Seoul · Plastic surgery
Restory Plastic Surgery Clinic
A stem cell clinic program describing blood- or fat-derived preparations and local or IV administration.
Treatment approaches
Cell-Assisted Fat Grafting: Procedure & Evidence
Separate the fat-transfer procedure from the claim made for cell enrichment.
Cell-assisted fat grafting combines a fat-transfer procedure with an added cell-enrichment step. The additional step should be explained and justified separately.
Clarify the operation
Ask which body area will supply fat, where it will be placed and what cell fraction is added. Facial volume restoration, breast augmentation and hip contouring have different surgical goals. A hip-contouring service does not mean treatment of hip joint disease.
The surgeon should explain reasonable alternatives, limits on the achievable change and whether further procedures might be needed. Request consent language that distinguishes the expected effect of fat transfer from the claimed contribution of the enrichment.
Compare enrichment with the underlying operation
| Decision | Conventional fat transfer | Cell-assisted proposal |
|---|---|---|
| Core procedure | Collection, preparation and transfer of fat | Fat transfer plus a separately described enrichment step |
| Evidence question | Expected results and risks for the operation | Whether the added step improves an outcome that matters |
| Quote | Surgery, anesthesia and follow-up | Ask for any added processing or storage fee |
Prepare for the longer-term decision
Before proceeding, ask how the surgeon evaluates the result after swelling has settled, what would prompt imaging or examination and how revision would be handled. Agree on how records will be shared with a clinician at home. A short overseas stay should not leave the follow-up plan unresolved.
Discuss surgical risk and uncertainty
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons lists risks of breast fat transfer including cysts, infection, microcalcification and fat necrosis. Your surgeon should discuss risks specific to the site and your medical history. Cell enrichment should not be presented as eliminating ordinary surgical risk.
Ask whether supporting studies compare the proposed technique with conventional fat grafting, how retention was measured and how long participants were followed. Do not accept a guarantee that all transferred fat will survive.
Plan follow-up before travel
Ask about postoperative examination, imaging when appropriate, management of lumps or asymmetry and the policy for revision. Obtain guidance on activity and travel from the treating surgeon. Recovery information for a skin injection is not applicable to an operation involving fat collection and grafting.
Sources and further reading
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons — Fat transfer breast augmentation risksSource checked 9 October 2026.
- CDC — Medical tourismSource checked 9 October 2026.
Use this guide to prepare for a conversation with your doctor about your needs and treatment options.