Introduction to Cadaver-Derived Fillers
Across the country, a growing number of patients are turning to injectable fillers made from the dearly departed’s donated fat in order to lift, plump and sculpt their bodies — including for hot-ticket procedures like Brazilian butt lifts (BBL) and breast enhancements.
Talk about a killer body.
The Procedure and Its Benefits
“Many of us in New York City are very excited about this, particularly because our patients are sometimes very thin or maybe have already had liposuction,” Dr. Melissa Doft, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Manhattan, said in an Instagram video.
For procedures like BBL, fat is usually extracted from the patient via liposuction and then reinjected into the desired area — so for those who don’t have enough to suck out, Doft said, “It’s off-the-shelf-fat.”
The injectable filler is made from donated tissue from human cadavers that’s been specially processed for cosmetic use.
The filler, called AlloClae, hit the US market last year — but it still isn’t widely available.
Availability and Demand
“I’d say less than probably 5% of board certified plastic surgeons have it,” Dr. Sachin M. Shridharani, who began offering the procedure at his Manhattan clinic, Luxurgery, in early 2025 as part of a small clinical trial measuring its outcomes in fixing “hip dips,” told The Post.
“With the ones that do have it across the country, there’s tremendous amount of demand,” he added, noting he’s done more than 50 procedures in the past year.
“There have been multiple times that we’ve actually run out of product.”
AlloClae is made from sterile fat harvested from cadavers and can be administered through minimally invasive, in-office injections by a qualified provider, without the need for general anesthesia.
The Science Behind AlloClae
Before it’s injected, the donor fat undergoes a multi-step cleansing, sterilization and purification process that removes cellular debris, DNA and other elements that could trigger a negative immune response in the body.
“We ensure all our tissue is consented to for aesthetic use,” Caro Van Hove, president of Tiger Aesthetics, the company behind AlloClae, said in an interview with The Cut, meaning the people giving their bodies didn’t think they were donating them to medical or scientific discovery.
“The donor material is meticulously screened in accordance with regulated and high-quality tissue practices,” Van Hove added.
AlloClae has been steadily growing in popularity since it hit the US market last year.
Applications and Effectiveness
The process preserves the tissue’s key structural elements, resulting in a bioactive filler designed to add long-lasting volume and structure anywhere fat naturally exists in the body.
“It actually helps the patient’s own collagen to grow in as well,” Dr. Stephen T. Greenberg, a New York plastic surgeon, said in a YouTube video while performing the procedure.
“It’s no different from situations where a patient needs additional cartilage but doesn’t want to undergo a rib graft … in those cases, we use cadaver cartilage grafts.”
Dr. Sachin M. Shridharani
“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,” he continued.
At Shridharani’s practice, demand has been especially strong for AlloClae injections in the buttocks, breasts and hips.
Cost and Accessibility
Shridharani said the procedures typically start at $10,000, with costs increase depending on the scope of treatment.
“If you want a full breast augmentation, hip dip and some buttock treatment and you have to use hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of cc’s of AlloClae, well, that’s going to cost tens of thousands of dollars,” he said.
The non-invasive filler is gaining popularity for plumping the butt, breasts, hips and other trouble spots.
Regulatory Framework and Safety
From a regulatory standpoint, AlloClae occupies a distinct category. While it is FDA-compliant, it is classified as a human cell and tissue product, allowing it to be sold without full agency approval — unlike traditional injectables such as Botox.
Early evidence suggests the injections are safe and effective. Because AlloClae is made from processed human fat, doctors say it’s highly biocompatible.
“The enhancement is so absolutely natural, it looks like my body with the impact of time erased,” a 61-year-old woman who used AlloClae in a recent BBL, told The Cut.
“Plus, it’s not just that the area that looks fuller, but my skin looks tauter and is no longer crepey.”
Conclusion
The use of cadaver-derived fillers like AlloClae is a growing trend in cosmetic surgery, offering a new option for patients looking to enhance their bodies without the need for traditional liposuction or implants. While the idea may initially seem unsettling, the process is highly regulated and the results are reportedly natural-looking and long-lasting. As with any cosmetic procedure, it’s essential to consult with a qualified and experienced provider to discuss the potential benefits and risks.
FAQs
Q: What is AlloClae?
A: AlloClae is an injectable filler made from donated fat from human cadavers, specially processed for cosmetic use.
Q: What are the benefits of using AlloClae?
A: AlloClae offers a natural-looking and long-lasting solution for enhancing the body, without the need for traditional liposuction or implants.
Q: Is AlloClae safe?
A: Early evidence suggests that AlloClae is safe and effective, with minimal risk of adverse reactions.
Q: How much does AlloClae cost?
A: The cost of AlloClae procedures can vary depending on the scope of treatment, but typically starts at $10,000.
Q: Is AlloClae FDA-approved?
A: AlloClae is FDA-compliant, but as a human cell and tissue product, it is not subject to the same approval process as traditional injectables like Botox.
