Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation

About

Fat transfer breast enlargement, technically called autologous fat transfer, is a plastic surgery technique that uses fat grafting to increase breast volume. Fat cells are harvested from other areas of the body using liposuction, which are then processed and re-injected into the breasts using multiple strategic injection sites. Breast augmentation using fat transfer results in two-way benefits, as liposuction helps slim down a specific problem area of the body, while also increasing breast volume without the need for breast implants.

Fat Transfer vs Implants

A common question Dr. Wallach receives during consultations about breast enhancement surgery is which technique is better: fat transfer or breast implants? The answer is that depends on the goals and needs of the patient.

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With breast implants, you can achieve a dramatic size increase of the breasts, with results that will last many years. However, the surgery for this is more invasive.

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On the other hand, fat transfer cannot provide as big an increase in breast size. It can, however, give permanent results for women who just want a slight boost to their breasts. In addition, the liposuction used to harvest the fat cells for this surgery has an added benefit of helping contour the body by removing excess fat elsewhere, such as around the waist.

Candidates

Women who want to augment their natural breast tissue by about a cup size without the use of breast implants may be good candidates for this procedure. Ideal candidates also should have realistic expectations for the procedure and the recovery process. Breast augmentation, with or without implants, is not meant to correct sagging breasts, whether due to a large size increase or skin laxity, in which case a breast lift would provide much better results.  However, a breast lift and augmentation can be combined.

In general, women seeking any invasive plastic surgery procedure should be in overall good health, be a non-smoker, and have achieved a healthy, stable weight.

The best way to know if you’re eligible for a fat transfer breast augmentation procedure is to schedule a consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Steven Wallach. In a one-on-one consultation, he will give you an examination and provide you with all your options for breast augmentation surgery, as well as other procedures that may best achieve your body contour goals.

Preparation

As with all surgeries, good preparation is key to achieving natural-looking results as well as easing the healing process after the procedure is complete. Dr. Wallach will guide you through the preparation process during your pre-operative consultation, which can include getting a blood test, ceasing or altering certain medication plans, and preparing your post-operative recovery.

For a fat transfer surgical procedure, you will need to arrange for someone to drive you to and from our surgical center as you might still be a bit drowsy by the time you are free to leave our NYC plastic surgery center.

Procedure

Breast augmentation using fat transfer is essentially a three-step process that includes liposuctioning and processing the removed fat before re-injecting it into the breasts.

LIPOSUCTION

Once a patient has been anesthetized, Dr. Wallach will use liposuction to remove fat from a specific problem area somewhere on the body. This can be anywhere you have excess fat and is commonly around the abdomen, such as the love handles. Dr. Wallach makes a tiny incision at the donor site, then inserts the liposuction device’s cannula, which is a thin, hollow tube connected to a vacuum pump or a syringe.

The excess fat is literally suctioned out of the problem area (or areas) and collected. When enough fat cells have been harvested, the next step of the process begins.

PURIFICATION

Before the transferred fat can be injected back into the body, it must first be purified to remove any other bodily fluids that may have also been harvested during liposuction. This can be done by spinning vials of the collected fat in a centrifuge, which separates the fat and fluids into distinct layers, allowing Dr. Wallach to isolate the fat cells for re-injection. Or it can be done by allowing the fat to separate by gravity and collecting the fat in syringes or an aspiration cannister.

INJECTION

After the fat has been purified, Dr. Wallach makes several injections throughout the breasts to ensure even distribution and a natural-looking breast shape. Using these precise injections allows the fat cells harvested from the donor sites to naturally incorporate into the breast tissue to provide a completely natural look and feel while increasing breast size in the process.

Recovery

Although the procedures used in fat transfer breast augmentation are surgical, recovering from a fat grafting procedure is usually easier than healing after breast augmentation with implants. Dr. Wallach will give you a clear timeline for the recovery process after your breast enlargement procedure, including post-operative appointments, when any sutures will be removed, and when you can expect to see the full results.

Each patient is unique and will have varying recovery times and experiences. Typically after a fat transfer procedure, patients will need two or three days of recovery before they can return to work. They will also need to adjust their sleeping habits and will likely need to wear a compression garment and surgical bra to help heal faster and more comfortably.

Results

Breast enhancement using autologous fat transfer will increase breast size to a limited degree, depending on how much fat is able to be extracted, as well as your aesthetic goals. You will notice some change to your breasts and body immediately after the procedure, although it will take time to see the final results. The time needed to see results of breast fat transfer vary by patient, but can take several months until the swelling goes down.

New York City women who undergo fat transfer breast enlargement typically experience an increase of their breasts by about one cup size, although results vary by patient.

Consultation

During a consultation with Dr. Wallach, you can expect three things to happen. First, you will express your concerns and goals for the procedure and how you want your breasts to look ideally. Then Dr. Wallach will perform an examination of your problem areas and collect your medical history, including any previous surgeries you’ve undergone.

Finally, he will offer you a recommended treatment plan, which can include other procedures for breast enlargement or enhancement based on your desires, and create a surgical plan for preparation, the procedure itself, and recovery. This process may be able to be completed in a single consultation or can span several conversations with Dr. Wallach. His goal is your ultimate satisfaction and comfort with the process.

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FAQs