Is it possible to use donor fat for a fat transfer procedure?

Question

This is going to sound gross but say if my mom was going to get liposuction and I was doing a fat transfer at the same time can I use her fat?

Nana N. Mizuguchi, MD, FACS · Answer

No, you cannot use fat from another donor.  Because another person's tissue would be recognized as foreign to the recipient, your body would not accept the donated tissue.  Patients who undergo organ transplants (kidney, lung, etc.) undergo extensive testing and months of immunosuppressants among other precautions to attempt a successful transplant.

Jose M. Soler-Baillo, MD, MS · Answer

Thank you for your question.  In short, no this is not possible.  Your own fat will need to be harvested and transferred.All the best,Dr. ResultsMiami, FL

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

This is not possible currently.  Fat is like an organ and unfortunately cannot be transferred to another person. I am currently doing research for this.  Identical twins may work but there is also risk of infection spread.  Best, Dr. Emer.

Elliot Heller, MD · Answer

No you can not use another persons fat. Unless they are your identical twin. I hope you find this helpful.

J. Kevin Duplechain, MD, FACS · Answer

This is absolutely not safe.  Fat has antigenic properties ( properties unique to each person) and a transfer from one human to another could cause very serious and life threatening issues

Jeff Rapaport, MD · Answer

It is absolutely unacceptable to use donor fat in any fat transfer. There are numerous specific proteins and other unique antigens  that are carried by each individual. If they are transferred into another person, a severe allergic reaction commences. This produces a foreign allergic reaction. It  can be extremely dangerous and even life-threatening. Hope this helps. Good luck.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

Unfortunately you can not use donor fat. It will be rejected.  You can only use your own fat.  Best of luck.

Peter A. Aldea, MD · Answer

The only people who have identical fat and other organs are identical twins. Otherwise while we share some characteristics with our parents, we are otherwise very different from each other when it comes to the surface of our tissues. As a result when we perform kidney, pancreas, liver and now face, arm and penis transplantation ( from one person to another) we must use multiple medicines which suppress the immune system from attacking the foreign tissues an destroying it. Such medicines greatly increase the rate of cancer and a variety of infections and are quite expensive. As a result no ethical Plastic surgeon would ever subject a person requesting an improvement in appearance to the higher financial costs as well as those of possible repeated infection and cancer. Peter Aldea MDMemphis, TN

Juan Diego Mejia, MD · Answer

The only way donor fat transfer from another person would work would be from and identical twin sibbling which would have the exact same DNA as you.  Otherwise all the fat would be rejected.

Mark T. Boschert, MD · Answer

No, unfortunately it would not work at all.  The tissue would be rejected and go away quickly.  There are many people who would like to be donors:)

Is it possible to use donor fat for a fat transfer procedure?

Answers (12)

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