Are Fat Injections Permanent?

Fat grafting has been performed by plastic surgeons for decades. There is no question that fat is the ideal material for soft tissue augmentation, and that the results obtained with fat grafting are the most natural-appearing. However, one problem with this procedure in years past has been resorption (breakdown) of the grafted fat, so that the resulting improvement is not permanent. The grafted fat must gain its own blood supply in its new location in order to persist long-term, and this... more

Fat injections are permanent. However, not all of the fat may "take" or survive when injected. Certain areas seem to hold up better than others. Most people quote a figure of about 60-70% take in most areas. This is why repeat treatment may be necessary.

While you are absolutely correct about the conflicting information, in my experience and recent literature, fat is permanent once transferred. Unfortunately, a certain percentage of transferred fat does not take and additional injections may be needed. There is an excellent article in the January 2009 issue of Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery that shows that at 18 months follow up, fat is still present but there is a wide range of percent of take.

When fat transfer is done appropriately, it is permanent. Injecting fat in scars is unperdictable because the vascularity of the scar is not optimal for fat transfer. Scars can require multiple procedures.

I have been doing fat injections for over a decade and I agree with Dr. Khoobehi--they are permanent when proper techniques are used. There is a lot of conflicting information out there regarding how long fat grafts last . My position is that fat transfers (fat injections) are permanent when the following conditions are followed: 1) proper extraction and processing of fat 2) strict protocol for the patient during post operative period. This is particularly important for fat injections to... more

 The web is frought with mixed messages. The doctors who perform this technique often have great results. Technique is everything. I am the inventor of the Viafill system, a system that is designed to maximize the number of live cells for injection. The results in my hands have been durable and smooth!

Microfat grafting technique is a very technical procedure that allows maximum survival of the fat transplanted. I would say that the fat that does survive ends by being permanent as it acquires a new blood supply. In the worst case scenario (what I tell my patients), a small percentage of the fat will not make it immediately after injection. I beleive that this is true in large injection cases(buttock augmentation, etc.).

The reason for the conflicting answer is the variation in the technique. I been using fat more than 12 years and it has worked for me. The reason for the fat grafting failure is the damage to the fat in the harvesting . I use fat for breast and I have IRB study and NIH study under clinicaltrial.gov (search under fat injection). Ask for patient referal and pictures. Please make sure your surgeon is board certified plastic surgeon.

You are absolutely right. There is much controversy in the literature. Certainly some surgeons would claim that their techniques are superior to others and achieve higher success rates. In reality, it is somewhat unpredictable. Placing fat grafts are not much different than planting seeds. When you want one tomato plant you don't plant one seed, you are told to plant 2 or 3. Same goes with fat grafting; when you desire a certain volume, you implant 2 or 3 times that volume. In terms of... more