Fat Transfer vs Filler: Choosing the Right Option

Facial and body rejuvenation is both an art and a science. If you’ve been exploring aesthetic treatments for achieving smoother skin and restoring volume to improve and enhance contours, you’ve likely encountered the possibility of using fat transfer vs. fillers to reach your goals. Where non-surgical and cosmetic treatments often fall short, both options can help you achieve a vibrant, natural, and youthful appearance.

Learning more about these treatments and how they are used can help you make a personalized choice for effective treatment. 

At Defyne, we’re advancing these minimally invasive approaches to beauty even further, with innovative treatment that supports improved results. Contact us today to schedule your consultation and take the first step toward improved self-confidence.

What is Fat Transfer?

Fat transfer, also known as fat grafting, is a procedure where fat cells (adipose tissue) are harvested from one area of the body, purified, and then reinjected into another area to increase volume and achieve your desired aesthetic results. 

Common areas from which fat can be harvested include the buttocks, thighs, and abdomen. Because it uses fat from the donor’s own body, it is referred to as autologous fat grafting.

This procedure allows a plastic surgeon to restore lost volume (for example, during breast augmentation to improve breast volume). It can also contour areas such as the buttocks, waist, hips, or provide facial rejuvenation, all without major surgery.

At Defyne, fat transfer is accomplished using Enhanced Viability Fat Transfer (EVFT), a process where harvested fat is treated with P188, a surfactant, to purify and protect it. The result is improved fat uptake compared to traditional fat grafting methods, with rates as high as 80-90% versus 30-60%. This results in more consistent and longer-lasting outcomes.

What is alloClae Filler?

While various types of FDA-approved synthetic fillers are available as alternatives to autologous fat transfer, many of them carry a greater risk of adverse reactions compared to fat grafting.

Defyne has taken a cutting-edge approach by becoming one of the first providers of alloClae filler. Backed by innovative science, alloClae is the first structural adipose filler designed for aesthetic body procedures.

This approach utilizes human-derived donor fat cells and naturally occurring extracellular matrix proteins, leveraging the regenerative properties of growth factors and collagen production to achieve natural-looking results. All markers that spark an immunogenic response are removed.

Fat Transfer vs Filler: Key Differences

There are some key differences between fat transfer and alloClae filler when it comes to choosing the best option for your needs:

Fat Transfer	alloClae Treatment
Requires harvesting and then transplant	No harvesting necessary
Can be performed using local anesthesia	Can be performed using local anesthesia
Requires the patient have excess body fat to harvest	Can be used in patients with limited fat for harvesting
Natural-looking, long-lasting results	Natural-looking, long-lasting, immediate results
Made from an individual’s own fat cells	Made from safe, biocompatible material
Can re-use fat cells from liposuction for dual benefits	Predictable volume as opposed to inconsistent harvesting results
Requires liposuction for fat harvesting	Minimally invasive

In some cases, fat transfer and alloClae injections can be used in combination for best results.

Is Fat Transfer or alloClae Right for Me?

Generally, whether you choose fat transfer or the alloClae procedure, you should be healthy, a non-smoker, not pregnant, and not experiencing any active infections.

Discussing your goals, including whether subtle enhancement vs. major volume restoration is necessary to achieve the contours you’re looking for, along with realistic expectations for each procedure, can help you decide what’s best. 

A board-certified plastic surgeon can walk you through alloClae before and after, compared to fat transfer. You may have a personal preference regarding using your own tissue vs. a synthetic filler.

Regardless of which option you choose, you can expect relatively quick results, minimal recovery time, and ultimately a refreshed appearance that will restore your self-esteem.

Ready to discover your best option? Book your consultation with Defyne and take the next step toward your aesthetic goals.