Off-the-shelf donor fat restores targeted volume, with no liposuction, for patients who have too little fat left to graft after major weight loss

HERNDON, Va., Oct. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Patients who lose weight on GLP-1 medications often lose fat from the buttocks and hands faster than anywhere else. Many have too little fat left to harvest for grafting. Amir Mahan Ghaznavi, MD, MBA, FACS, a dual board-certified plastic surgeon and founder of AMG Plastic Surgery, uses alloClae^® to restore that volume for patients in Northern Virginia. It is a donor-derived structural adipose tissue product.

alloClae is a sterile, hydrated adipose allograft composed of non-viable intact adipocytes, extracellular matrix, lipids, and connective tissue. It is intended to provide cushioning and support in localized areas of the body where adipose tissue naturally exists.

Unlike traditional autologous fat grafting, which requires harvesting a patient's own fat through liposuction, alloClae provides structural adipose tissue that is ready for placement. At AMG Plastic Surgery, it is placed in the office under local anesthesia, with no liposuction donor site and no general anesthesia. Most patients return to desk work in one to two days.

"When a patient has lost a lot of weight, there is often not enough fat left to move," said Dr. Ghaznavi. "alloClae lets me restore a modest amount of volume in an office visit, awake, with no liposuction and no donor site. The key is selecting the appropriate patient and placing the volume where it is best suited to their anatomy and goals."

A Different Approach to Targeted Body Contouring

At AMG Plastic Surgery, Dr. Ghaznavi considers alloClae for patients seeking targeted volume restoration in areas such as the hips, buttocks, hands, scars, and certain breast contour irregularities.

For example, additional volume may be considered to soften the appearance of hip dips, refine selected buttock contours, restore volume to aging hands, or improve certain depressions associated with scars or previous body-contouring procedures. After major weight loss, he stages alloClae alongside post-weight-loss body contouring surgery when loose skin is also present.

The amount of alloClae required depends on the treatment area, the degree of correction sought, and the patient's individual anatomy. Dr. Ghaznavi emphasizes that alloClae is not a substitute for every fat-transfer or body-contouring procedure. Patients seeking substantial volume increases may be better candidates for traditional autologous fat grafting or another surgical approach.

Dr. Ghaznavi's Experience in Fat Grafting and Body Contouring

Dr. Ghaznavi's published research on body contouring after major weight loss appeared in the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery journal and discusses the benefits of body contouring and maintaining weight loss. 

Dr. Ghaznavi has performed approximately 800 liposuction and fat-grafting procedures over his career, as well as many alloClae treatments.

"alloClae is a product. The result is the placement," said Dr. Ghaznavi. "Place it too deep, and you waste product. Place it too shallow and you risk visible lumps. Knowing where fat lives in each part of the body is what makes the difference."

What Patients Should Know About alloClae

alloClae is processed from screened donor fat tissue by Tiger Aesthetics, which distributes it as a human tissue product (HCT/P) under FDA tissue regulations. It is not an FDA-approved drug or device. Donor eligibility includes screening and testing intended to reduce the risk of transmitting relevant communicable diseases.

The processed tissue contains no living cells and has no systemic effect.

Dr. Ghaznavi tells patients to expect results to last 12 to 18 months, and some keep their results longer. alloClae has been available since 2024, so long-term data are still being collected, and he does not promise a duration beyond what he has seen.

As with any medical procedure, alloClae carries potential risks and is not appropriate for every patient. Potential complications identified in the product's safety information include cyst or nodule formation, pain, infection, hematoma, allergic or immune responses, anaphylaxis and skin discoloration at the treatment site. alloClae should not be used in patients with active infection, severe allergen sensitivities, or a history of anaphylaxis.

Individual results and duration can vary, and no specific aesthetic outcome can be guaranteed. A consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon is necessary to determine whether alloClae or another body-contouring procedure is appropriate for an individual patient.

About Amir Mahan Ghaznavi, MD, MBA, FACS

Dr. Amir Mahan Ghaznavi is board-certified by both the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery. He completed his general surgery training at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York, followed by plastic surgery training at Henry Ford Hospital and advanced microsurgery fellowship training at Cleveland Clinic.

Dr. Ghaznavi later joined the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Cleveland Clinic, where he developed a multispecialty lymphedema program and led reconstructive surgical initiatives. He has authored research articles, abstracts, and book chapters. He has presented his work at medical conferences throughout the United States.

Dr. Ghaznavi currently serves as Vice-Chair of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Cosmetic Subcommittee and was named a Northern Virginia Magazine Top Doctor in 2026.

AMG Plastic Surgery specializes in breast and body contouring, including body contouring after major weight loss, as well as non-surgical aesthetic procedures for patients from Reston, Fairfax, Herndon, and communities throughout Northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C. region. The practice is located at 13454 Sunrise Valley Dr., Suite 130, Herndon, VA 20171.

For more information about alloClae body contouring or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Ghaznavi, please visit amgplasticsurgery.com/alloclae-filler or call 703-239-3190.

Media Contact
Dr. Amir Ghaznavi
AMG Plastic Surgery
703-239-3190
info@amgplasticsurgery.com
AMGPlasticSurgery.com

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SOURCE AMG Plastic Surgery