 weeks before surgery, 4 weeks preferred, because nicotine keeps transferred fat from surviving
Often better served by something else
Wanting an office treatment instead of surgery: filler, Sculptra or PRF
Thin, crepey skin or dark circles from pigment: PRF or skin treatments from our cosmetic dermatology team
Dr. Naderi will tell you honestly at your consultation which option fits your face.
The Procedure
How Facial Fat Transfer Is Done
Facial fat transfer is done in the operating room under general anesthesia, at one of the surgery centers where Dr. Naderi operates.
Dr. Naderi’s technique: how the fat is prepared depends on its quality and where it is taken from. Sometimes he spins it in a centrifuge at 3,000 RPM for 3 minutes. Other times that isn’t needed, and he decants it instead, letting it settle so the fluid can be poured off. He then refines it into microfat of different sizes, and sometimes all the way down to nanofat.
Harvest, purify and place, with the key facts at a glance. Tap to enlarge.
Cost
How Much Does Facial Fat Transfer Cost?
Anesthesia and surgical facility fees are separate. The price depends on the areas treated and the amount of fat needed.
Pre-surgical medical clearance and lab tests, usually covered by your medical insurance
Prescription medications, usually covered by your medical insurance
Your consultation fee goes toward the cost of surgery. Insurance does not cover cosmetic fat transfer.
Patient Financing
Pay Over Time with Cherry
Monthly payment plans for surgery and treatments, including 0% APR options for qualifying patients. Checking whether you qualify won’t affect your credit score.
This is a summary of our fat transfer instructions. Your own instructions from Dr. Naderi always come first.
Tap a stage to see what to expect
Stage 1 of 6
Getting ready, starting 2 weeks before
Stop all nicotine at least 2 weeks before, 4 weeks preferred. For 2 weeks, follow the Naderi anti-bleeding, anti-bruising diet and avoid aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, alcohol and blood-thinning supplements.
Stage 2 of 6
Days 1 to 3
Sleep on your back with your upper body raised about 45 degrees.
Use cool compresses for 15 to 20 minutes about every hour while awake for the first 3 days. Never put ice directly on the skin.
The pressure wrap comes off the afternoon after surgery, unless Dr. Naderi tells you otherwise.
Stage 3 of 6
The first week
You may shower 48 hours after surgery.
Don’t fly for 7 to 10 days.
Stage 4 of 6
Weeks 1 to 2
Most patients return to work in 1 to 2 weeks.
Stage 5 of 6
The first month
No exercise and no lifting over 20 pounds for the first month. Then build back slowly.
Stage 6 of 6
About 3 months
The goal is full activity by about 3 months.
Protect healing skin and incisions from the sun for 3 months.
The final result is typically seen at about three months.
Fat transfer carries the usual risks of surgery and anesthesia, which Dr. Naderi reviews with you before you decide. A board-certified anesthesiologist supervises a nurse anesthetist (CRNA), who stays with you the entire time.
Normal while you heal
Swelling and bruising
Mild bleeding or drainage
Mild asymmetry
Incisions that are noticeable early on
Mild itching
Mild lumps, bumps or divots
Not all of the transferred fat stays. Roughly 50 percent of it may remain, and a touch-up is sometimes needed.
Call us right away if you have
A fever over 101°F
Rapidly increasing or severe swelling
Worsening pain that medication does not help
Increasing redness, warmth, pus or concerning drainage
A rash, severe itching or blisters
Call 911 for chest pain, shortness of breath or excessive bleeding.
Washington, DC
Out-of-Town & International Patients
Traveling for Facial Fat Transfer? We Help Arrange the Rest.
Patients fly in from across the country and abroad for facial fat transfer with Dr. Naderi. Our team plans the trip with you so you make as few visits as possible.
BeforeVirtual consult
Arrive1 to 2 days before surgery
StayPlanned at your consult
Follow-upsBy telehealth
Virtual ConsultationSend photos from home. Your surgery proposal follows by email.
Private TransportationThrough Noyon Transportation, from Dulles, Reagan National or BWI.
Where to StayPatients often choose The Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner or JW Marriott Reston Station.
Concierge Nursing CarePrivate, nurse-led recovery care at your hotel from Grande Vida Co.
Consultations are in Reston, Virginia, close to McLean, Great Falls, Vienna, Arlington and Alexandria, and in Chevy Chase, Maryland, close to Bethesda, Potomac and Northwest Washington DC.
Facial fat transfer, also called fat grafting or fat injections, moves a small amount of your own fat to areas of the face that have lost volume, such as under the eyes, the upper eyelids and brow bone, the cheeks, the temples and around the jawline.
Who performs fat transfer at The Naderi Center?
Double board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Shervin Naderi. He performs it on its own or during a facelift, eyelid surgery or other facial surgery.
Is fat transfer done under general anesthesia?
Yes. Facial fat transfer is always done in the operating room under general anesthesia. You go home the same day with a responsible adult.
How long does facial fat transfer take?
About 90 minutes to 2 hours when it is done on its own.
How does Dr. Naderi prepare the fat?
It depends on the quality of the fat and where it is taken from. Sometimes he spins it in a centrifuge at 3,000 RPM for 3 minutes, and sometimes he decants it instead. He then refines it into microfat of different sizes, or down to nanofat.
How much does facial fat transfer cost?
Facial fat grafting costs $5,500 to $15,000 or more for Dr. Naderi’s surgeon’s fee, which includes your follow-up visits. Anesthesia and surgical facility fees are separate. The price depends on the areas treated and the amount of fat needed.
How much of the fat stays?
Roughly 50 percent of the transferred fat may remain.
Will I need more than one session?
One session is usually enough, though a touch-up is sometimes needed.
Should I get fat or filler?
Fat is the longest-lasting option and uses your own tissue, but it is surgery. Filler, Sculptra and PRF are done in the office. If you are planning a facelift within about a year, Dr. Naderi usually adds volume with fat during the facelift instead of filler.
Can fat be injected under the eyes?
Yes. For a true hollow under the eyes, fat is the longest-lasting option. Dr. Naderi places it as micro and nano fat along the tear trough and usually treats the mid-face at the same time.
Can fat transfer be combined with other procedures?
Yes. It is often done with a facelift or eyelid surgery, and it can be combined with laser resurfacing.
How long is recovery after fat transfer?
Most patients return to work in 1 to 2 weeks. No exercise and no lifting over 20 pounds for the first month, with the goal of full activity by about 3 months.
When will I see the final result?
The final result is typically seen at about three months.
Where can I get facial fat transfer near me?
Consultations are at The Naderi Center in Reston, Virginia and Chevy Chase, Maryland, close to Washington DC, McLean, Great Falls, Vienna, Arlington, Alexandria, Bethesda and Potomac.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Shervin Naderi, MD, FACS, double board-certified facial plastic surgeon. Last reviewed .
