Cited Research
- PubMed — Autologous fat grafting outcomes pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- ASPS — Fat Transfer plasticsurgery.org
Fat grafting takes fat from one area where you have too much and places it where you need more. It sounds simple. The science of survival — how much fat lives, how much resorbs, and what determines the difference — is one of the most active areas of plastic surgery research.
Where fat grafting shines
- Facial volume restoration — temples, cheeks, tear troughs.
- Hand rejuvenation.
- Breast revision and reconstruction.
- Buttock and hip contouring.
- Filling contour irregularities after liposuction.
What 'survival' means
On average, 50–70% of grafted fat survives long-term, depending on technique, area, and patient biology. Conservative over-correction at the time of surgery accounts for expected resorption.
Why technique is everything
Modern best practice (Coleman technique and its descendants) involves low-pressure harvest, gentle processing, and microdroplet placement in multiple tissue planes. Aggressive harvest or large-bolus injection kills fat cells and produces inconsistent results.
References & Further Reading
- PubMed — Coleman fat grafting technique pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- ASPS — Fat Transfer plasticsurgery.org
This article is general information about procedures we perform. It is not medical advice and does not replace an assessment by a physician who has examined you. Individual results, risks and recovery vary.