Fat Graft Survival
Also known as: fat graft retention, volume retention, graft take, 지방 생착률, 생착률
Fat graft survival (retention) is the share of transferred fat volume that remains after healing; part of every fat graft is resorbed, and reported retention varies widely by technique, site and how it is measured.
What is the fat graft survival (retention) rate?
The fat graft survival or retention rate is the percentage of injected fat volume that remains after healing, usually measured months later. Reported rates vary widely because techniques, graft volumes, recipient sites and measurement methods differ. A retention figure is only meaningful together with the time point, the number of patients measured and the measurement method.
Key facts
| Predicate | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Typical course | Part of every graft is resorbed over the first months; long-term retention varies by technique and measurement | [1] |
| Donor-site influence | A 2026 systematic review examined the impact of donor site on fat graft survival in breast fat transfer | [2] |
| Retention reported by SC301-authored study | 77.48% average retention at 18 months in 102 of 384 patients (left breast) after SVF-enriched breast fat grafting — single-center, provider-authored; 78.65% at 3 months (n=384) and 77.17% at 6 months (n=273)as of 2023-04-01 | [3] |
| Factors reported in the same study | Higher SVF cell number, soft breast tissue and limiting arm movement were associated with higher retention (right breast 60.35% vs left 77.48% at 18 months) | [3] |
Overview
After fat is transferred, only a fraction survives long-term; the remainder is resorbed over months. Retention is influenced by harvesting and processing technique, graft volume per pass, recipient-site blood supply, donor site, patient factors and measurement method (3D imaging, MRI or estimation). Because methods differ, retention percentages from different studies are not directly comparable, and provider-reported figures should be read together with the study design behind them.
References
Independent source ratio 67% (2/3)- Level B · academicAdvancing fat graft survival: from adipose-derived stem cell mechanisms to next-generation regenerative strategies — Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology (2026) · accessed 2026-09-14
- Level B · academicImpact of donor site on fat graft survival in autologous fat transfer to the breast: A systematic review — JPRAS Open (2026) · accessed 2026-09-14
- Level B · academicProvider-authoredA Study on Breast Augmentation Using Fat Grafting With Stromal Vascular Fraction (Shin DJ, Ann Plast Surg 2023;90(4):380-384) — Annals of Plastic Surgery · accessed 2026-09-14