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Does a Second Fat Grafting Procedure Provide a Better Chance of Fat Survival?

I had some liposuction done three years ago and was left with indentations. This past August I had fat grafting to fill in the dent but I feel like none of the fat took and I'm starting to run out of donor sites! Is it true if I have it done again there will be a better chance of survival or should I just accept this deformity

Doctor Answers 3

2nd fat graft better chance of fat survival

December 11th, 2013
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Hello and thank you for your question.

I don't think that the chance of survival will necessarily be better with a second procedure. That being said, it is not uncommon to need more than one procedure as we know that not all of the graft survives the first time around. There are different methods of handling the fat before it is transferred. You want to be sure that you see someone like myself who does the procedure with regularity and knows how to properly handle the fat to give it the greatest chance of survival. I recommend that you see a board certified plastic surgeon in consultation to get more specific answers to your questions which can best be addressed after a thorough history and examination is performed.

Best of luck to you

David L. Cangello, MD, FACS


New York Plastic Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 16 reviews

December 11th, 2013

2nd fat graft better chance of fat survival

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

Hello and thank you for your question.

I don't think that the chance of survival will necessarily be better with a second procedure. That being said, it is not uncommon to need more than one procedure as we know that not all of the graft survives the first time around. There are different methods of handling the fat before it is transferred. You want to be sure that you see someone like myself who does the procedure with regularity and knows how to properly handle the fat to give it the greatest chance of survival. I recommend that you see a board certified plastic surgeon in consultation to get more specific answers to your questions which can best be addressed after a thorough history and examination is performed.

Best of luck to you


New York Plastic Surgeon

Does a Second Fat Grafting Procedure Provide a Better Chance of Fat Survival?

December 10th, 2013
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I think it is reasonable to do the surgery a second time.

Liposuction and fat grafting results are highly surgeon dependent. Find a plastic surgeon with ELITE credentials who performs hundreds of liposuction and liposuction revision procedures each year. Then look at the plastic surgeon's website before and after photo galleries to get a sense of who can deliver the results.

Kenneth Hughes, MD

Los Angeles, CA

Web reference: http://www.hughesplasticsurgery.com/Liposuction.php

Kenneth B. Hughes, MD
December 10th, 2013

Does a Second Fat Grafting Procedure Provide a Better Chance of Fat Survival?

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

I think it is reasonable to do the surgery a second time.

Liposuction and fat grafting results are highly surgeon dependent. Find a plastic surgeon with ELITE credentials who performs hundreds of liposuction and liposuction revision procedures each year. Then look at the plastic surgeon's website before and after photo galleries to get a sense of who can deliver the results.

Kenneth Hughes, MD

Los Angeles, CA

Learn more: http://www.hughesplasticsurgery.com/Liposuction.php

Kenneth B. Hughes, MD

Sometimes More Than One Round of Fat Grafting is Required

December 9th, 2013
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It is true that a second round of fat grafting can be more effective than the first. Often, the first round of fat grafting can soften a previously scarred or dented area, thus priming it for the later addition of more fat. So while the first round of fat grafting may not seem like it did much, it may have been necessary for the second round of fat grafting to provide a more visible benefit. Each situation, however, is different. Fat graft take is largely dependent on the environment into which it is placed. If an area is particularly tight, scarred, or has reduced blood flow for other reasons, it will not accept as much fat as another area with more permissive conditions.

Web reference: http://westcountyplasticsurgeons.wustl.edu/Surgery/Body-Contouring/Liposuction

Terence Michael Myckatyn, MD
December 9th, 2013

Sometimes More Than One Round of Fat Grafting is Required

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

It is true that a second round of fat grafting can be more effective than the first. Often, the first round of fat grafting can soften a previously scarred or dented area, thus priming it for the later addition of more fat. So while the first round of fat grafting may not seem like it did much, it may have been necessary for the second round of fat grafting to provide a more visible benefit. Each situation, however, is different. Fat graft take is largely dependent on the environment into which it is placed. If an area is particularly tight, scarred, or has reduced blood flow for other reasons, it will not accept as much fat as another area with more permissive conditions.

Learn more: http://westcountyplasticsurgeons.wustl.edu/Surgery/Body-Contouring/Liposuction

Terence Michael Myckatyn, MD

These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.