We now offer nanofat facial fat grafting at Better Plastic Surgery in Morristown, New Jersey. Dr. Farhad Rafizadeh performs it as a stand-alone treatment or together with a facelift, and for suitable patients it is done awake, under local anesthesia, in our office. This article explains what nanofat is, what it can and cannot do, and how to tell whether it fits your goals.
What Is Nanofat?
Nanofat is your own fat, taken from a donor area such as the abdomen or flanks, then processed into a fine liquid emulsion that can be injected through very small needles. Unlike traditional fat grafting, it is not used to build volume. It is placed in and just under the skin, where it is thought to help with skin quality, fine lines, discoloration and scars.
It sits at one end of a spectrum. Standard fat grafts restore volume in areas such as the cheeks and temples, microfat refines smaller or more delicate areas, and nanofat works at the skin itself. Many patients benefit from more than one, and we explain how volume restoration works in our article on fat transfer with a facelift.
What Nanofat Can and Cannot Do
Reviews of the published research describe nanofat as safe and report improvement in skin quality, acne scars, sun-damaged skin and scars. The same reviews are candid that well-controlled clinical studies are limited, and one evidence-based analysis concluded that the available data could hardly support clinical improvement of skin quality. That is why we present nanofat as a refinement, not a miracle.
| Concern | Nanofat helps? | Better option |
|---|---|---|
| Fine lines, dull or uneven skin | May improve skin quality | Nanofat, sometimes with skin treatments |
| Acne or other facial scars | May soften some scars | Nanofat, often combined with other methods |
| Hollow cheeks, temples or lost volume | Not enough on its own | Standard or microfat grafting |
| Jowls, loose neck, sagging | No | Facelift and neck lift |
Now Offered at Our Practice
Nanofat is now a procedure we offer in our Morristown office. A typical plan includes a consultation and exam, numbing of the donor area and the treatment areas, gentle collection of a small amount of fat, processing, and injection. Because it is done awake under local anesthesia, many patients appreciate that they avoid general anesthesia for a limited procedure. Whether it is right for you depends on your goals and health, and we confirm that in person. Learn more on our fat grafting page.
Nanofat and facial fat grafting are now available at our Morristown, New Jersey office. Find out whether they suit your skin and your goals.
Fat Grafting, Morristown NJ or call (973) 267-0928Nanofat With a Facelift, or Without One
A facelift repositions the deeper tissue of the face and neck and removes excess skin. It does not restore lost volume or change the quality of the skin, which is where fat grafting comes in. Many facelift patients therefore have grafting as part of the same operation. Others do not need a lift and want to improve skin quality or soften scars, and for them nanofat can be done on its own.
If you are weighing a lift, our facelift page explains how Dr. Rafizadeh approaches it, and this article covers facelift under local anesthesia. When the goal is under-eye hollows or sunken temples, see our comparisons of fat transfer and filler under the eyes and for the temples.
Why Awake Under Local Anesthesia?
For limited facial grafting, local anesthesia keeps the procedure simple. The donor area and treatment areas are numbed, you stay awake, and you generally avoid the effects of general anesthesia. It is not right for everyone. A longer or combined operation, such as a facelift with extensive grafting, may need a different anesthesia plan, and we discuss that during your consultation.
What to Expect at a Consultation
- Your goals. Skin quality, volume, scars, or lift. Each one points to a different treatment.
- A facial exam. We examine your skin, volume and the position of the tissue.
- The plan. Which technique, which areas, whether it is combined with a facelift, and what anesthesia we recommend.
- Realistic results. What nanofat can improve, what it cannot, and how long results may last.
Questions to Ask Any Plastic Surgeon About Nanofat
- What do you expect nanofat to improve for me, and what will it not change?
- Would I need standard or microfat grafting as well?
- Where will you take the fat from, and how will it be processed?
- Will it be done awake or under sedation, and why?
- Are you certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery?
The Bottom Line
Nanofat is a gentle way to work on skin quality and fine volume using your own tissue, and it pairs naturally with a facelift. It is not a substitute for a lift when there is real sagging, and the research supporting it is still developing. We now offer it at our Morristown practice, awake under local anesthesia in the office for suitable patients, and the right plan starts with an exam.
Dr. Farhad Rafizadeh, MD FACS has practised plastic surgery in Morristown, New Jersey since 1984 and is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. The office at 101 Madison Avenue, Suite 105 sees patients from Essex Fells, Montclair, Summit, Short Hills, Chatham, Madison and across Morris, Essex and Somerset counties.
Nanofat Facial Fat Grafting: Questions from North Jersey Patients
Is nanofat the same as a stem cell facelift?
Not exactly. Nanofat is your own fat that has been processed into a fine emulsion, and it contains cells that researchers believe may help skin quality. ’Stem cell facelift’ is a marketing phrase, and nanofat does not lift or reposition sagging tissue the way a surgical facelift does. We describe it as a way to improve skin quality and fine volume, not as a replacement for a lift.
Who is a good candidate for nanofat grafting?
It suits patients who want better skin quality and gentle volume in areas such as the under-eye region, fine lines, or scars, and those having a facelift who want extra refinement. It is not the right tool for significant jowls, loose neck skin or heavy sagging, which need a lift. We decide at an in-person exam.
What is recovery like after facial fat grafting under local anesthesia?
Because you are awake and not under general anesthesia, most patients go home soon after the procedure. Expect swelling and some bruising in the treated and donor areas for days to a couple of weeks, and the final result takes time to settle. We give you specific instructions for your plan, which differ if grafting is combined with a facelift.
Can nanofat be done at the same time as a facelift?
Yes. Fat grafting is commonly combined with a facelift because the lift repositions tissue and the grafting restores volume and refines skin quality. The anesthesia plan depends on the full operation, so a combined procedure may differ from a stand-alone office session.
What Google Users Ask About Nanofat and Fat Transfer Under Local Anesthesia
Does nanofat really work?
The honest answer is that it depends on what you expect. Studies describe it as safe and report improvements in skin quality and scars, but reviewers also note that high-quality controlled trials are limited. I recommend it for modest goals such as skin quality and fine volume, and I do not promise it will replace a lift.
What is the difference between microfat and nanofat?
Both are your own fat, processed to different degrees. Microfat is finer than standard fat grafts and is used to add volume in delicate areas, while nanofat is broken down further into a liquid emulsion that is injected into or just under the skin to improve skin quality. Nanofat is not used to build volume.
Can you do fat transfer while awake?
Yes, in suitable patients. Small-volume fat grafting can be done awake with local anesthesia, with the donor and treatment areas numbed. Larger or combined operations, such as a facelift with grafting, may need a different anesthesia plan, which we decide with you.
Can fat transfer be done with local anesthesia?
Yes. Local anesthetic numbs both the area where fat is taken and the areas where it is placed. It is a good option for limited grafting and is one reason many of our patients choose an in-office procedure.
Do they put you to sleep for a fat transfer?
Not always. Larger procedures, or fat transfer combined with other surgery, are often done with sedation or general anesthesia. For limited facial fat grafting and nanofat, we offer it awake under local anesthesia in our Morristown office.
How much does nanofat cost?
The cost depends on the areas treated and whether it is combined with other surgery, so I do not quote a single number in a blog post. At your consultation we examine you, agree on a plan, and give you a written fee. Our office can walk you through the details by phone at (973) 267-0928.
Sources & References
- La Padula S, Ponzo M, Lombardi M, et al. “Nanofat in Plastic Reconstructive, Regenerative, and Aesthetic Surgery: A Review of Advancements in Face-Focused Applications.” Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2023;12(13):4351. PubMed Central
- Atiyeh BS, Ghieh FM, Oneisi AK. “Nanofat Cell-Mediated Anti-Aging Therapy: Evidence-Based Analysis of Efficacy and an Update of Stem Cell Facelift.” 2021. Springer
- American Board of Plastic Surgery. “Verify Certification.” abplasticsurgery.org
Related Reading
- Fat Grafting in Morristown, NJ
- Facelift in Morristown, NJ
- Fat Transfer Facelift: Restoring Cheek Volume
- Facelift Under Local Anesthesia
- Facelift Under Local Anesthesia With Conscious Sedation
- Ozempic Face: Fat Transfer vs Filler
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