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Can fat grafts migrate like filler can?

Updated 4/26/2023

Table of Contents

Fat grafting is a procedure in which we harvest fat from an area with a little extra (usually the abdomen or waist) and delicately inject the fat to add volume or structure to another location (more details here). Often fat grafting is used as a substitute for filler. Most fillers are temporary (lasting from a few months to a couple years) and can in some cases migrate away from the injection site. On the other hand, fat grafts are permanent – in most cases at least 50% and as much as 80% of the volume we graft lasts for the rest of your life. The reason is that the fat cells attach to local tissue and receive a new blood supply from blood vessels in the recipient site. The fat graft actually becomes part of the anatomy in its new location and will not migrate from the injection site.

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Harvard-educated, fellowship-trained plastic surgeon Dr. Smith brings unparalleled expertise in body contouring procedures. Operating from our state-of-the-art facility in the historic Ritz Tower, he combines technical precision with an artistic eye to deliver exceptional results.
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