{"id":670,"slug":"what-are-the-risks-of-autologous-fat-transfer","question":"What are the risks of autologous fat transfer?","intent":"informational","language":"en","url":"https://worldwiki.io/q/what-are-the-risks-of-autologous-fat-transfer","entity":{"slug":"autologous-fat","name":"Autologous Fat","url":"https://worldwiki.io/entity/autologous-fat"},"answer":{"short_answer":"A 2025 meta-analysis of 6,268 patients found an overall complication rate of 4.2%. It reported infection in 1.0% of patients, fat necrosis in 0.7%, induration or calcification in 0.6%, oil cysts in 0.1% and haematoma in 0.06%. Volume loss is the most common problem. Fat embolism is the most serious, particularly with gluteal injections: a 2017 task-force survey reported 32 deaths among 198,857 gluteal fat grafting cases.","detailed_answer":"<p>Complication rates in the meta-analysis differed by site: 7.5% for the breast, 4.0% for the face and 4.8% for the buttocks. The studies it pooled were mostly retrospective and used varied techniques.</p>","format":"paragraph","confidence":75,"verified_at":"2026-09-18 06:21:20","updated_at":"2026-09-18 15:21:20"},"sources":[{"id":11,"title":"NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: autologous","url":"https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/autologous","publisher":"National Cancer Institute (NCI)","type":"government","accessed_at":"2026-09-19 18:01:04"},{"id":125,"title":"Autologous Fat Grafting in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery: An Historical Perspective (Costanzo D, Romeo A, Marena F; Eplasty 22:e4)","url":"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9350545/","publisher":"Eplasty / PubMed Central","type":"journal","accessed_at":"2026-09-19 18:01:41"},{"id":126,"title":"The fate of adipocytes after nonvascularized fat grafting: evidence of early death and replacement of adipocytes (Eto H et al.; Plast Reconstr Surg 129(5):1081-1092)","url":"https://pure.teikyo.jp/en/publications/the-fate-of-adipocytes-after-nonvascularized-fat-grafting-evidenc/","publisher":"Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (Teikyo University research portal)","type":"academic","accessed_at":"2026-09-19 18:01:42"},{"id":127,"title":"Application of adipose-derived stromal cells in fat grafting: Basic science and literature review (Moustaki M et al.; Exp Ther Med 14(3):2415-2423)","url":"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5609216/","publisher":"Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine / PubMed Central","type":"journal","accessed_at":"2026-09-19 18:01:42"},{"id":128,"title":"Fat Ful'fill'ment: A Review of Autologous Fat Grafting (Marwah M et al.; J Cutan Aesthet Surg 6(3):132-138)","url":"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3800286/","publisher":"Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery / PubMed Central","type":"journal","accessed_at":"2026-09-19 18:01:42"},{"id":129,"title":"A Systematic Review of the Literature and Meta-Analysis of Autologous Fat Transfer: Fat Transfer Confers a 4.2% Incidence of Complications (Bechar et al.)","url":"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12622863/","publisher":"Cureus / PubMed Central","type":"journal","accessed_at":"2026-09-19 18:01:43"},{"id":130,"title":"Impact of donor site on fat graft survival in autologous fat transfer to the breast: A systematic review (Goeree et al.)","url":"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13382271/","publisher":"JPRAS Open / PubMed Central","type":"journal","accessed_at":"2026-09-19 18:01:43"},{"id":131,"title":"Report on Mortality from Gluteal Fat Grafting: Recommendations from the ASERF Task Force (Mofid MM et al.; Aesthet Surg J 37(7))","url":"https://www.theaestheticfoundation.org/research/funded-research/report-on-mortality-from-gluteal-fat-grafting-recommendations-from-the-aserf","publisher":"Aesthetic Surgery Education and Research Foundation","type":"organization","accessed_at":"2026-09-19 18:01:44"},{"id":132,"title":"Same Surgical Procedure Exception under 21 CFR 1271.15(b): Questions and Answers Regarding the Scope of the Exception","url":"https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance-documents/same-surgical-procedure-exception-under-21-cfr-127115b-questions-and-answers-regarding-scope","publisher":"US Food and Drug Administration (CBER)","type":"government","accessed_at":"2026-09-18 18:00:56"},{"id":133,"title":"Intraoperative Strategies for Minimal Manipulation of Autologous Adipose Tissue for Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapies: Concise Review (Trivisonno A et al.)","url":"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6877766/","publisher":"Stem Cells Translational Medicine / PubMed Central","type":"journal","accessed_at":"2026-09-19 18:01:44"}],"published_at":"2026-09-18 06:21:20"}