There’s no such thing as a free lunch. No matter which cosmetic procedure you choose, it’s essential that you’re aware of its pros and cons.
Keep reading to get the facts on breast augmentation with fat transfer and decide if it’s right for you.
Fat transfer for breast augmentation
Breast augmentation with fat transfer is a cosmetic procedure in which a board-certified plastic surgeon takes fat from somewhere else in the patient’s body via liposuction. The fat is processed and then inserted in and around the breasts.
The downside to breast augmentation with fat transfer
Fat transfers for breast augmentation are ideal for patients seeking modest results. But implants are the better option if you want to increase breast size more than a cup.
Additionally, patients who want more defined roundness and fullness at the upper pole of the breasts will find breast implants ideal.
The pros
As one of the US’s most popular breast augmentation procedures, fat grafting for increased cup size has many significant upsides.
#1. Reduction in body fat
Your surgeon can harvest fat from many donor areas where it may be hard to lose with diet and exercise alone:
- Thighs
- Hips
- Buttocks
- Abdomen
Many of our patients enjoy this side effect of fat transfer for breast augmentation the most. As a result, our patients often feel more confident after surgery and can wear smaller clothes than before the procedure.
#2. Less invasive than breast implants
Compared to breast implants, augmentation with fat transfer is less invasive. With liposuction, your surgeon only has to make a few small incisions at the donor site.
While this will result in some bruising and swelling, the surgical process of inserting the fat into the breast tissue is far less invasive than getting implants. As a result, recovery time is shorter and less uncomfortable.
#3. Lower risk
While breast implant surgery is a relatively safe procedure, it comes with more risks than fat transfer. Breast implant surgery patients risk capsular contracture, implant malposition, rippling, or even rupture.
Opting for fat transfer for breast augmentation means avoiding these associated risks. Additionally, the body will not reject the patient’s fat. Rejection is a risk with breast implants.
#4. More natural look and feel
Unlike silicone or saline breast implants, enhanced breasts with a fat transfer look and feel more natural.
#5. It’s (mostly) permanent
Fat injected into the body must form a dedicated blood supply to survive. Because of this mechanism, only an estimated 50 to 70 percent of the injected fat will adequately develop the needed blood supply and hold. This is a significant reason why breast augmentation with fat transfer offers less dramatic results than implants.
Sometime between four and six weeks post-operation, the breast size stabilizes. If patients maintain their weight, the breast size will remain the same. Gaining weight will result in a bigger cup size while losing weight will decrease it.
Breast augmentation with fat transfer: Key takeaways
Patients looking for modest, permanent results with fewer risks should explore breast augmentation with fat transfer instead of implants. While implants give patients more size options, implants require more downtime and have more associated risks.
Schedule your free consultation with Crispin Plastic Surgery to discuss your goals and needs for breast augmentation.
The post What is Breast Augmentation with Fat Transfer? Pros and Cons appeared first on Mark Crispin, MD.
