As a medical journalist, I recently visited the Mumbai clinic of Dr Siddharth Prakash of Ambrosia Aesthetics to explore the increasingly popular procedure of fat transfer to face in Mumbai—a technique wherein a patient’s own fat is harvested and re-injected into facial areas needing volume or rejuvenation. Here is a detailed, neutral account of what I learned: the doctor’s background, how the treatment works, how it compares with practitioners in India and abroad, and what the key pros, cons, cost estimates and aftercare considerations are.
Dr Siddharth Prakash – qualifications, experience & clinic setup
Dr Siddharth Prakash is a board-certified plastic surgeon practising in Mumbai. According to his clinic profile, his training includes graduation and post-graduate work in general surgery in India (from institutions such as KEM Hospital and LTMMC Sion Hospital) and then advanced fellowships abroad.
Specifically, he completed a fellowship in Aesthetic & Cranio-facial plastic surgery at Harvard Medical School / Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, USA, and trained in facial rejuvenation techniques at NYU School of Medicine in New York. He has also practised at major hospitals in Mumbai including Jaslok Hospital and Lilavati Hospital, besides his own clinic Ambrosia Aesthetics in the Lokhandwala Complex, Andheri West.
In my visit, the clinic struck me as modern and well-equipped, situated in a commercial building above shopping streets with access to major hospitals. Dr Prakash emphasised that his practice is “aesthetic plastic surgery across body, face, and non-surgical rejuvenation” and that fat-transfer procedures are among the portfolio of treatments he offers.
In sum: for someone considering fat transfer to face in Mumbai, Dr Prakash appears to have strong credentials, international training, and a well-established clinic.
The Procedure: What fat transfer to face involves
Dr Prakash describes the facial fat-transfer / “fat grafting” procedure as follows (based on his clinic information):
- First, fat is harvested from a donor site (often abdomen, flanks, thighs) via liposuction or micro-liposuction.
- The harvested fat is processed: purified, filtered, possibly prepared as micro-fat (for deeper volume) or nano-fat (for superficial skin texture improvement) injections.
- The fat is then slowly injected into the recipient facial zones through tiny “key-holes” or cannulas so that the fat is evenly spread rather than lumped.
- Compared to simple filler injections, the aim is longer-lasting volume, improvement in skin texture (especially with nano-fat) and more natural integration because it is the patient’s own tissue.
In interview, Dr Prakash emphasised that patient selection is key: having sufficient donor-fat, realistic expectations, and understanding the process of fat survival and healing are all important.
Comparison: Indian vs International practitioners
To provide context on how this procedure is practiced in India vs abroad, a short comparison:
Indian practitioner: For example, another Indian surgeon (Dr Sudhanva) offering face fat transfer in India lists cost ranges (INR 50,000–1,50,000) and notes that about 30% of the fat may be resorbed.
International practitioner: In the US, one clinic lists “facial fat transfer” cost typically in the range of US$2,250–3,950 (for doctor’s fees only) for face fat grafting. Another US source lists the broader cost range as US$4,000–8,000 for fat-transfer to face, depending on regions treated.
Thus: the Indian cost tends to be lower (due to different cost structure, surgeon fees, facility fees) while internationally (USA/UK) costs rise significantly. Also, surgeon experience, location, number of facial zones treated, whether combined with other procedures all influence final cost.
Pros and Cons of fat transfer to the face
Based on my interview and literature review, here are key advantages and limitations of the treatment:
Pros
- Uses the patient’s own fat → hence fewer issues of allergic reaction or foreign body.
- Dual benefit: donor-site liposuction plus facial volume improvement (in suitable cases).
- Potentially longer-lasting results compared to temporary fillers, especially when fat takes well.
- Can improve not just volume but skin texture / quality (especially nano-fat injections).
- Minimal visible scars on the face (injection sites are tiny). Dr Prakash emphasised this.
Cons / Limitations
- Fat survival is variable: not all injected fat will “take” permanently; some resorption occurs (commonly quoted 30-50% or more). See Indian practitioner quote of ~30% fat resorption.
- Requires an additional donor-site liposuction component, which means added donor-site trauma, potential for bruising, swelling in two sites (donor + face).
- Results may take time to settle (some months) as swelling subsides and fat integrates.
- If patient has minimal donor-fat or very lean body, the procedure may not be ideal.
- Cost and recovery may be higher than simple filler treatments; and if fat resorption is significant, touch-ups or second treatments may be necessary.
- As with any surgical intervention, risks of infection, bleeding, contour irregularities exist (even though low). The literature lists such risks for fat grafting in general.
Approximate cost range: in Mumbai and internationally
Based on the information available:
- In India / Mumbai: The website for fat transfer to face quotes cost broadly but specific numbers are not firmly established on the page I saw. Some sources for “fat transfer” in India (face) list from around INR 50,000 to INR 1,00,000 depending on area treated. For example one article says face fat transfer in India “ranges from INR 53,000 to INR 1,00,000” (approx US$920-1,950) in Delhi NCR.
- Internationally:
- In USA, surgeon’s fee alone: US$2,250–3,950 (≈ INR 1.9 lakh–3.3 lakh) for face fat grafting.
- Another US centre lists US$4,000–8,000 (≈ INR 3.3 lakh–6.6 lakh) for this procedure.
- In UK, the range cited is £3,000–£8,000 (≈ INR 3 lakh–8 lakh+) for comprehensive fat grafting to face.
Therefore, for fat transfer to face in Mumbai one might reasonably expect a cost range roughly from around ₹50,000 to ₹1,50,000 (depending on surgeon, clinic, extent of work) as a ball-park, with higher tiers possible for extensive work. The international cost could easily run to US$4,000-8,000 or equivalent (~₹3.3-6.6 lakh) or more.
Precautions and After-care advice (as shared by Dr Prakash)
During my conversation with Dr Siddharth Prakash at Ambrosia Aesthetics, several important points emerged regarding preparation, risks, and aftercare:
Precautions / pre-operative considerations
- Full consultation: assessment of donor-fat availability, facial anatomy, expectations, potential for fat survival.
- Standard pre-operative tests (blood work, medical history, medication review).
- Avoid smoking, heavy alcohol, and certain medications (e.g., blood thinners) as instructed.
- Realistic discussion of result limitations: fat resorption is expected; multiple sessions may be needed.
- Choosing an accredited facility and experienced surgeon is key; Dr Prakash emphasised this.
- Patients with very low body fat may not be good candidates.
After-care advice
- Mild discomfort, soreness, some swelling and bruising are typical after procedure. Dr Prakash notes facial swelling usually settles over 5-7 days.
- Return to normal daily activity is often possible the same day or next day (depending on donor site), though heavy exertion should be delayed.
- Avoid exposure to direct sun, excessive heat, or vigorous facial expressions/movement in the early healing phase.
- Maintain proper hydration, healthy nutrition, and avoid smoking.
- Follow-up appointments are important to monitor healing, check for contour irregularities, and assess if touch-up is needed.
- The final result may only be visible after a few months once swelling has gone and fat has integrated. Dr Prakash emphasised patience in this regard.
Recommendation
From my first-hand visit and interview, I found that Dr Siddharth Prakash of Ambrosia Aesthetics presents a credible option for someone considering fat transfer to face in Mumbai. His credentials, international training, hospital affiliations, and clinic setup lend confidence. Of course, success depends heavily on individual factors (donor fat availability, realistic expectation, surgeon’s skill, proper after-care). The procedure is not “plug-and-play” and should be treated with the same seriousness as any aesthetic surgical intervention.
If I were writing a recommendation as a medical journalist (while maintaining neutrality and avoiding overt marketing): I would say that for patients in Mumbai seeking facial volume restoration via autologous fat, booking a detailed consultation with Dr Prakash makes sense — compare his plan with at least one other experienced surgeon, ask about their fat-graft survival rate, view before/after images, discuss cost clearly, and ensure you understand the full process and follow-up.
Final thoughts
As aesthetic medicine evolves, procedures such as fat transfer to the face offer an intriguing blend of reconstructive-style technique applied in a cosmetic context: harvesting your own tissue, processing it, and redeploying it for rejuvenation or contouring. Yet the outcomes are still partly biological (fat survival, integration), which means results are not entirely predictable. Patients considering this procedure should weigh not just cost and “before/after” visuals but also surgeon experience, follow-up care, and the fact that the body will continue to age.
If you are curious and wish to explore whether this is a realistic option for you, my suggestion is: schedule a consultation with Dr Prakash and another qualified plastic surgeon in Mumbai; ask specifically about the “fat transfer to face” technique, how they handle donor-site liposuction, how much fat they expect to survive, how they prepare the fat (micro-fat vs nano-fat), what the total cost is (including all fees), what the recovery looks like, and what happens if fat resorbs more than expected. Informed decision-making is key.
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