During a fat transfer breast augmentation, cosmetic surgeons use liposuction to remove fat cells from your body. They then inject the purified fat cells into your breasts, increasing the cup size. A fat transfer breast augmentation poses fewer risks than augmentation with breast implants. You may also get a breast lift to firm up breasts that sag.
In this post, we’ll also consider fat transfer cost and fat transfer to breast pros and cons.
How Big Can You Go With Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation
A fat transfer is a procedure that’s been around for quite some time. This surgery takes unwanted fat from areas like the flanks, abdomen, or hips, and transfers it to other places that could use a little boost of volume, like the breasts. This technique provided by board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Alex Mesbahi can improve both your appearance and body confidence!
If you have naturally small or deflated breasts, cosmetic surgery in McLean, VA or Washington, D.C. could be your best solution. So, how many sizes can you expect to go up after a fat transfer to the breast? The professionals at Mesbahi Plastic Surgery discuss breast augmentation and more when you come in for an assessment. Read below to learn what’s possible when it comes to plastic surgery near me.
What’s a fat transfer?
Fat transfer surgery uses your own natural fat to enhance certain areas that have become saggy or deflated over time. A fat transfer is perfect for those who want more volume in the breasts (or other areas) without having to resort to implants. Ideal candidates may be experiencing a loss of fat in the breasts due to aging or life events, like pregnancy and weight loss.
A fat transfer is a great way to enhance breast size before an important event where you want to look your best. Instead of undergoing invasive cosmetic surgery in McLean, VA or Washington, D.C., this technique involves taking fat cells from your own body. Once the fat is harvested, it’s purified and placed in special syringes. Dr. Mesbahi then administered a series of injections to provide a fuller appearance.
How much larger can I go?
It depends! During your breast augmentation consultation at Mesbahi Plastic Surgery, we can assess your natural breast tissue and learn about your goals. We also need to examine areas like the flanks or abdomen, or wherever we’re taking the fat from. The goal is to provide natural results that are proportionate to your body type and frame.
No two patients will be the same when considering a fat transfer to the breast. The biggest mistake women make is to assume they can go as large as they want. However, this is not always the case. Breast size varies from person to person, and the only way to determine your final results is with an assessment from a trusted cosmetic surgeon.
What can I do to improve my results?
You can take steps to improve the outcome of your breast augmentation results. Having a stable weight before surgery will help you achieve a more proportional look, so we recommend maintaining your current healthy lifestyle. You’ll also want to schedule follow-up appointments with Mesbahi Plastic Surgery after your procedure to assess how well you’re healing.
Our office staff will make sure you have all the tools you need to heal comfortably after your fat transfer to breast procedure. This includes providing you with specific post-operative care instructions that will help ensure your surgery goes off without a hitch.
Fat Transfer Cost
The cost for fat transfer to the buttocks varies depending on where you get the procedure done and the surgeon you choose. In the U.S., fat transfer patients will pay anywhere from $4,000 to $15,000.
If you shop abroad, the cost of fat transfer to the buttocks can be significantly less.
For example, in India, you can get the procedure done for less than $3,000, and it’s about the same for Spain and Turkey. Hungary is a little more expensive at $3,400, but still a lot less than the cost of fat transfer to the buttocks in the U.S.
Perhaps the most important consideration, other than the cost of a fat transfer, is finding the right practice and surgeon for the job. You want to find a team with which you are comfortable and can trust, so be sure to explore your options in some depth.
Fat Transfer To Breast Pros And Cons
PROS
Dual Toning Procedure: Sculpt Your Body All Over!
Without a doubt, one of the most noticeable and facilitated advantages of fat augmentation surgery is the removal of fat from your body parts with unwanted fat such as thighs, waist, hips, abdomen, etc.
This great way of body contouring can minimize unwanted fat areas of your body by a few inches, leaving you more confident in your own skin.
Minimal Invasive Surgery
Unlike breast implant surgery, breast augmentation with fat transfer is a far less invasive procedure with smaller incisions (~ 4 mm). Additionally, it is an ideal choice if you have sagging boobs (grade 1 ptosis). Although it requires two procedures: liposuction and injecting the fat into the donor body, it provides easier recovery in less time.
Liposuction involves small incisions, resulting in minimum swelling, bruising, and scarring; you may feel a bit of discomfort post procedure as your body begins to heal itself.
The fat transfer surgery involves injecting fat into the breasts that leaves almost no scarring and results in quick and comfortable recovery.
Relatively Fewer Complications
Breast augmentation with a fat transfer has a better safety record and relatively fewer postoperative complications than breast implants.
Women with breast implants possess the risk of developing capsular contracture, breast implant illness, rupture, etc. These implant-related risks and the high-cost corrective surgeries can be avoided if you opt for a breast augmentation surgery with fat transfer.
Natural and fuller breasts
As compared to breast implants, breasts feel and look more natural as your own body’s fat is injected in you, and that’s why it’s also called “natural breast augmentation surgery with fat transfer.” If you don’t like the idea of putting anything foreign in your body and want to have natural and fuller breasts, then this procedure is an excellent option for you to consider.
CONS
The limited increase in breast size
There may be limitations of an increase in breast size restricted to about one cup size. If you wish to achieve a significant change in breast volume and curvy cleavage, fat transfer surgery may not be a great option for you.
Not every candidate is an ideal candidate
You may not be a good candidate for liposuction if you are lean, because there isn’t enough adipose tissue to use in the fat transfer technique.
Unpredictable fat survival results
A board-certified plastic surgeon carefully performs the procedure, ensuring the maximum fat survival rates when injected into the body. Typically, the survival of fat is about 50-70%, but depending on how everyone’s body reacts, some fat may be absorbed. This may result in less desirable enhancement, and you can end up needing more fat injections. For this, the procedure may need one or several repeats.
Cost
Because you are getting two procedures done, that’s why the overall cost may be more than the breast implant surgery. Further cost may add up when you choose to have a fat injection more than once.
Additional concerns
Unlike breast implants, sagging happens with age, considerable weight loss, pregnancy, etc., which can’t be prevented after a fat transfer procedure.
Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation Risks
A fat transfer breast augmentation is considered to be an overall safe procedure. However, like all types of surgery, it comes with some risks.
The three primary risks of fat transfer breast augmentation include:
Fat necrosis
Fat necrosis is the death of fat cells. It is the primary risk of fat transfer breast augmentation and other types of fat grafting surgeries.
It happens when the fat doesn’t get enough oxygenated blood during the transfer process, which causes fat cells to die. Dead fat cells can form bubbles and lumps in your breast tissue.
This can lead to multiple unpleasant symptoms, such as:
- painful lumps
- oily cystic lumps
- hard calcification lumps
- a mix of cystic and calcification lumps
- redness around the lumps
- bruising around the lumps
- scar tissue
- pain in the surrounding tissue
- skin discoloration
- uneven skin
- changes to breast shape and appearance
The lumps from fat necrosis can resemble breast cancer lumps, so your doctor will likely want to examine them. You can discuss a treatment plan with your doctor once they are certain the lumps are not cancerous.
Sometimes, lumps from fat necrosis resolve on their own. If the lumps aren’t painful or causing symptoms, you might monitor them but not receive any treatment.
On the other hand, lumps that are causing pain or causing any issues may need to be removed. A surgeon will remove fat necrosis lumps if necessary.
The surgeon will numb the area with a local anesthetic and use an ultrasound to find each lump. They’ll then use a needle to dissolve and remove the lumps. It can take several weeks to recover from this procedure.
Infection
The risk of infection from a fat transfer breast augment is relatively low.
The procedure is considered minimally invasive. The incisions to inject the fat are very small. Additionally, the fat being used is from your own body, reducing any risk of rejection or an adverse reaction.
However, all procedures do carry some risk of infection.
It’s a good idea to talk with a doctor before the procedure, especially if you:
- have a weakened immune system
- smoke
- are concerned about the risk of infection
You might want to talk with both the plastic surgeon who will be performing the procedure and your primary care physician, if you have one, to ensure the procedure will be safe for you.
Fat reabsorption
Fat is a natural substance your body uses to operate. Your body will treat the fat transferred to your breasts the same as other bodily fat.
This means your body can reabsorb the fat used in a fat transfer breast augmentation procedure. In fact, it is thought that up to 50 percent of the injected fat is absorbed by your body.
This can make it difficult to get the results you’d like, especially over time. The immediate result after surgery is likely to be much fuller than the long-term outcome of the transfer, which can mean you might not see as much of a size increase as you’d expected.
You can have additional fat transfer breast augmentation procedures for more of an increase, but this may also put you at higher risk for fat necrosis.
Additional risks
Your fat transfer breast augmentation procedure can have some additional risks.
For example, this procedure will likely be done using local anesthesia. For most people, local anesthesia is very low risk and considered very safe.
However, it’s possible to have side effects such as:
- blurry vision
- dizziness
- headaches
- muscle weakness
- numbness
It’s best to talk with the plastic surgeon before the procedure and make sure you have a clear understanding of every step. Let them know about your medical history and any concerns you have.
You might be able to take some steps to minimize your personal risk before your procedure, such as stopping a certain medication, like blood thinners, aspirin, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs), for 1 or 2 weeks before surgery.
What is fat transfer breast augmentation?
Fat transfer breast augmentation is a surgical procedure in which a surgeon takes fat from one part of your body and uses it to make your breasts bigger. The surgeon will remove the fat using liposuction and then inject it into your breasts.
The increase in breast size created by a fat transfer breast augmentation is generally less than the amount people typically associate with breast augmentation.
However, the results are considered very natural-looking and are an appealing option for some people.
Why do people have fat transfer breast augmentation?
Although it is not as well known as traditional breast augmentation, there are many reasons a fat transfer breast augmentation is a popular procedure.
Some reasons people have this procedure are:
- They’d like a natural look and feel.
- The procedure is considered safe overall.
- The procedures uses a person’s own fat tissue.
- The procedure is slimming, due to the removal of fat to use for the augmentation.
- There is minimal scaring compared with other augmentation procedures.
- There is a reduced risk of rippling or thinning.
What’s the outlook for people who’ve had fat transfer breast augmentation?
A fat transfer breast augmentation is meant to be a permanent procedure. You might want to have additional enhancements made later, but your initial results should last without any maintenance or further surgeries.
However, keep in mind that a fat transfer breast augmentation uses your own fat. This fat will behave like any other fat on your body. This means that any major weight loss or gain will impact the results of your procedure.
Sometimes, additional injections can help keep your new breast shape if fat reabsorption occurs, but it might not be possible to keep those results after large shifts in weight.
The takeaway
A fat transfer breast augmentation is a surgical procedure that removes fat from one area of your body and injects it into your breast for a fuller look.
This procedure is considered safe and low risk. However, you should know about a few key risks.
Fat necrosis is the primary risk of fat transfer breast augmentations. It can lead to lumps of dead fat cells forming in your breast tissue that can cause pain and changes in the appearance of your breasts.
Other risks include infection and fat reabsorption.