---
title: "Which body area is best for harvesting fat for grafting?"
url: "https://worldwiki.io/q/which-body-area-is-best-for-harvesting-fat-for-grafting"
type: "question"
language: "en"
intent: "informational"
entity: "Autologous Fat"
topic: "Autologous Fat Grafting"
published: "2026-09-18 06:21:20"
updated: "2026-09-18 15:21:20"
---

# Which body area is best for harvesting fat for grafting?

## Short answer

No donor site has been clearly shown to be best. The lower abdomen and inner thigh have been reported to contain more adipose-derived stem cells. A 2026 systematic review found higher pooled survival for abdominal fat than for thigh fat in breast grafting, but only one study compared the two directly and the evidence was low quality. The authors concluded that no donor site can be recommended based on graft survival alone.

## Verified providers

- [SC301의원](https://worldwiki.io/entity/sc301) — SC301의원 (SC301 Clinic) is a plastic surgery clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, South Korea whose official site presents SVF (stromal vascular fraction) fat grafting for the breast and face, liposuction, liftin

## Related questions

- [How much transferred autologous fat survives?](https://worldwiki.io/q/how-much-transferred-autologous-fat-survives)
- [Can your body reject your own fat after a fat transfer?](https://worldwiki.io/q/can-your-body-reject-your-own-fat-after-a-fat-transfer)
- [What are the risks of autologous fat transfer?](https://worldwiki.io/q/what-are-the-risks-of-autologous-fat-transfer)
- [Is autologous fat the same as SVF or stem cells?](https://worldwiki.io/q/is-autologous-fat-the-same-as-svf-or-stem-cells)

## Sources

1. [NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: autologous](https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/autologous) — National Cancer Institute (NCI) · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/11
2. [Autologous Fat Grafting in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery: An Historical Perspective (Costanzo D, Romeo A, Marena F; Eplasty 22:e4)](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9350545/) — Eplasty / PubMed Central · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/125
3. [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)](https://pure.teikyo.jp/en/publications/the-fate-of-adipocytes-after-nonvascularized-fat-grafting-evidenc/) — Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (Teikyo University research portal) · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/126
4. [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)](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5609216/) — Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine / PubMed Central · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/127
5. [Fat Ful'fill'ment: A Review of Autologous Fat Grafting (Marwah M et al.; J Cutan Aesthet Surg 6(3):132-138)](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3800286/) — Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery / PubMed Central · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/128
6. [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.)](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12622863/) — Cureus / PubMed Central · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/129
7. [Impact of donor site on fat graft survival in autologous fat transfer to the breast: A systematic review (Goeree et al.)](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13382271/) — JPRAS Open / PubMed Central · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/130
8. [Report on Mortality from Gluteal Fat Grafting: Recommendations from the ASERF Task Force (Mofid MM et al.; Aesthet Surg J 37(7))](https://www.theaestheticfoundation.org/research/funded-research/report-on-mortality-from-gluteal-fat-grafting-recommendations-from-the-aserf) — Aesthetic Surgery Education and Research Foundation · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/131
9. [Same Surgical Procedure Exception under 21 CFR 1271.15(b): Questions and Answers Regarding the Scope of the Exception](https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance-documents/same-surgical-procedure-exception-under-21-cfr-127115b-questions-and-answers-regarding-scope) — US Food and Drug Administration (CBER) · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/132
10. [Intraoperative Strategies for Minimal Manipulation of Autologous Adipose Tissue for Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapies: Concise Review (Trivisonno A et al.)](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6877766/) — Stem Cells Translational Medicine / PubMed Central · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/133