Ask Dr. Jones
Body fat is transferred to various parts of the body for many reasons. For example, belly fat can be harvested and transferred to enhance deflated buttocks and provide a sleek, hourglass look. Fat can also be taken from the chin and injected into the face to fill in fine lines, wrinkles and hollow, sunken cheek muscles.
People often believe the misconception that fat can be transferred from their body to a direct family member or friend, in the same way an organ is transplanted from one person to another. Unfortunately, this is NOT possible when dealing with body fat.
Body fat is a tissue tailored specifically to each individuals genetic makeup. Even if you are related and share the same DNA, your body will not recognize these tissues as their own. Your body’s natural defense mechanism will reject this foreign object from your body, causing the fat cells to die.
When it comes to transplanting organs, various immunosuppressant supplements are given to weaken your immune system to reduce your body’s reaction to the foreign mass. While this prevents the body from rejecting the unfamiliar agency or a transplanted organ, long-term use of these supplements can lead to various health issues, infections, and even death. It would not be in the patients best interest to take this risk using this method for fat transfers.
Many people believe they don’t have enough body fat for a fat transfer. But even the skinniest and the scrawniest individual would have some type of fat that can be removed from parts of the body like the flanks, thighs, arms and even the chin. Patients are also encouraged to gain about 5-10 pounds if they believe they don’t have enough fat required for their desired aesthetic results.
