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Use a Friend or Family Member's Fat for Fat Transfer?

asked 1 year ago by Indianapolis8726 in Indianapolis, IN
Latest answer by Mahlon Kerr, MD
Question viewed 520 times
Tags: family, fat harvesting

If someone is thinking about getting lipo instead of having to gain all their weight to have the doctor transfer it (because i am not very meaty) what would be the protocol of using someone elses? I know there's a risk of the body rejecting the fat but are there ways to prevent that or should it just not be done at all?

16 answers to Use a Friend or Family Member's Fat for Fat Transfer?

+1

Transfer fat from a friend??

Sorry you would reject the cells just like a kidney or organ can be rejected. Since fat transfer is not needed to safe your life it's not worth a lifetime of immunosuppression to see if it might work. If you are interested in fat transfer your first step is a consultation to learn more about the process and you can see what is possible and what is not. Good luck! Dr K
Mahlon Kerr, MD

Austin Plastic Surgeon
+1

Fat cannot be transferred successfully between two people, unlees they are twins.

Fat cannot be transferred successfully between two people, unlees they are twins. Even very slender people often have enough fat somewhere on their bodies to use for fat transplantation. See link below:
William Coleman III, MD

Metairie Dermatologic Surgeon
+1

Fat transfer from friend

Sorry, you cannot transfer fat from one person to another because of a phenomena called rejection.  Only tissue from an identical twin can be transfered. 
Vishnu Rumalla, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon
+1

Fat transfer from another person.

Fat transfer from another person doesn't work with the possible exception of an identical twin and still may not work with them.
Toby Mayer, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Only your identical twin's fat would work

If you had an identical twin, their fat could possibly be transferred to you without rejection but otherwise it needs to be your own tissue.
Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS

Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+1

Your own fat must be used for a fat transfer.

At this time you can't use other people's fat for a fat transfer.  The fat will not survive.  You have to use your own from a good donor site such as the abdomen.
Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

Can't use your friend's fat

Unfortunately, you cannot use someone else's fat.  That is a question that is asked of me quite often.  If you don't have any belly fat, very often the inner thigh contains a fair amount to use for microfat injection.
Jennifer Keagle, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+1

Fat transfer from a family member

Unless the donor was your identical twin, your body would recognize the injected fat cells as being different than your own cells ("foreign") and would begin to attack the injected fat via your immune system.  The fat would be eliminated rapidly, within a few weeks, and soon, no fat would be left. Maybe some day in the future....
Thomas Fiala, MD

Altamonte Springs Plastic Surgeon
+1

Fat cannot be transferred from one person to another

Fat cannot be transferred from one person to another. Tissue is rejected when transferred from one person to another. In the case of life saving organ transplants patients must be on anti-rejection drugs for the rest of their lives.
Edward Lack, MD

Chicago Dermatologist
+1

Cannot Use a Friend's Fat

No, you cannot transfer fat from one person to another.  Although theoretically it could be done, the risks of potential disease transmission and likely rejection makes such a proposal not practical.
Randy J. Buckspan, MD

Austin Plastic Surgeon
+1

Fat injections must come from you, not family or friends

Injecting someone else's fat cells into you would cause rejection by your immune system. Furthermore there could be a risk of non-detected disease transmission. Fat injections must transfer your host cells from a donor area to your recipient area in which you desire the aesthetic result of facial volumization with fillers.
Ronald Shelton, MD

Manhattan Dermatologist
+1

Is it okay to use someone else's fat for fat graft procedure?

Unfortunately, you can only use your own fat for facial fat grafting. Your immune system would reject anyone else's fat. The protocols to prevent graft rejection that you mention are used for organ transplants, but due to the serious side effects this isn't done for fat grafting.  Fat grafting doesn't necessarily involve harvesting a lot of fat. You could consult with an experiences surgeon to see what options you have.
Thomas A Lamperti, MD

Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Can't use donated fat for fat transfer procedures

In addition to the risk of disease transmission, fat transferred from another donor would likely be attacked and removed by your immune system. An experienced plastic surgeon can typically fund adequate fat in all but a few extremely thin patients in order to perform fat transfer. Alternatively, you could look at the option of Sculptra injections or Radiesse injections for temporary facial volume augmentation. Best, Stephen Weber, M.D., Ph.D. Portland Facial Plastic Surgeon  more
Stephen Weber, MD

Lone Tree Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Fat transfers work only with your own fat!

Since all of the cells in our bodies have specific differences in surface proteins, any foreign tissue (unless it's from an identical twin) will be rejected by your body. Fat grafting is delicate enough with your own fat cells; it is of no value whatsoever with anyone else's fat! Immunosuppressive drugs are used only for tissue transplants such as solid organs (kidney, heart, etc.) and would not be appropriate for cosmetic reasons due to their significant side effects, not to... more
Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS

Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon
+1

Using someone else's fat for grafting is not an option

I wish I had a nickel for every time someone offered to donate extra fat for use in fat transfer! Unfortunately, you can only use your own fat for this procedure. If you do not have enough fat to take, you may consider injectable fillers such as Juvederm or Perlane, or collagen stimulators such as Sculptra.
Jonathan Hoenig, MD

Beverly Hills Oculoplastic Surgeon
+1

Not an option

You can not transfer another persons fat into your body. Wouldn't that be wonderful if you could. I can assure you there would be many people willing to donate to the cause. You can't do this for the same reason you can't randomly transplant organs. Your immune system would reject the transplanted cells and it is not worth taking lifetime immunosuppressive drugs for the fat transfer.   I personally am not in favor of gaining weight to harvest fat for transfer.... more
Robert W. Kessler, MD

Orange County Plastic Surgeon

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