Overview
Not every woman wants to have breast implants if they are unhappy with the size and/or shape of their breasts. Newer techniques have helped to refine a process called fat grafting where fat is removed from one part of the body and placed into another. It is used to enhance the size and shape of the breasts and buttocks and is also commonly used for facial rejuvenation in place of fillers. Fat transfer can also be used to help correct subtle breast asymmetry and may be used as an adjunct to breast augmentation. An additional benefit is that liposuction needs to be performed to harvest the fat, allowing you to remove fat from stubborn areas. Having your own fat instead of an implant is very important to many women. Dr. Champaneria will be able to assess how much fat you have available to transfer as well as how much fat your tissue will be able to accept.
Reviews
Breast Fat Transfer Video
Surgical Technique
Dr. Champaneria will see you in the preoperative area and will mark the areas on your body from which you want the fat removed. The areas typically harvested are the arms, abdomen, flank, back, and/or thighs. A small incision is made in the marked areas and a saline solution is injected into the area to help with bruising and to make harvest of the fat easier. Once the fat has been removed and the area has a smooth contour, the fat is then reinjected into the breast through a small incision using a small metal tube. Dr. Champaneria will have told you prior to surgery about how much fat he thinks will fit into your breasts. Once the ideal size and shape has been achieved, the small incisions are closed. Depending on the final desired size, some women may require multiple sessions in order to achieve their ideal results.
During/After Surgery
Breast fat transfer is always done in an accredited surgical center under general anesthesia as an outpatient procedure. The surgery usually takes about 1 to 2 hours. Swelling and bruising are very common after surgery and will slowly resolve over the first 2-3 weeks. You will also experience some discomfort, swelling, and bruising around where the fat was harvested. For the first several weeks, the surgeon will recommend the use of a compression bra to protect the breasts, and compression garments in the areas that received liposuction. Patients may go back to work within 5-7 days and may resume physical activities (such as exercise) between 4-6 weeks post-operative. Results following a breast fat transfer are usually visible immediately after the surgery.
Breast Fat Tansfer FAQs
Larger breast without implants?
The increases in breast size with fat transfer tend to be subtler. There is a limitation with how much fat can be transferred depending on how tight your breast tissue is and how much fat you have available for the procedure.
Will fat transfer lift my breasts?
Fat transfer will not help lift your breast tissue. Dr. Champaneria will be able to tell you during the consultation whether or not fat transfer is able to meet your goals for surgery.
How much fat transfer stays?
Typically after any fat transfer procedure 50-75% of the fat remains in the long term. Some patients who desire a larger increase in breast size may require multiple procedures to obtain their goals.
