Fat transfer, also called lipofilling, means moving a person’s own fatty tissue to another area. Fat is collected using an appropriate harvesting technique, processed and placed elsewhere in the body. Harvesting and subsequent use are planned together before the procedure.
There are different processing methods, such as filtration and centrifugation. Using a particular accessory or referring to stem cells in advertising does not, by itself, demonstrate better graft survival. Some of the transferred fat may be reabsorbed.
Possible risks affect both the donor area and the area receiving the fat. They include infection, tissue damage, nodules and uneven contours. Risks vary by body region; serious vascular complications are possible with certain applications. Complete and permanent graft survival cannot be guaranteed.