SECTION 01
Define the recipient area and visual goal
Cheek, temple, forehead, tear-trough, fold and chin concerns involve different depths and nearby structures. Ask the clinician to identify where volume loss, skeletal shape, tissue descent or surface shadow contributes before recommending transfer.
Adding volume cannot reproduce a filtered face or replace lifting in every case. Overfilling can alter identity or create heaviness, so the plan should state the intended areas and limits.
- Mark each proposed recipient area separately.
- Compare volume restoration with lifting or no treatment.
- Disclose all previous filler and fat-transfer procedures.
SECTION 02
Include donor-site planning
The abdomen, thigh or another area may be discussed as a donor site, but suitability depends on available tissue, scars, prior liposuction and the harvest required. Small-volume harvest is not equivalent to a full body-contouring procedure.
Ask where incisions are expected, whether compression is advised and how bruising, contour change, numbness or wound concerns at the donor site will be monitored.
SECTION 03
Understand retention and asymmetry uncertainty
Transferred fat survival varies with tissue, technique, blood supply, health factors and healing. Some volume is expected to change, but an exact retention percentage or final symmetry cannot be promised for an individual.
Discuss cysts, nodules, calcification, infection, fat necrosis, contour irregularity and prolonged swelling. The consent discussion should also address rare but severe vascular or embolic complications, including tissue injury and blindness. Sudden vision change, severe eye pain, new weakness, speech difficulty, chest pain or breathing difficulty requires immediate local emergency care. Ask when additional treatment could be considered rather than planning it in advance.
SECTION 04
Coordinate two-site recovery
The care pathway depends on the final procedure and assessment. If the treating team selects general anesthesia and the patient is clinically cleared, the group's common planning pathway is about two inpatient days of observation. A local-anesthesia case may leave the same day after observation and discharge clearance. If external sutures are used, review or removal is often considered around day 7, but the treating team sets the actual schedule. International patients should travel only after clinical clearance.
Pressure, massage and activity instructions can differ between the face and donor area. International patients need both areas reviewed and must wait for clinical travel clearance. The finance team can provide a tailored written quote once every treated and donor area is defined.
- Ask for separate face and donor-site instructions.
- Plan clothing and luggage around movement restrictions.
- Do not judge retained volume during early swelling.