Fat Transfer
Fat Transfer at Mountain West Plastic Surgery and Medical Spa
If you’ve ever wished you could take fat from one part of your body and move it to another, fat transfer makes that possible.
This minimally invasive procedure gently removes excess fat from areas like the abdomen or thighs and transfers fat into areas that have lost volume, such as the hips, buttocks, or hands. At Mountain West Plastic Surgery and Medical Spa, every fat transfer procedure is performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon in our state-of-the-art facility. Our surgical team specializes in aesthetic surgery results that harmonize with your natural proportions. Schedule a consultation to find out how fat grafting can refine your shape using your own body’s tissue.
Fat transfer, also called fat grafting or autologous fat transfer, is a method of using harvested fat to enhance areas of the body that could benefit from subtle reshaping. This cosmetic surgery technique removes unwanted fat using liposuction and repositions the purified fat into areas needing volume enhancement, most often the hips, buttocks, or soft depressions in the thighs and abdomen.
Because the material used is your own fat, the body accepts it naturally. Fat grafting provides natural-looking results that feel like an organic part of your physique. It’s a highly personalized solution, especially well-suited to those seeking alternatives to dermal fillers, breast implants, or synthetic buttock augmentation.
This fat transfer surgery is performed in our accredited surgical center as an outpatient procedure. First, we administer general anesthesia or sedation and use local anesthesia to numb the donor site, typically the abdomen, flanks, or thighs.
Then we begin fat harvesting using gentle liposuction techniques designed to protect the structure of the adipose tissue. Once collected, the fat undergoes careful fat processing to isolate healthy, intact fat cells. The fat cells are then precisely injected into the target area, where they integrate with your existing soft tissue. Our surgeons use a refined, artistic approach to ensure smooth, sculpted, and natural-looking contours. After surgery, you’ll wear a compression garment to support healing in the donor site. Patients go home the same day with a clear recovery plan in place.
Fat grafting is highly effective for restoring balance and correcting contour irregularities. At Mountain West Plastic Surgery and Medical Spa, patients often seek this aesthetic surgery for:
This fat transfer procedure can also play a role in reconstructive surgery and breast reconstruction by adding softness and volume to areas impacted by trauma or prior surgery.
Because fat injections use your own tissue, the results are incredibly smooth, soft, and natural. Many patients prefer fat transfer over implants or dermal fillers because it doesn’t introduce foreign materials. It also allows for a sculpted, customized approach to body contouring.
Benefits include:
You may be a good candidate for fat injections if you’re in good health, at a stable weight, and have enough fat in donor areas to perform fat transfer successfully. This cosmetic surgery is not designed for major volume changes but rather for strategic refinements that improve proportion.
Fat transfer procedures are not ideal for smokers or patients with medical issues that could impair the healing process. If you’re considering a shift from breast augmentation with implants or seeking a more natural approach to volume enhancement, this may be a strong option.
Our plastic surgeons will guide you through every step, helping you set realistic expectations for your outcome.
After surgery, you’ll experience swelling, bruising, and minor discomfort in both the donor site and the treated area. These symptoms are part of the healing process and typically improve within 1–2 weeks.
Most patients return to work in under 10 days, depending on the area treated and your personal recovery time. To protect the newly grafted fat, we’ll give specific instructions on how to avoid pressure on the treated area, especially after buttock augmentation. Wearing your compression garment consistently and avoiding strenuous activity will help the injected fat cells establish a healthy blood supply and increase the survival of the transferred fat. Your plastic surgeon will check your healing at post-op visits and remain fully available to address questions or concerns between appointments.
The final results of fat grafting become visible after several weeks, once swelling has resolved and the body has absorbed any fat cells that didn’t survive. On average, about 60–80% of the transferred fat becomes permanent. The results feel and look like your own body, just more balanced and defined.
As long as you maintain a stable weight and take care of the treated area, your outcome should last for years. Many patients feel a renewed sense of confidence from the natural, graceful refinement that fat transfer surgery provides.
When it comes to body sculpting, experience matters. At Mountain West Plastic Surgery and Medical Spa in Kalispell, every fat transfer procedure is performed by board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Hromadka or Dr. Spring. Our providers possess a deep knowledge of anatomy and aesthetic proportion, and perform every procedure in accordance with the highest safety standards.
With over 35 years of combined experience and the only Quad A certified private surgery center in the state, we provide a level of care you simply can’t find anywhere else in Montana. Our team brings a warm, supportive approach to every consultation, whether you're pursuing fat transfer alone or combining it with other plastic surgery procedures. From the moment you walk in, you’ll feel confident that you're in the right place.
The amount of harvested fat needed depends on your goals. Smaller areas like the hands require very little fat, while larger areas like the buttocks may need several hundred milliliters of fat.
Absolutely. Many patients combine fat grafting with a tummy tuck, breast reconstruction, or facial rejuvenation for a comprehensive approach. Fat transfer is especially popular as part of a mommy makeover.
Once the transferred fat establishes a blood supply, it becomes permanent. However, weight loss or aging can affect volume over time.
Yes, fat transfer is considered safe when performed by experienced, board-certified plastic surgeons. Using your own fat greatly reduces the risk of allergic reaction, making it a very safe procedure.
Tiny incisions are made for fat harvesting and injection, but they are minimal and fade well over time.
Significant weight loss may shrink the grafted fat along with other areas. For the best results, we recommend having the procedure when you are at a stable weight.
Autologous fat grafting offers subtle, natural-looking results for patients who prefer not to have implants. It is ideal for patients who want a more modest increase in breast size without using synthetic materials.
As with any surgery, fat transfer carries certain risks like infection, asymmetry, or fat necrosis. These risks are rare when the procedure is performed by an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon.
Facial fat transfer targets small, delicate areas like the cheeks or under-eyes, while body fat transfer surgery addresses larger zones like the hips, buttocks, or breasts.
Research suggests that adipose derived stem cells in the fat may support better integration, though more data is needed. Our technique prioritizes preserving healthy, viable cells throughout the fat processing phase.
Start Your Journey With Montana’s Premier Aesthetic Experts
For our valued patients traveling from Whitefish, Missoula, Great Falls, and Helena, we offer a seamless and supportive out-of-town patient experience, ensuring your comfort and peace of mind from your first inquiry through your complete recovery.
