Can a person with paralysis get fat transfer to the hip and buttock area?

I have never done it myself but it would be possible to transfer fat in the areas where additional padding may provide better protection from pressure sores. Whether there will be enough fat in your anterior abdomen to harvest for miningfull fat transfer can be confirmed only on the basis of in person evaluation. Athough blood supply is deminished, your tissues are still sufficiently perfused to support survival of fat grafts. It would be in your best interest to visit an academic plastic surgery program and discuss this issue in more details. Hope this helps.

Thank you for reaching out and sharing your situation. I understand your concerns, and I’ll do my best to clarify your options.

In cases like yours, where there is very little natural fat and significant muscle atrophy:
(1) Fat transfer (BBL or lipofilling):
- Fat grafting relies on the transferred fat receiving blood supply from the underlying tissue in order to survive.
- In areas where there is minimal muscle and very thin tissue, the survival of transferred fat can be unpredictable, because there is less circulation to nourish it.
- This doesn’t always mean it’s impossible, but it does make the procedure more challenging, and the results may be limited.

Alternative options for volume:
(2) Gluteal or hip implants: Solid silicone implants or custom prostheses can add volume without relying on fat survival. These are sometimes considered in patients with minimal soft tissue.
(3) Combination approaches: In some cases, surgeons use small amounts of fat with implants to improve contour and provide a more natural feel.

Special considerations:
Because of your paralysis, any surgical procedure carries additional considerations, including positioning, pressure points, and healing.

A consultation with a plastic surgeon experienced in complex reconstructions and body contouring for patients with paralysis would be essential. Click on the supporting link of this answer!

Dear jencoco,
you are probably not the best candidate for fat transfer because of prolonged pressure on those areas. If you are considering surgery, I would suggest you consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination, you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Hello @jencoco, thank you for your question. Even thought a BBL or lipoinjection to the glutes can be done in theory, the success of fat transfer procedures largely depends on the ability of the transferred fat cells to establish a new blood supply in the recipient site. If your circulation is compromised due to paralysis, it might reduce the procedure's success rate. That being said, each individual's circumstances are unique. It's crucial to discuss your specific situation and goals with a plastic surgeon who has treated similar cases. The ultimate determination of the most appropriate procedure should be made in consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon and have these discussions with your healthcare providers to ensure that you're making the best decisions for your overall health and well-being. Best wishes! Alan Gonzalez MD, FACS. American Society of Plastic Surgery Member (ASPS), International Federation for Adipose Therapeutics and Science Member (IFATS), American Society of Plastic Surgery Member (ASPS), Colombian Society of Plastic Surgery member (SCCP).

There are a lot of things to take into consideration before, considering that transfer procedures. Simply performing elective, cosmetic surgery, and someone with quadriplegia is inherently, challenging, and complex. The lack of soft tissue will inherently limit the amount of fat that can be successfully grafted. At the same time, your ability to protect the Grafton area by avoiding pressure during the early recovery may be difficult. Your question is not a simple yes or no question. There’s a lot to be considered. Talk to the doctors who are managing your current medical conditions and ask if they think this would be viable, then consider having in person consultations with local plastic surgeons in your community. Unless there’s a clear obvious benefit, which I don’t think there is precedents of it, I think most plastic surgeons would steer you away from having this procedure.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom, MD