Medically reviewed by Dr Sin Yong · Last reviewed · 3 min read
Fat graft hypertrophy is enlargement of grafted fat after it has taken, usually with later weight gain, so that an area grafted months or years earlier looks fuller than it did once the result settled. Because grafted fat behaves like the fat around it, it can grow and shrink with body weight.
Surviving grafted fat enlarging, often with weight gain
How common
About 7% of reported adverse events across 103 studies (Schiraldi 2022)
Hyaluronidase
No effect: grafted fat is living tissue
What it looks like
A graft that looked balanced at six months looks heavier later: rounder cheeks, puffier under-eyes or a fuller lower face, often with weight gain.
How it is managed
Body weight is part of the plan. Excess superficial graft can be reduced from the surface with Time Freeze Laser LCLR®; a large, stable excess may need microliposuction by an accredited surgeon. See fat grafting correction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Reports describe grafted fat enlarging with later weight gain, because once it has a blood supply it behaves like the fat around it.
It can reduce it, as with other fat, but not selectively, and the face also loses volume elsewhere.
References
Schiraldi L, et al. Facial fat grafting (FFG): worth the risk? A systematic review of complications and critical appraisal. J Clin Med 2022;11(16):4708. source
