Fat from the dead? Shocking ingredient secretly used in butt lifts and breast implants

As the body ages, so does the skin. From wrinkled eyes to sagging breasts, numerous physical parts begin to show signs of ageing. While some welcome them as natural processes, others who love the youth and beauty, opt for cosmetic enhancements to keep the fullness and strength running.

This is where cosmetic enhancement procedures such as Botox and fillers come in. One doctor's appointment and some injections later, your skin is as young as a newborn baby's. Some are also willing to go under the knife for breast and butt implants. As per a 2023 report by the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) 19.1 million non-surgical procedures were performed across the globe.





These procedures are very common among women but while many don't think twice before making an appointment, they remain unaware of one of the most shocking ingredients used during them.

Fat from the dead?

Across the US, a new and controversial cosmetic trend has been making rounds. Known as AlloClae, the process utilises purified fat from donated cadavers (dead bodies), to enhance the body through butt lifts (BBLs), breast implants and hip-dip corrections.

The demand for this donor-derived fat filler is driven partly by the increased consumption of weight-loss substances and partly by the need for minimally invasive cosmetic fixes. While the process is a breakthrough for surgeons, for others it has sparked medical, ethical and spiritual concerns.

What is AlloClae?

Introduced in the American markets in 2024, AlloClae is a sterile, injectable filler made from purified human fat harvested from cadaver donors. Before injection, the fat undergoes an extensive multi-step process that removes DNA, cellular debris and anything that could trigger an immune response.

The final product then integrates with the patient's own body and stimulates collagen growth. It is designed to restore or add volume to areas where fat naturally accumulates in the body.

Why use this process?

What makes it different from other processes is that they rely on liposuctioning fat from the patient's own body.

“I’d say less than probably 5% of board-certified plastic surgeons have it,” said Dr. Sachin M. Shridharani to The Post. Noting that he has done more than 50 procedures in the past year, he added that "multiple times we’ve actually run out of product.”

“This is great for somebody who doesn’t want to use their own fat or doesn’t have enough of their own fat in order to do a Brazilian butt lift or a buttock augmentation,” said Dr. Stephen T. Greenberg, a New York plastic surgeon, in a YouTube video while performing the procedure.

While AlloClae is FDA-compliant, it is classified as a human cell and tissue product, allowing it to be sold without full agency approval. As per doctors, it is also biocompatible.

Thus, the only concern you have is if you are in need of a butt lift or breast implant so much that you wouldn't mind adding 'fat of the dead' to your body.