While using cadaver fat, yes, fat from dead people, for cosmetic treatments might be novel to you, it “actually started back in 2011 with the advent of Renuva by MTF. Now, with the release of alloClae, and the future release of Dermaclae, the biologics are clearly here to stay,” says Vero Beach plastic surgeon Alan Durkin, MD. “We have been using cadaver tissue, cartilage and bone for a while now. I use cadaver rib in complex rhinoplasties and cadaver tendons in facial reconstruction, amongst other cadaver tissues,” notes New York plastic surgeon Andrew Peredo, MD.
“The idea of using cadaver-derived fat in cosmetic procedures reflects the broader trend in aesthetic medicine toward biologic and regenerative materials,” says New York plastic surgeon B. Aviva Preminger, MD. “Surgeons and patients are increasingly interested in options that use human tissue rather than synthetic fillers. It’s an exciting alternative that offers more options for patients.”
Dr. Durkin believes “These molecules represent the future of injectable aesthetic medicine for the United States, and the world at large.” Newtown Centre, MA plastic surgeon Joseph A. Russo, MD predicts that cadaver fat will completely change the aesthetic industry, especially once it’s available for use in the face. “I think because it is human fat, it will replace many of the hyaluronic acid fillers that we use now, as it is a more natural option, you’re replacing lost fat with real human fat and placing it where it is anatomically intended to be,” he says. “In addition, I firmly believe this will be a permanent solution, making it far more beneficial than fillers, which are only temporary.”
Featured ExpertsAlan Durkin, MD is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Vero Beach, FLAndrew Peredo, MD is a board-certified plastic surgeon in New YorkB. Aviva Preminger, MD is a board-certified plastic surgeon in New YorkJoseph A. Russo, MD is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Newtown Centre, MADr. Mariam Awada is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Grand Rapids, MIHow does using cadaver fat in aesthetics work?
First, the fat is “harvested in humans and then prepared and treated to remove all DNA, RNA and proteins. The fat cells are essentially shells of the real cells,” says Dr. Russo. “Cadaver fat refers to adipose tissue that is donated, processed and sterilized through regulated tissue banks. The fat is typically treated to remove living cells while preserving the structural matrix, which can then be injected to provide volume or serve as a scaffold for the patient’s own tissue to grow into,” explains Dr. Preminger. “This allows for soft-tissue augmentation without harvesting fat from the patient’s own body.”
Dr. Russo notes that biopsy studies a year after the procedure show that it looks exactly like normal fat. He adds that a big benefit is that there’s no preparation involved. “You simply open the syringe and inject. It’s very fast, very safe and easy to do.”
To get more granular, there are two types—cellular fat, which Renuva uses , and structural fat, which alloClae uses, says Dr. Durkin. “Renuva acts as a catalyst primarily for its effect. The injected volume is largely metabolized and absorbed by the body, but once absorbed, it allows fat cells to safely divide and grow.” The newer alloClae “provides an immediate volumization that maintains itself durably over time” and promotes more fat creation over the coming weeks. “The newer structural fat offers a larger volumetric outcome in a shorter period of time,” says Dr. Durkin.
The advent of alloClae
“AlloClae, in a short period of time, has markedly elevated the aesthetic market by offering patients safe, organic volume that is durable and reliable for years. The use of this in nonsurgical gluteal aesthetics is an absolute elevator for patient experience and outcomes,” says Dr. Durkin. “In many ways, alloClae and its outcomes directly compete with surgical outcomes. No other product can come close to that claim.”
Grand Rapids, MI plastic surgeon Mariam Awada, MD says alloClae’s precision and reliability are what make it revolutionary, allowing her to deliver consistent, natural-looking, lasting volume in just 30 minutes without anesthesia, downtime or recovery. “What was once a lengthy, unpredictable process is now efficient, controlled, and beautifully reproducible.” Additionally, Dr. Durkin notes that “alloClae was directly developed for use in the body, while all other injectable platforms are really designed for the face. That makes it a first-in-class product, in my opinion.”
Who is a good candidate?
“It is best for the patient who wants natural results but doesn’t have fat in other parts of their body to harvest from,” says Dr. Peredo. Dr. Awada notes that she especially loves it for thinner patients or those who have lost weight. “These patients often aren’t candidates for traditional fat transfer, yet still desire enhancement. With alloClae, I can refine cleavage, enhance curves and sculpt an hourglass silhouette in a way that implants alone simply cannot achieve.”
Dr. Awada says this is the most advanced solution for patients seeking breast, hip or buttock enhancements without sufficient donor fat or implants. “It provides elegant, sculpted and long-lasting volume in a single, in-office treatment.”
The ethics of it all
While the thought of using cadaver fat for aesthetic purposes might perplex you at first, the experts feel fully comfortable with the procedure. “In cosmetic surgery, where treatments are optional, the threshold for safety, transparency, and informed consent should always be especially high. I do not believe the use of donor tissue is inherently unethical, but it does require careful discussion so that patients can make truly informed decisions,” says Dr. Preminger. Dr. Peredo notes the key is that the donor was properly informed and consented for their body to be used in that way.
“It’s no different than using tendons to replace a torn ACL or bone graft to replace areas where the bone has deteriorated or even receiving a blood transfusion,” says Dr. Russo. “Human tissue has been used for a long time to treat different issues within the body, and this is no different. We’ve also used artificial skin from cadavers, corneas from cadavers, hearts from cadavers, livers from cadavers, you name it, we’ve used it.”
