What is the most common complication of fat grafting?

Author: Pearlie Boehm  |  Last update: Thursday, July 24, 2025

In a review of 22 articles including 3565 patients, Groen and colleagues7 identified that the most common complications of autologous fat grafting in cosmetic breast augmentation included induration, persistent pain, and hematoma occurring at 33%, 25%, and 16%, respectively.

What are the bad results of fat transfer?

The main concern is that the injected fat can cause a blockage in a blood vessel in the lungs (pulmonary embolism), which can be fatal. As well as having the same risks as other surgical fat transfer operations, additional risks of the BBL include: a serious skin infection (cellulitis) lumpy scars (contour deformity)

What is the recovery time for fat grafting?

Some people can return to work and regular activities after a week, while others need two weeks or more. Talk to your plastic surgeon about recovery and what to expect for your specific fat transfer procedure.

What is the survival rate for fat transfer?

In fact, only about 50% to 80% of injected fat cells will survive the transfer. The biggest reason for this? Inadequate blood supply. For your transferred fat cells to survive, they must quickly establish a blood supply in their new location.

What not to do after fat grafting?

It is important to avoid any heavy lifting over 5 lbs, strenuous activity, and exercise for one month following surgery. Please avoid bending over and lower at your knees when reaching downward. Any activity that increases your heart rate and blood pressure increases your risk of bleeding and increased swelling.

Possible Risk of a Fat Grafting Procedure

How long do you wear compression garment after fat grafting?

-Moderate discomfort, which should be relieved by the pain medications. -Moderate swelling and bruising around and below the treated area. -Expected to wear your compression garment as close to 24 hours as possible for the first 6 weeks. The more you wear your garment the less swelling you will have.

How can I maximize my fat transfer results?

Sustaining long-term results requires continuing to maintain a stable weight, focusing on a diet rich in nutrient-dense foods, and an active lifestyle including low-impact exercises. Select an experienced board-certified surgeon to help maximize your fat retention and get your desired result.

What is the ideal weight for fat transfer?

There is no specific weight requirement for fat transfer procedures; however, patients should ideally be within a healthy weight range; it's also acceptable for fat transfer patients to be slightly overweight.

Who is the best candidate for fat transfer?

Are You a Suitable Candidate for a Fat Transfer Procedure?
  • They wish to enhance a specific area of the body, such as the breasts, buttocks or the back of the hands.
  • They have an adequate amount of fat to harvest from another area of the body.
  • They are in good general health, both physically and mentally speaking.

What happens to fat transfer when you lose weight?

The fatty cells introduced to the facial area during facial fat grafting are subject to the same biological processes as all fat cells, so they will disappear with significant weight loss.

How much is a fat transfer?

Fat Transfer - Associated Costs

Be sure to ask your surgeon what the approximate cost will be for your specific fat transfer surgery during your consultation. The average cost for a fat transfer is $2,085*. *The above statistic comes from the 2021 Aesthetic Plastic Surgery National Databank Statistics.

Can I sit after fat grafting?

In addition, blood must flow to the treatment site to provide oxygen and nutrients to the grafted fat cells. You should avoid sitting or lying directly on your buttocks for at least eight weeks after the surgery.

Does fat grafting leave lumps?

Fat necrosis—the lumps that sometimes appear after fat grafting breast augmentation—is a troubling occurrence for patients after the procedure.

What is the difference between fat transfer and fat grafting?

A fat transfer, quite literally means you're taking fat from one part of the body and moving it to another part of the body. The procedure really is called fat grafting because it is a graft. Graft means you're taking a piece of tissue off the body.

Can your body reject a fat transfer?

Your body can't reject the transferred fat since it's your own tissue.

When do you see final results of fat transfer?

It can take up to six months to see the final results. During this time, the fat cells settle into their new places, where they remain for life.

What is the best age for fat transfer?

Ideal candidates for fat transfer should be between the ages of 30 and 65 and in good general health with no circulation problems. You should also have realistic expectations about what the procedure can achieve.

What happens if you don't have enough fat for a fat transfer?

Ho offers several solutions to this challenge: Evaluating multiple donor sites: Fat can be harvested from various areas of your body, including the abdomen, thighs, and back. Combining donor fat: If necessary, fat from multiple sites can be combined to accumulate enough for the transfer.

How do I prepare for a fat transfer?

Prior to Fat Injection Procedure
  1. Avoid sunbathing for 2 weeks prior to surgery.
  2. Quit smoking and nicotine use at least 4 weeks prior to surgery as nicotine can impair and delay healing. ...
  3. Stop all aspirin containing products, medications that contain blood thinners (Ibuprofen Motrin, Advil etc.)

Can I go up 2 cup sizes with fat transfer?

Typically, fat grafting can achieve an increase of at least one cup size in breast volume. In some cases, a two-cup size increase or more is possible, but this depends on the amount of fat available and whether you are able to gain weight after the procedure.

How long does it take for a fat transfer to look good?

Breast augmentation through fat transfer typically yields a high success rate, and the favorable outcomes are long-lasting. Over a period of six months following the surgery, the relocated fat cells settle into their new position, and they should maintain their permanence thereafter.

Why do I weigh more after fat transfer?

The transferred fat cells continue to live in the area where they were injected. If a patient has significant weight gain or loss, these fat cells could expand or shrink, affecting the overall results of the procedure.

What is the ideal BMI for fat transfer?

A BMI between 25-30 is ideal for procedures that require harvesting fat from one part of the body to enhance another. These include Breast Fat Grafting and Brazilian Butt Lift.

Does caffeine affect fat transfer?

Avoid medications containing aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Naproxen) for 2 weeks before and after surgery. These medications may increase bleeding. Substances to Avoid: Avoid alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine, for these will dramatically slow the healing process.

How long to sleep on back after fat transfer?

You will be able to sleep on your back and your side after six weeks. Until then, you will need to sleep on your stomach to avoid putting pressure on the fat grafted areas. We cannot emphasize enough how important it is to adhere to these post-op aftercare and sleeping instructions. Dr.

Previous article
How do I know if I need a lip flip?
Next article
What deficiency in body causes acne?