Breast Fat Transfer Surgery

Many women who want to enhance their breasts are now choosing breast fat transfer as a natural alternative to getting breast implants.

A breast fat transfer augmentation is a cutting-edge technique that can give you a fuller, more attractive chest without the need for implants. Breast fat transfer uses the patient's own fat cells instead of unnatural materials.

As an added benefit of breast fat transfer, liposuction is used to harvest the fat. This fat is removed from the thighs, abdomen, buttocks or another area with excess fat that has not responded to diet and exercise, creating a slimming effect.

Although fat transfers have a long history in the medical field and are becoming an increasingly more common method for breast augmentation, the procedure is not without risk. As is true when considering any medical procedure, you must seek out information and make sure you understand the pros and cons. This page will explain how the fat transfer breast augmentation procedure works, who is a good candidate and what to expect after the procedure.

Setting Up a Breast Fat Transfer Consultation

The only way to know if a fat transfer to the breast is the right breast augmentation procedure for you is to talk with a qualified plastic surgeon or a breast fat transfer specialist. We work hard to connect you with the top breast fat transfer doctors in your area. Search our breast fat transfer surgeon locator to find a local doctor and set up a consultation. Be sure to ask your doctor any questions you have about fat transfers so you will know what to expect before, during and after your breast fat transfer procedure.

Breast Fat Transfer Basics

A fat transfer breast augmentation is generally performed by a plastic surgeon or breast fat transfer specialists. The procedure will likely take place at your breast fat transfer surgeon's office but can also take place at a hospital or outpatient center. A fat transfer takes from two to five hours, depending on the breast fat transfer technique used and how much fat is being grafted. Local or general anesthesia may be used. Talk to your doctor about your sedation options.

The breast fat transfer procedure takes longer than implant surgery because the surgeon injects the fat in several steps, inserting it into different layers in the breast. This way, the surgeon controls where the fat rests and can contour the breast to develop an attractive shape.

The techniques used in fat transfers vary, and there is no industry standard. Therefore, it's important to choose a qualified breast fat transfer doctor that you trust.

Make sure you thoroughly discuss the breast fat transfer procedures and techniques your doctor uses so you can be comfortable with your decision. Many doctors are developing innovative new techniques, so you should be sure to ask questions and understand the procedure before making your decision.

Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation Procedure

The fat transfer procedure involves three steps:

• Removing the fat to be transferred using liposuction
• Processing the fat for optimal survival after the transfer
• Injecting the fat into the breast and shaping it

The fat cells are first removed from the area decided upon beforehand. Often this is the buttocks, abdomen, or thighs-common areas that contain excess fat and can be slimmed and toned by the removal of fat. To remove the fat, the doctor uses liposuction. For this procedure, a cannula, or thin tube, is used to suck out the fat. Next, the breast fat transfer specialist processes the fat, using techniques designed to preserve the fat and ensure a high percentage of fat survives the injection.

Finally, the doctor injects the fat into the breast through very small incisions. The doctor may inject small amounts of fat into different parts of the breast to create a full, natural look. In fact, one benefit of a fat transfer is that the doctor can inject fat into specific parts of the breast that require shaping.

After the fat is injected, it may take several months completely heal from breast fat transfer, but you should see results right away.

In some cases doctors have computer programs that can simulate the results that can be obtain with surgery.

Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation Innovations

One of the challenges of fat transfers is that some of the fat will die before it attaches to the breast tissue. Fat that does not survive will not enhance the breast but will be reabsorbed into the body. Because of this, doctors are continually developing new techniques for processing fat cells, and advances in technology are leading to higher rates of survival. Some techniques use a device that spins the fat, and some doctors use fat stem cells to improve fat survival rates. To make up for fat cells that do not survive, the doctor may inject extra fat.

Am I a Good candidate for a Breast Fat Transfer?

You are likely a candidate for a breast fat transfer if you have a medical condition that has affected the size or shape of your breasts or if you are simply dissatisfied with your breasts and would like to create a fuller, more shapely chest.

You are likely a candidate if you desire to increase your breast volume by one or two cup sizes.

Women choose to have breast fat transfer for a variety of reasons, including:

• Reconstruction of the breast due to mastectomy or the removal of lumps
• Reconstruction of a collapsed breast implant
• Correcting the breasts due to genetic problems, such as tuberous breasts or Polands Syndrome, conditions that cause misshapen or underdeveloped breasts
• Increasing self-confidence and self-esteem by increasing cup size
• Improving the look of the breast after the effects of motherhood or weight loss
• Improving the look of breasts that have lost volume due to the effects of aging
• To correct and improve the breasts after breast implant removal

Only a doctor can determine for certain if a breast fat transfer augmentation is right for you. Candidacy will depend on your health and medical history. You should meet with a qualified breast fat transfer specialist who will discuss your options, explain the pros and cons of a fat transfer breast augmentation and ask you relevant questions about your medical history. The first step is setting up a consultation by searching our physician locator.

Before Your Breast Fat Transfer

During your breast fat transfer consultation with your doctor, you should ask any questions you have and discuss the fat transfer procedure in detail. Make sure you understand the procedure, including its limitations as well as its benefits. Communicate your expectations to your doctor to ensure that they are realistic. Ask about the possible risks and complications that could occur. You should let your doctor know if you are currently taking any medications or if you suffer or have suffered from any medical conditions.

You must also make sure you understand the liposuction procedure that is used to harvest the fat, including the type of technique your doctor uses. Before your fat transfer, you and your doctor will discuss what part of your body you would like the fat harvested from.

Your doctor's office may give you instructions to follow to prepare for your breast fat transfer procedure. Be sure to follow them carefully and ask if you have any questions.

Failure to follow these instructions may increase the risks during your breast fat transfer procedure.

After Your Breast Fat Transfer

You may be able to return to work in as soon as 48 hours and resume most of your normal activities right away after a breast fat transfer.

After your fat transfer, your doctor will go over instructions for your recovery. You may experience some bruising and discomfort from the incisions where the fat was injected and from the liposuction site. Over-the-counter medications should take care of your pain, but you can discuss your options with your doctor.

Learn more by reading our page about what to expect after your breast fat transfer.

Breast Fat Transfer Cost

The total costs of breast fat transfers vary widely. The breast fat transfer cost averages from $5,000 to $15,000.

Your insurance plan may cover all or part of the procedure if your fat transfer is intended to correct a medical problem or if it is performed after a mastectomy. If you are seeking a fat transfer for cosmetic reasons, you may be able to work out a financing plan with your doctor or an outside medical financing company.

Many different factors affect the cost of a breast fat transfer. Some of these include:

• The experience, training and skill of your doctor
• The type of procedure you will be receiving
• The region of the country where you will have the procedure
• The fees associated with the office or hospital where you will have your procedure
• The cost of anesthesia
• The amount of fat being transferred

You can read more about the costs associated with a breast fat transfer on our Costs page.

Liposuction and Breast Fat Transfer

Liposuction is used to harvest fat cells than then will be used during a breast fat transfer procedure.

Liposuction is the procedure that your doctor will use to harvest the fat cells used in your breast augmentation. Liposuction is a common plastic surgery procedure used to remove unwanted fat and slim and tone the body. Advances in technology have made liposuction a safe and effective procedure for improving a person's appearance.

To perform liposuction, the doctor inserts a cannula, or thin tube, into an area of the body that has excess fat. The fat that is removed through the cannula can then be used to augment or repair another part of the body, such as the buttocks, breasts or wrinkles and creases in the face. Recent technological developments include laser-assisted and water-assisted liposuction, as well as exploring the use of fat stem cells in improving the effectiveness of fat injections.