If you have been considering a breast enhancement procedure but are unsure if implants are right for you, you might consider a fat transfer breast augmentation. Fat transfer breast enlargement has been growing in popularity in recent years and has earned the nickname “the natural boob job.” Mainly because the procedure offers women a more modest breast size increase (up to two cup sizes) that has a more natural look and feel than traditional silicone breast implants.
Fat transfer augmentation, also known as fat grafting, involves taking fat from one area of the body with extra fat stores such as the tummy, thighs, or love handles and transferring it to the breasts for reshaping and enlargement. It is a minimally invasive, outpatient procedure.
How does a Fat-Transfer Breast Augmentation Work?
A Board Certified Plastic surgeon will use liposuction to remove fat from another part of your body, purify the fat, and then inject it into the breasts. The extracted fat cells must be carefully processed and washed with antibiotics for purification before it can be injected into the breast tissue. Once the surgeon injects the extracted fat cells, they will reincorporate into the adipose (fat) tissue of the breasts, increasing the size using the body’s own fat.
Fat grafting requires a plastic surgeon in Dallas with experience and good technique for the best results because the fat cells must be free from impurities and transferred quickly to the breasts to prevent the loss of cells. The longer the fat cells remain outside the body, the greater the risk they will die from lack of blood supply. Your surgeon will need to be efficient to try to maximize the number of fat cells preserved during the procedure. There is a 50 – 90% rate of fat graft survival according to published graft retention rates. Dr Burns has extensive experience with fat graft surgeries and limits the amount of time the extracted fat cells remain outside the body for enhanced results.
Who Should Consider Fat Grafting for Breast Enlargement?
Breast fat transfer procedures are a good option for many women, but there are certain scenarios when they are particularly beneficial. For example, women whose breasts have changed as a result of weight loss or pregnancy tend to be wonderful candidates for a fat transfer breast enlargement as it can restore the fullness of the breasts, increase roundness, and help you go up to two cup sizes larger. For women who don’t want new breasts—they just want the breasts they had before X, Y, or Z happened—fat transfer breast procedures are the perfect option!
Other considerations for fat-transfer breast augmentation candidates include your level of health, skin elasticity, muscle tone, illness, and smoking. These procedures have the best outcomes in patients who are at a healthy weight with relative fitness and no serious health conditions such as any condition requiring blood-thinning medications. Women who smoke may not see the same results as non-smokers because of the effect of tobacco smoking on recovery and overall health. If you can quit smoking for a long enough period before, during, and after the procedure, then it may be a possibility. Another thing to consider is whether you have enough fat to be transferred for the breast augmentation.
What is the Recovery Period for Fat-Transfer Procedure?
Dr Burns is a plastic surgeon in Dallas who has done hundreds of fat transfer breast augmentation procedures, and he is skilled at precision for minimal pain and fast recovery. Most women can return to work within a week, so you don’t have to worry about missing too much work if you schedule the procedure near the weekend. After two to three weeks, you can return to more strenuous activity and exercise. There may be some soreness and swelling in the beginning, but all the swelling should be gone within several weeks.
Is a Fat-Transfer Breast Enlargement Better than Implants?
For some women, a fat transfer breast enlargement is a better option than implant cosmetic surgery. Particularly women who don’t like the idea of having something artificial inserted into their bodies since the lipo injection harvests fat cells from your own body, making it a completely natural cosmetic procedure. There are several types of synthetic implant filling materials including saline solution, silicone gel, structured and composite fillers that are cased within silicone shells, which are inserted into the body. If the idea of having a synthetic material surgically inserted into your body gives you the creeps, then you are better off choosing a fat transfer breast augmentation.
Fat transfer is also a better option for women who want a subtle enhancement for fuller, natural-looking breasts without running the risk of “going too big” with implants. Additionally, there are some body types and shapes that are especially suited to a fat transfer procedure compared to implants, particularly if you have a smaller frame or you exercise a lot and worry implants would look too unreal with your figure. If you want to look more natural, fat transfer is the way to go.
Fat transfer breast augmentation is essentially scarless; both in terms of the liposuction harvesting sites and the breast insertion site. The fat is injected without having to make an incision in the breast tissue at all! It is a relatively short outpatient procedure, taking around 2 hours.
Finally, many women prefer the idea of a fat-transfer breast procedure because they get a two-for-one deal! You get to remove fat from trouble areas such as the tummy, love handles, or thighs to thin out those stubborn spots and move it to the part of your body where you would prefer to store that extra fat naturally! It’s truly a sculptural cosmetic procedure that produces impressive results for women to boost their confidence and self-image.
If you would like to learn more about a fat transfer breast augmentation with Dallas plastic surgeon, Dr Burns, contact us to set up a complimentary consultation in person or online!