Does transferred fat behave like the donor site or like the site that it is transferred to?

Question

For example, if I easily/first gain weight in my stomach (donor site) and gain weight last in my breasts (new site), does the transferred fat continue to gain weight first like it did in the stomach or does it gain weight last now that it is located in the breasts?

Maryam Zamani (Saheb-Al-Zamani), MD · Answer

Hello. This is a question that is commonly asked by patients when discussing fat transfer to the breasts. Typically transferred fat will continue to behave as it would in the donor site. That is, you will notice an increase in size in the breast with weight gain as there are more fat cells there now and you will notice less of an increase in the abdomen (or other donor site) as there are less fat cells remaining. Many young women have more glandular and less fatty native breasts and that is typically why breast size does not fluctuate as much with weight change. When considering fat transfer to the breast please keep in mind that typically a modest size increase can be achieved with each transfer procedure and typically 60-70% of the transferred fat will survive. As such, if you are interested in a significant size increase you may require more than 1 transfer procedure (spaced apart 6 months or more) or you may consider a combination of breast augmentation with implants and fat.
Best Regards,
Dr. Zamani

Mathew C. Mosher, MD · Answer

As for all fat reduction or augmentation procedures, a more predictable long term shape improvement will occur if there a only minor fluctuations in your body fat content. A stable lifestyle, fitness level and weight should be the goal before any elective cosmetic surgery. We believe transferred fat cells retain their biological features - this includes their behaviour from the donor site.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

One of the benefits of liposuction is that for increases in weight the areas to which fat was transferred will get larger and the areas that were liposuctioned will be less likely to get large. In a general sense, it is more difficult to gain weight on the areas that have been liposuctioned.

Harry T. Haramis, MD, FACS · Answer

In my experience, transferred fat usually will keep its donor site qualities.So abdominal fat transferred to the breasts will behave like abdominal fat. It may reposed less to weight gain but should not be like original breast fat.Fat transfer to the breasts can be a great option in good candidates.  Typically, 50-60% of the fat takes.An exam and consultation with a plastic surgeon who performs these procedures is recommended to confirm you are a candidate as well as discuss your options and expectations.

Ronald J. Edelson, MD · Answer

Fat transfer to the breasts in general doesn’t work out very well. the worst thing you can do is gain weight in order to have more fat to harvest. I know some surgeons recommend this. I think it is absolutely nuts and I advise against it.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear username_,
you will likely see your weight gain in a uniform distribution after a fat transfer to the breasts. The weight or fat that you gain after surgery will not necessarily all go to your breast area. Similar to weight loss, It’s important to realize that weight loss will affect the entire body, but it may affect the breasts in a more pronounced manner.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

Fed does not behave all that differently. Your problem areas which grow first and most impressively with weight gain simply have more fat cells there to react.If there was a difference then the grafted fat would behave based on the anatomic area where they were harvested.I suppose theoretically you could ask if a split thickness skin graft is harvested over an area that has a tattoo where will the tattoo end up showing?Of all the variables to worry about this is probably not one of them.My recommendation is focusing all of your concern and finding the most talented board-certified plastic surgeon in your area.In the end that is the only variable you have control over and the only one that makes a difference.Best, Mats Hagstrom MD

James McMahan, MD (retired) · Answer

Thank you for your interesting question. I can respond from experience. About 15 years ago I saw a patient who had had a bad liposuction procedure on her neck with an indentation under her jaw about the size of a golf ball.  I took fat from her abdomen and injected it into that area with a very good result. Several years later she broke her ankle and was sedentary for many months, gaining about 15 pounds. The area on her neck went from being smooth to a bulge which I had to liposuction down to a smooth contour. Her abdomen was her area to preferentially put fat and since the abdominal fat was put in her neck, that area also became a preferential area for fat deposit.  I am not a big fan of putting fat in the breasts because much of the fat dies leaving calcifications.  This is what radiologists are looking for to detect breast cancer on a mammogram. Fat injections into the breasts can make it difficult to detect early breast cancer.  Be sure to see an experienced, board certified plastic surgeon.

Does transferred fat behave like the donor site or like the site that it is transferred to?

Answers (8)

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