Structural Fat Grafting | General FAQs About Structural Fat Grafting
Medically authored and verified by Verified by Dr. Vishal Purohit, MBBS, MS, MCh (Plastic Surgery) • RMC Reg. 28041/14185 • Oct 2026
General FAQs About Structural Fat GraftingWhat is structural fat grafting (autologous fat transfer / lipofilling)?
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What is structural fat grafting (autologous fat transfer / lipofilling)?
#Structural fat grafting, also known as autologous fat transfer or lipofilling, is a surgical procedure that harvests unwanted fat from donor areas (such as the abdomen or thighs) and transfers it into deficit areas (face, breasts, hands, or scars) to restore natural volume and tissue quality.
Because the graft uses the patient’s own living adipose cells, there is zero risk of foreign-body rejection or allergic reaction. Modern fat grafting relies on the Coleman technique: gentle low-pressure harvesting, sterile centrifugation or filtration to separate viable adipocytes and stem cells from oil and serum, and micro-aliquot injection across multiple tissue planes.
The procedure delivers permanent volume restoration and skin rejuvenation, with donor sites healing like minor liposuction and recipient sites showing natural softness.
General FAQs About Structural Fat GraftingWhat are the main advantages of fat grafting over synthetic dermal fillers and implants?
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What are the main advantages of fat grafting over synthetic dermal fillers and implants?
#The key advantages of fat grafting are complete biocompatibility, permanent results once vascularized, and the regenerative benefit of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs).
Synthetic hyaluronic acid fillers dissolve within 9 to 18 months, requiring perpetual maintenance injections that accumulate significant expense. Solid implants carry risks of capsular contracture, shifting, and infection. In contrast, survived fat grafts integrate into recipient tissue permanently as living cells, while the rich concentration of stem cells stimulates local collagen production, improves skin microvasculature, and refines dermal texture.
Fat grafting provides dual benefits by slimming the donor body contour while volumizing deficit areas.