NEW DELHI: A controversial cosmetic trend is gaining traction in the United States, where fat derived from human cadavers is being injected into the body to create an hourglass figure. Marketed under the brand name AlloClaz by Tiger Aesthetics, the procedure is being promoted as an alternative to traditional fat-transfer surgeries such as the Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL).
The trend recently drew attention after a 34-year-old Manhattan-based finance professional revealed that she spent nearly Rs 40 lakh on the procedure to enhance her hips and buttocks, fill hip dips, and correct irregularities from a previous liposuction. Speaking to The New York Post, she described the treatment as “ethically sourced,” arguing that donated human tissue is already widely used in medical settings. “It’s highly regulated and ethically sourced. It’s like we’re recycling,” she said.
HOW THE PROCEDURE WORKS
The fat used in AlloClaz procedures is obtained from registered organ and tissue donors who have donated their bodies to science. After extraction, the tissue undergoes extensive sterilisation and processing. All living cells and DNA are removed, leaving behind what is known as an acellular fat matrix, designed to minimise the risk of immune rejection.
Plastic surgeons say the procedure is particularly popular among patients who are too lean for traditional fat grafting or those who no longer have sufficient fat after prior liposuction. It has also gained popularity among people who have experienced rapid weight loss due to medications such as Ozempic and Mounjaro, which can leave the body with volume loss in areas like the hips and buttocks.
Unlike conventional cosmetic surgeries, cadaver-fat injections are often performed in-office without general anaesthesia. The filler is used to enhance the buttocks, smooth hip dips, and add volume to areas such as the breasts or shoulders. According to surgeons quoted by Business Insider, most procedures take less than an hour.
COST AND RISKS
The price of these procedures varies widely, ranging from $10,000 to $100,000, depending on how much material is injected. However, medical professionals warn that the risks remain significant. Potential complications include fat necrosis (hard lumps of dead tissue), infection, and fat embolism if the material is accidentally injected into blood vessels.
Some surgeons have also raised concerns about injecting biological material into breast tissue, noting that it could interfere with mammograms or complicate cancer screenings by creating microcalcifications.
ETHICAL QUESTIONS
Beyond medical risks, the trend has triggered ethical debate. Critics question whether donors fully consented to having their tissue used for elective cosmetic enhancements rather than life-saving medical treatments. While companies maintain that sourcing is ethical and regulated, skeptics argue that the growing commercialisation of human tissue for aesthetic purposes raises serious moral and regulatory concerns.
As demand for minimally invasive body sculpting grows, the use of cadaver-derived fillers sits at the uneasy intersection of innovation, luxury, and ethics—forcing the cosmetic industry to confront where it should draw the line.