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Barrie Plastic Surgery
Facial Surgery

Facial Fat Grafting

Restoring lost volume in the face with your own fat, harvested from the abdomen or thigh and placed where the face has hollowed.

  • Office or operating room
  • Sedation or general anesthetic
  • 1 to 2 hours
  • Desk work in 7 to 10 days
Facial Fat Grafting at Barrie Plastic Surgery

Concerns it addresses

What facial fat grafting treats

Under-Eye Bags & Tired Eyes

Under-Eye Bags & Tired Eyes

Fat placed deep in the groove between lower lid and cheek lifts the shadow that reads as dark circles, with your own tissue.

Treatments+

Also considered for this concern: Blepharoplasty, Under-Eye / Tear Trough Filler, BBL Photofacial and Canthopexy.

Causes+

Several things make the under-eye area look tired. Fat that has pushed forward, A hollow beneath, Loose skin, Pigment or thin skin.

Read about the concern
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What to expect

From consultation to final result

The stages below are typical for this procedure. Your own timeline is confirmed at the consultation.

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The first week

What is normal

Swelling in the face is the main event. It settles over two to three weeks. Early on the face looks fuller than the final result, which surprises people. Bruising lasts one to two weeks, and it shows both on the face and at the harvest site.

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Weeks two to six

Getting back to normal

Most patients are back at desk work in seven to ten days. No exercise for two weeks. Keep pressure off the grafted areas. Sleep on your back with your head raised for the first week or two, so the fat settles undisturbed.

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The result

How long it lasts

The fat that survives the transfer is permanent. That is typically a good portion of what is placed, though not all of it. The result is judged at about three months, once the swelling has gone. It ages naturally with the face, and a large weight change alters it.

Dr. Kamal Tumi, plastic surgeon, Barrie Plastic Surgery

Who performs it

Assessed and performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon

Performed by Dr. Kamal Tumi, M.D., F.R.C.S.(C). He is a board-certified plastic surgeon with more than 28 years in practice and over 3,500 surgeries performed. He has been a consultant plastic surgeon at Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre since 2004.

Dr. Kamal Tumi, M.D., F.R.C.S.(C), is certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada as a specialist in plastic surgery. He completed his specialist training at McMaster University and a plastic surgery fellowship at the University of Toronto. More than 28 years in practice, over 3,500 surgeries performed.

Consultant plastic surgeon at Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre in Barrie since 2004. A hospital appointment means credentials reviewed by peers and the ability to manage complications directly.

You will not meet one person at the consultation and find someone else in the room. In his own words: "I will not do a surgery on you if you do not need it."

Google reviews

What patients say

Patient reviews from Google, names attached. 4.3 average across 67 reviews.

I had my first consultation with Dr. Tumi, and he was beyond fabulous. From the jump, he shook my hand and introduced himself to my daughter and I. He included her in the conversation and even had some laughs with her. This made the situation alot less vulnerable given the reason I was there. He is the second surgeon that I have met with, and wasn't going to be my last, until I decided he was the last. It is because of his honesty, integrity, authenticity and professionalism, that made my choice. I saw some comments in the reviews where people stated he made them feel uncomfortable while getting undressed and for me that did not happen. He was respectful of my space and was sure I was covered appropriately. I went to see him for a breat augmentation and Dr. Tumi did not think an augmentation would be required. I really appreciated that about him, because the first surgeon I met, insisted this procedure, despite me only wanting a lift with fat transfer. This is a huge cost savings for me, and more natural for my body type, and in my opinion. Dr. Tumi did not make me feel rushed with any questions and time was not ever an issue for him. He wanted to be sure I knew all that I needed. His office manager Karyn, was absolutely wonderful and easy to connect with. She took her time to discuss things that I did not think of and even called me over the weekend when I emailed her some more questions. This is above and beyond care. My surgery is April 20th and I know I am in good hands. I will follow this up with further reviews in the future and have no doubt it will be 5 stars across the board. One last thing... of all the reviews, I paid attention to the ones where the patients actually had surgery, not the ones who were disgruntled about the office staff or OHIP issues. After all, it is the surgeon we want precision with, isn't it? Thanks Karyn and Dr. Tumi, for making me comfortable and content.

SL

Stephanie Leblanc

Google Review

I had a great experience with Dr. Tumi and Karyn throughout my entire surgical journey. They were both incredibly kind, patient, and always took the time to answer all of my questions. From my first consultation to my follow-up appointments, they made me feel comfortable, supported, and well cared for. I would highly recommend this clinic to anyone considering.

C

Claire

Google Review

I had a great experience from start to finish. The service was professional, everything was explained clearly, and the overall experience was positive. I would definitely recommend this place to others.

V

Victoria

Google Review
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What happens, in order

Facial Fat Grafting, start to finish

What facial fat grafting involves at each stage, from the first consultation through to the result.

Step 01 · Consultation

The consultation

A consultation is an assessment and a conversation, and you are not committing to anything by having one.

  • Assessment of what is actually causing what you see
  • What can be done, what cannot, and what it involves
  • A written quote once the assessment is done
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Facial Fat Grafting treatment process
The in-office procedure room at Barrie Plastic Surgery
Before and Afters

Patient Transformations

Most cases here are patients of this practice, shown with consent. Cases marked “Clinical case” are supplied by the manufacturer. Each practice case followed an assessment by Dr. Tumi and a plan built around that person's anatomy. Results vary by individual.

  • Patients of this practice and labelled clinical cases
  • Assessed and treated by the same surgeon
  • Results that look like you, only rested
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For educational purposes only. Individual results may vary. Patients consent for photos obtained.

An assessment and a conversation.

You do not need to arrive knowing which procedure you want. Describing what bothers you is enough. You are not committing to surgery by booking a consultation.

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Frequently asked questions

Facial Fat Grafting questions,
answered

The cost depends on how many areas are grafted and whether it is combined with a lift, so it is quoted at the consultation rather than before it. Not covered by OHIP. Financing is available through Beautifi, Medicard and Credit Medical.

Typically one to two hours on its own; longer when combined with a face lift or eyelid surgery.

Local anesthetic with sedation for a small graft, or a general anesthetic for larger volumes or combined procedures. The setting follows from that, and Dr. Tumi confirms both at the consultation.

Seven to ten days to desk work, two weeks to exercise. Swelling in the face is at its most visible in the first week and settles over two to three weeks; the result is judged at about three months.

The harvest site feels bruised for a week or so, and the face feels swollen and tight rather than sore. Ordinary pain relief covers it for most patients.

A small mark at the harvest site, hidden in a crease or the navel, and needle-sized marks on the face placed in creases. They are very hard to find once healed. ---

The fat that takes is permanent. Some of it is absorbed in the first three months, and that is planned for. A second session is sometimes done to build on the first.

Lost volume and sagging look alike in a photograph and call for opposite operations, so which one you have is established first. Grafting restores volume where it has gone from the temples, cheeks or around the mouth, and it needs a small area of fat to take from. If a smaller or reversible change would serve you better, filler is offered as the alternative.

Performed by Dr. Kamal Tumi, M.D., F.R.C.S.(C). He is a board-certified plastic surgeon with more than 28 years in practice and over 3,500 surgeries performed.