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

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?

Doctor Answers 16

February 26th, 2012

Transfer fat from a friend??

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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, FACS
March 17th, 2011

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

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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 P. Coleman III, MD
Metairie Dermatologic Surgeon

February 27th, 2011

Fat transfer from friend

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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. 

Learn more: http://www.tarrantplasticsurgery.com

Vishnu Rumalla, MD
February 23rd, 2011

Fat transfer from another person.

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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

Toby Mayer, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
4.8 out of 5 stars 38 reviews

February 7th, 2011

Only your identical twin's fat would work

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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
February 7th, 2011

Your own fat must be used for a fat transfer.

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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.

Learn more: http://www.bodysculptor.com/body-surgery-chicago/liposuction/

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
4.9 out of 5 stars 86 reviews

February 7th, 2011

Can't use your friend's fat

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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

January 27th, 2011

Fat cannot be transferred from one person to another

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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

January 25th, 2011

Cannot Use a Friend's Fat

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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

Randy J. Buckspan, MD
Austin Plastic Surgeon
4.6 out of 5 stars 10 reviews

January 22nd, 2011

Fat injections must come from you, not family or friends

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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

Ronald Shelton, MD
Manhattan Dermatologic Surgeon
4.9 out of 5 stars 39 reviews

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.