Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation

When women think of breast augmentation, they typically think of implants. However, not all breast augmentation procedures require implants. For smaller augmentations, transferring fat from one area of the body to your breast is an option you may not be aware of. Fat transfer breast augmentation has the added bonus of contouring and shaping an area of your body that bothers you while augmenting an area that may be smaller than you’d like.

Dr. Poulos and Dr. Hvistendahl are highly trained in performing fat transfer procedures, which essentially combine two procedures in one. First, patients undergo liposuction to collect excess fat from the body, giving patients the opportunity to sculpt and contour their bodies. Then, the doctors inject this extra fat tissue into the breasts for natural augmentation.

What is Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation?

A fat transfer breast augmentation is a more natural alternative to traditional breast augmentation with implants. The procedure uses liposuction to first collect fat from the patient’s body. The fat is typically collected from two to three locations on the body where the patient has excess fat deposits. Some of the most common locations where the fat is gathered include the arms, back, abdomen, flanks, buttocks, and thighs. This may vary depending on the patient’s individual case. The fat is then purified and enriched before being injected into the patient’s breasts. This fat will take to the new area where it is injected, giving the patient long-lasting, natural-looking and feeling results.

Fat Transfer vs. Implants

Traditional breast augmentation surgery uses implants in order to increase the volume of the breasts. The two main types of implants utilized are saline implants and silicone implants.

Saline Implants

Saline implants are filled with sterile salt water so if a saline implant ruptures, it will immediately be visible. This means that patients do not have to worry about silent ruptures or undergoing routine, and costly, MRI scans. There is a tradeoff, however, for the safety and security that saline implants provide. Many women find that saline implants do not look or feel as natural as silicone implants. The sterile water they are filled with does not resemble natural breast tissue.

Silicone Implants

Most women agree that gel-filled silicone implants more closely resemble natural breast tissue. Many years of study have shown no relationship between silicone and autoimmune diseases previously felt to be associated with these implants. Today the majority of implants placed are silicone.

Fat Transfer

A fat transfer breast technique solves both of the main problems posed by implants. Since a fat transfer breast augmentation uses fatty tissue from the patient’s own body, it will look and feel natural – because it is! This technique makes it extremely safe, though there is a very small chance of infection with any procedure. Rupturing or capsular contraction is a non-issue. Since the fat comes from the patient’s own body, there is no chance of the body rejecting the tissue as foreign matter, leading to adverse reactions. Furthermore, there is no need for MRI scans.

Benefits of Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation

Best Candidates

Ideal candidates for fat transfer breast augmentation are healthy women who wish to augment their breasts without implants. Patients must however only want to increase the size of their bust by one or two cup sizes. If a patient needs to address drooping breasts or wants a more dramatic result, implants or a breast lift may be a more appropriate solution.

In order to be considered for fat transfer breast augmentation, patients need enough fat deposits on their body for the fat transfer. Since some of the fat cells will not “take” the doctor has to harvest more than enough fat to be able to account for some cell die-off. Slimmer patients may not be good candidates and may want to consider implants instead.

In general, patients should be in good health. This means they should be nonsmokers and at a stable weight. While patients with slimmer builds may not be good candidates, patients who are obese will not be good candidates either. Patients should already be at or close to their ideal weight. Significant weight fluctuations can affect a patient’s results. The best way to find out if you are a candidate for a fat transfer breast augmentation is by meeting with a board-certified plastic surgeon like Dr. Poulos or Dr. Hvistendahl. The doctors at Plastic Surgery Specialists will be more than happy to work with you to determine the best procedure to help you achieve your desired results. Contact our Marin County offices today to get started.

The Procedure

Recovery

Following surgery, the liposuction and injection sites will be properly bandaged. The patient will also be outfitted with a surgical bra to help the breasts settle into their final position. They will be able to return home following surgery. However, since they will have received anesthesia, they should make prior arrangements for another adult to drive them home from surgery. They should also make sure there is another adult with them at home the first night after surgery.

Patients should take at least three to five days off from work in order to allow their body to properly recover. During this time and for up to three weeks, patients may experience some bruising, bleeding, and discomfort. Patients will be provided with medication to help alleviate any discomfort. Breast augmentation fat transfer patients should plan on coming into our Marin County offices for follow-up examinations at predetermined increments following their procedure.

Results

Not all of the fat cells from the procedure will survive in their newly grafted position. For this reason, the doctors will slightly over-graft the area to make sure that the patient enjoys their final results.

Over the course of three to six months, the fat cells will take to the new location. The cells that do not survive will be naturally processed out of the body. In some cases, the patient may require a second fat transfer procedure in order to attain their desired results. Our doctors will schedule follow-up appointments in order to check in with the patient personally and make sure that they are satisfied with their results.

Consultation

At the time of the consultation, the patient will meet personally with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons, Dr. Poulos or Dr. Hvistendahl. The doctor will ask the patient about their concerns, why they are interested in a fat transfer breast augmentation, and what they hope to achieve from the procedure. He will also ask the patient about their medical history, any medications they take, and surgeries they’ve had in the past.

Then, Dr. Poulos or Dr. Hvistendahl will conduct a thorough examination to determine whether or not the patient would be a good candidate for a fat transfer breast augmentation. At this time, they will determine if the patient has adequate fat deposits to perform the procedure and meet the patient’s goals. Depending on the doctor’s findings, they may determine that the patient is better suited for breast implants. In some cases, they may recommend a combination of both implants and fat transfer. After the examination, our staff will be able to provide the patient with an accurate price estimate for the procedure.

In order to get started and find out whether or not you would benefit from a fat transfer breast augmentation, please contact our office in Marin County and request a consultation.