Structural Fat Grafting | Patient Selection, Candidacy, and Preparation
Medically authored and verified by Verified by Dr. Vishal Purohit, MBBS, MS, MCh (Plastic Surgery) • RMC Reg. 28041/14185 • Oct 2026
Patient Selection, Candidacy, and PreparationWho is a suitable candidate for fat grafting, and what if I have very low body fat?
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Who is a suitable candidate for fat grafting, and what if I have very low body fat?
#Suitable candidates are healthy individuals with localized volume deficiency who have sufficient donor fat deposits on the abdomen, flanks, or inner thighs.
For facial fat transfer, only modest donor fat (20 to 50 mL) is required, meaning even relatively lean individuals typically possess ample fat stores in the lower abdomen or inner knees. However, for large-volume autologous breast augmentation (requiring 200 to 350 mL per breast), patients must possess adequate donor adipose reserves. Extremely lean athletes may lack sufficient donor volume for large breast augmentation.
A pre-operative pinch evaluation confirms whether adequate donor sites exist.