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Is it Normal to Harvest Fat but Not Transfer the Fat Until a Later Date?

asked 7 months ago by Sammie in LA in Los Angeles, CA
Latest answer by Philip Young, MD
Question viewed 224 times
Tags: fat harvesting, timing

Is it ever the standard of care to harvest fat for fat grafting and not inject at the same session? My doctor wants to freeze the fat and inject it in two months.

12 answers to Is it Normal to Harvest Fat but Not Transfer the Fat Until a Later Date?

Direct transfer of fat.

I have always transferred the fat directly. If the fat is frozen it must me done in a specified way or the fat won't last.

Toby Mayer, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Saving Fat for later Transfer

In my personal experience and research fat is best transferred the same day as the harvest. Fat cells are very delicate and need a good blood supply in order to survive. Fat cells can be frozen, although the chance of healthy cell survival decreases greatly with freezing. Overall if you are thinking about a fat transfer for yourself, I would choose a doctor that will transfer the fat same day as harvest, for better fat survival and better results for a younger looking you! more

Philip Young, MD
Bellevue Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.drphilipyoung.com

Save the fat for transfer later?

There's certainly some debate about this. Personally, I think the science clearly demonstrates that the best results come with the use of freshly harvested fat. So that's what I do - use the fat right away. Frozen fat - even if it's just been frozen for a single day - is much less likely to survive after injection. Yes, it would certainly be more convenient for everyone if we could do this successfully....but for now, no one really knows the best way to keep... more

Thomas Fiala, MD
Altamonte Springs Plastic Surgeon

Freezing Fat for Later Reinjection

I think that the results with Sculptra are more likely to be predictable and reproducible than freezing and re-injecting fat. As has previously been mentioned, there are too many variables in saving fat in an autologous frozen state and saving the tissue for future use to make it a procedure I would recommend.

Stephen Prendiville, MD
Fort Myers Facial Plastic Surgeon

Fat transfer. Can you do liposuction to store it and use it later?

Fat is a fragile living cell. Everything we do with fat grafting is related to how to move it to a new place and have it live in the new site. Just like a new blade of grass, it has to be handled with care, moved to a new fertile environment, and watered. From our experts who have studied such things, freezing fat cells decreases the rate of viability. In English, it means when fat has been frozen and then thawed out, there will be a lower degree of fat "take... more

Lauren Greenberg, MD
Palo Alto Plastic Surgeon

Fat harvesting delay

Attempting to store fat for future injection greatly decreases the success of transfering fat because many of the fat cells will die during the freezing and thawing process. It is done in research but not practical for everyday use.

J. Jason Wendel, MD
Nashville Plastic Surgeon

Fat Transfer Timing after Harvest

As other fat transfer specialists have stated, a patient's own fat may be frozen and stored for use at a later date. However, it's always preferred to transfer and inject the fat immediately after obtaining the fat. The fat is healthier and in much better shape to survive after the injection. Frozen fat is a higher chance of absorption and other problems. Touch-up fat injections may still be required with any fat transfer technique. Only after a comprehensive evaluation can a fat... more

Houtan Chaboki, MD
Washington DC Facial Plastic Surgeon

Freezing fat

Although it is likely that frozen fat is not as viable as fat that is harvested on day of surgery, it is an option that can be helpful if addition volume is required. As you probably know, all of the fat that is injected on the day of surgery does not remain viable. Some of it will atrophy [or shrink]. Most fat grafting surgeons estimate that about 40-60% of the fat remains viable, and obviously every patient is different. In some, more of the fat will atrophy than in others.... more

A.J. Amadi, MD
Seattle Oculoplastic Surgeon

Fat Transfer

As you can appreciate from these experts, most people do not freeze fat for later injection. Successful fat transfer is dependednt on using live fat cells. Freezing by even cell culture techniques can result in a lareg percentage of fat cells dying. Thus most Plastic Surgeons do not follow this technique. To learn more about fat transfer, visit the following web page.

Siamak Agha, MD, PhD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

Harvest and inject fat at same session

Harvesting the appropriate amount of fat and injecting it during the same surgical session should maximize the success of the fat transfer results. There are too many issues and variables and not enough scientific evidence that make freezing the fat only to be injected at a later date not a very prudent choice.

Steven Turkeltaub, MD
Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon

Freezing Fat for Delayed Injection

Fat can be frozen for injecvtion at a later time as long as the temperature is carefully controlled and sterile conditions are meticulously maintained. Tissue banks have established careful guidelines for the storage of donor tissue. Having said that, I always inject the fat when harvested. It is not difficult to get more if it is needed at a later date.

Richard W. Fleming, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Frozen fat for fat transfer

There is mixed evidence about frozen fat and its viability. If you have fat harvested properly (high percentage of viable grafts), you should get it transferred right then. You really should not need to go back and add more fat later.