Lipotransfer – transplantation of your own fat tissue

Content author: medicine. Piotr Rak, surgeon · Editorial work: Editorial team of Wyspa Medycyny Przyjaznej · Medical review: lek. Piotr Rak · Date of creation: 07.08.2026 · Date of review: 07.08.2026 · Updated: 07.08.2026

The article is of an educational nature and does not replace a medical consultation or qualification for the procedure, which requires an examination. Increasing pain, swelling, redness, fever, purulent discharge from the wound, and in the case of facial procedures, sudden deterioration of vision, severe pain, paling or bruising of the skin require immediate contact with a doctor.

The most important information at a glance

• Lipotransfer, also called lipofilling or fat tissue transplantation, involves the transfer of the patient's own fat to the place of volume loss.
• The treatment is autologous - no foreign material is introduced, so there is no risk of an allergic reaction to the preparation.
• The most common donor sites are the abdomen, sides, thighs and around the knees, i.e. areas with stable reserves of fat tissue.
• The most common recipient sites are the face, neck, cleavage and the backs of the hands - the areas where the loss of fatty tissue most clearly reflects age.
• The procedure has three stages: fat collection, preparation and precise administration to the target site.
• Some of the transplanted tissue is not accepted and is absorbed in the first months. This is normal and included in the treatment plan.
• The tissue that has been absorbed and supplied with blood behaves like the patient's own tissue and may remain for years.
• The effect depends on body weight. Significant weight loss or gain changes the volume of transplanted tissue.
• This is not a weight loss method. The amount of fat harvested is small and is used only for reconstructive or aesthetic purposes.
• This is a surgical procedure that requires medical qualifications, sterile conditions and discussion of possible complications.

Find out more about the specialist

Doctor. Piotr Rak is a surgeon at the Island of Friendly Medicine in Gdańsk. He deals with surgical procedures, including aesthetic surgery procedures. Planning is crucial in lipotransfer: assessing how much volume can actually be rebuilt, where to take the tissue from and what the patient can expect after absorbing part of the graft.

Schedule a consultation

What is lipotransfer?

Lipotransfer is a surgical procedure that involves transferring fat tissue from one area of ​​the body to another. The terms lipofilling and fat tissue transplantation are also used in the literature - they are synonyms for the same procedure.

The idea is based on a simple observation about aging. For years, the prevailing belief was that the face ages due to tissue sagging. Today we know that volume loss is equally important: shrinkage of the fat pads of the cheeks, temples and orbital area, as well as changes in bone tissue. The face doesn't just droop - it sinks. Replacing the lost volume therefore addresses the cause, not just its effect.

What distinguishes lipotransfer from other volume replacement methods is the nature of the material. We do not introduce any foreign substance. We transfer the patient's living tissue, which, after obtaining blood supply in a new place, functions like any other tissue in his body.

Where is the tissue taken from? Donor sites

The donor site is selected so that the collection is safe, the access is convenient, and the defect is unnoticeable. The amount of tissue needed is small compared to classic liposuction, so the donor area usually does not visibly change its shape after the procedure.

The choice is made by the doctor during qualification, after assessing the figure, the amount of available tissue, procedures performed and the planned volume of the graft. In very slim people, it may be difficult to find a suitable donor site and then the scope of the procedure must be realistically limited or another method should be considered.

Where is it used? Recipient sites

Four areas are reported most often because it is in them that the loss of fat tissue is most visible and most difficult to hide.

Face. Most common indication. The restoration usually concerns the cheeks, temples, infraorbital area, nasolabial folds, jawline and chin. The effect of a well-planned treatment is not a "filled" face, but a restoration of the proportions from years ago. In case of sunken temples and cheeks, adding volume also improves the way the light falls on the face - and this can be more noticeable than the change in shape itself.

Neck. The skin of the neck is thin, poor in subcutaneous tissue and devoid of sebaceous glands to the same extent as the face. It ages faster and often precedes the face by several years, which can be a source of disproportions after treatments performed only on the face.

Neckline. The area has been overlooked for years of maintenance and at the same time intensively exposed to the sun. Vertical wrinkles in this location result from both photoaging and loss of subcutaneous tissue.

Backs of hands. This is the area that reveals age most effectively and cannot be masked. As the subcutaneous tissue disappears, the tendons, veins and metacarpal bones become visible. Replenishing the volume restores the smoothness of the surface and reduces the visibility of deep structures. We write more about changes in this area here: aged hands.

Fat tissue transplantation is also used in reconstructive surgery, for example in the correction of post-traumatic and post-operative deformities and in the treatment of scars. However, this is a separate issue that requires a separate qualification.

Lipotransfer and hyaluronic fillers

This is the most frequently asked question during the consultation. The answer is not "one is better", but "these are two methods with different characteristics, selected for the situation".

In practice, lipotransfer sometimes happens considered when a larger volume is needed, when the patient wants to avoid repeating treatments every several months or when he or she wants autologous material. The filler works well for smaller corrections when we want predictability and short recovery.

Fair warning: the term "natural" is sometimes overused in advertising. The tissue is your own, but it is still a surgical procedure with real risks, requiring anesthesia, recovery and operator experience. Autologousness reduces the risk of reaction to the material - it does not eliminate procedural risk.

Procedure - three stages

The third stage determines the result. The transplanted fat does not have its own blood supply and in the first days it is nourished by diffusion from the environment. Therefore, the material is not administered in one place in a large portion, but spread in thin layers - the greater the contact with the well-perfused recipient tissue, the greater the chance that the graft will be accepted.

Anesthesia is selected according to the scope of the procedure. For small areas, local anesthesia is usually sufficient, for larger areas, other solutions are considered. The decision is made by the doctor during qualification.

How much tissue is accepted and why not all?

This question is worth asking during the consultation, because the realistic expectation of the effect depends on the answer. Some of the transplanted tissue does not receive blood supply and is absorbed - this happens mainly in the first weeks and months after the procedure. This is a physiological phenomenon, not a complication.

The acceptance rate depends on many factors: collection and administration technique, recipient area and its blood supply, smoking, comorbidities and compliance with post-treatment recommendations. This is why an experienced operator plans the procedure taking into account that some of the material will disappear.

This has two practical consequences. Firstly, the effect immediately after the procedure is more pronounced than the target one - it is accompanied by swelling. Secondly, in some cases, a follow-up procedure is planned after a few months. This is not a sign of failure, just part of standard treatment that the patient should be aware of in advance.

The tissue that has been accepted and supplied with blood now behaves like the patient's own tissue. It can last for years - but it will also respond to changes in body weight. With significant weight loss, the volume at the transplant site will also decrease.

Convalescence

After the procedure, swelling and bruising should be expected in both the recipient and donor sites. Swelling in the face is noticeable in the first few days and gradually subsides. The donor site may be tender and sore for a few days, just like after a contusion.

The following are usually recommended:

• cold compresses in the first 24 hours, according to the operator's recommendation,
• sleeping with the head raised during facial treatments,
• avoiding pressure and massaging the graft area,
• limiting physical exercise, sauna, swimming pool and hot baths,
• sun protection of the treatment area,
• wearing compression garments on the donor site, if the doctor recommends it,
• refraining from smoking, which significantly worsens the survival of the graft,
• maintaining a stable body weight during the healing period,
• reporting for follow-up visits.

The final effect is assessed only after the swelling has subsided and after a period during which part of the material is absorbed. Early assessment – ​​especially in the first few weeks – can be misleading both ways. Specific dates and recommendations are provided by the doctor performing the procedure.

Possible complications and contraindications

Lipotransfer is a surgical procedure and involves risks that must be discussed before signing the informed consent. Possible complications include:

• prolonged swelling and bruising,
• hematoma in the donor or recipient site,
• infection,
• asymmetry requiring correction,
• irregularities, palpable thickening or oil cysts,
• necrosis of the transplanted tissue and calcifications,
• contour irregularities in the donor site,
• transient sensory disturbances,
• unsatisfactory effect and the need for additional surgery,
• complications related to anesthesia.

A rare but serious complication related to the administration of material to the face should be mentioned separately: tissue entering a blood vessel. It may lead to skin blood circulation disorders and, in extreme cases, eye complications. This risk is reduced by knowledge of anatomy, proper technique and the use of blunt-ended cannulas - therefore facial procedures should only be performed by a doctor with appropriate preparation.

Contraindications or situations requiring postponement include: active infection, decompensated chronic diseases, coagulation disorders and anticoagulant treatment requiring modification, active cancer, pregnancy and breastfeeding, planned significant weight loss, smoking without willingness to stop and unrealistic expectations regarding the effect.

The most common myths

• "Since it's your own fat, the procedure is risk-free." NO. Autologous material eliminates the risk of reaction to a foreign preparation, but not surgical risk.
• "I'll lose weight by the way." No. The volumes collected are small and are used only for reconstructive or aesthetic purposes.
• "All the grafted fat stays." No. Some of it is absorbed in the first months - this phenomenon is included in the treatment plan.
• "The effect is visible immediately." No. Swelling is visible immediately after the treatment, and the final effect is assessed after many weeks.
• "It's always better than filler." No. These are different methods. Filler may be a better choice for small corrections and when you need predictability.
• "Weight doesn't matter." No. The transplanted tissue reacts to changes in body weight like the rest of the adipose tissue.
• "Smoking does not affect the result." No. Nicotine impairs blood supply and significantly worsens graft survival.
• "The treatment can be performed in a beauty salon." No. It is a surgical procedure that requires a doctor and sterile conditions.

Are you considering lipotransfer of your face, neck, cleavage or hands?

During the consultation, we will assess how much volume can actually be rebuilt, where to get the tissue from and what to expect after absorbing part of the graft.

Lipotransfer in the Island of Friendly Medicine in Gdańsk

In the Island of Friendly Medicine doctor. Piotr Rak consults with patients considering fat tissue transplantation. The visit includes an assessment of the recipient area, selection of a donor site, discussion of the realistic effect possible, the course of healing and possible complications.

Part of a reliable qualification is also the indication of situations in which another method will be a better solution - for example, when there is a small volume loss, when there is a lack of sufficient donor tissue, or when the patient plans to significantly reduce body weight. The current scope of treatments, availability of dates and prices should be confirmed during registration.

Make an appointment Aged hands

What to ask the doctor during the consultation?

• Is lipotransfer or filler a better choice in my situation?
• Where do you plan to collect tissue from and why there?
• Do I have enough donor tissue?
• How much volume do you plan to transplant and what effect can I realistically expect?
• How much of the graft can be absorbed?
• Do you plan to undergo additional surgery and when?
• What anesthesia will be used?
• How long will the swelling last and when will I return to work?
• What complications are possible in my situation?
• Will smoking or taking medications affect the result?
• What will happen to the effect if I lose or gain weight?
• When will follow-up visits take place?

FAQ - lipotransfer and fat tissue grafting

What is lipotransfer?

This is a surgical procedure that involves collecting the patient's own fat tissue, cleaning it and transferring it to the place that has lost volume. It is also called lipofilling or fat tissue transplantation.

Where does the fat come from?

Most often from the abdomen, sides of the torso, thighs or around the knees. The choice depends on the amount of available tissue, the patient's figure, previous procedures and the planned transplant volume.

In what areas is it administered?

Most often on the face, neck, cleavage and back of the hands. It is also used in reconstructive surgery, post-traumatic deformities and scar work.

Is the treatment safer than fillers?

Autologous material eliminates the risk of reaction to a foreign preparation, but the procedure itself is a surgical procedure and has its own risks. These are two methods with different characteristics, selected for a specific situation.

How much tissue is taken?

Some of the transplanted material does not receive blood supply and is absorbed in the first weeks and months. The percentage depends on technique, area, smoking and compliance. This phenomenon is included in the treatment plan.

Is the effect permanent?

The tissue that has become involved behaves like the patient's own tissue and may persist for years. However, it responds to changes in body weight - significant weight loss will also reduce the volume at the transplant site.

Will I need a second treatment?

In some cases, a follow-up treatment is planned after a few months to replenish the volume after some of the material has been absorbed. This is part of standard practice, not a sign of failure.

How long does recovery take?

Swelling and bruising usually last from several to a dozen or so days, and the donor site may be tender, similar to that after a contusion. The final effect is assessed after many weeks. Specific dates are provided by the operator.

Does the procedure hurt?

It is performed under anesthesia appropriate to the scope of the procedure. After the procedure, discomfort, tenderness and a feeling of tension are typical, especially in the donor site.

Is this a weight loss method?

No. The volumes collected are small and the goal is to rebuild volume elsewhere, not to lose weight.

Does smoking matter?

Yes, and it's big. Nicotine impairs tissue blood supply, and the transplant in the first days depends on nutrition from the environment. Smoking significantly worsens the survival of transplanted tissue.

Who performs this procedure at WMP?

On the WMP website, MD. Piotr Rak is described as a surgeon performing surgical procedures, including aesthetic surgery procedures. The scope and availability of treatments are confirmed by registration.

Sources

• NHS, Cosmetic procedures - what to consider before treatment: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cosmetic-procedures/
• NHS, Dermal fillers (soft tissue fillers): https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cosmetic-procedures/dermal-fillers/
• NHS, Liposuction: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cosmetic-procedures/liposuction/
• British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons, information for patients: https://www.bapras.org.uk/public/patient-information
• British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, information for patients: https://baaps.org.uk/patients/
• British Association of Dermatologists, information for patients: https://www.bad.org.uk/patient-information-leaflets/
• NHS, Stop smoking treatments: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/quit-smoking/