Women may sometimes desire to change the shape and size of their breasts. Some women seek to have breast augmentation to achieve their desired goals. Two common methods used are breast augmentation with implants or fat transfer breast augmentation.
There is no right or wrong choice, and either option can work well depending on what your body goals may be. Breast augmentation with implants is a good option for women who seek a greater than 1 cup size increase in their breast size. However, those who receive implants can face several risks such as implant rupture, capsular contracture, rippling, and more. Due to these factors, more and more patients are opting for a more natural method of breast augmentation: Fat transfer or autologous fat grafting.
Fat transfer breast augmentation uses a patient’s own fat harvested from another part of the body and injected into the chest area. The result of autologous fat grafting is valued for its more natural look and feel, and has been shown to boost a woman’s self-confidence after a mastectomy.
Benefits of Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation
Compared to the traditional augmentation procedures using silicone or saline implants, fat transfer breast augmentation offers its own set of benefits that a lot of women may enjoy such as:
Removal of excess fat via liposuction
Surgeons will use an area of your body (usually the abdomen) to source the fat cells needed for the procedure, making the donor site slimmer in the process.
No foreign material involved
Since your own fat is used, fat transfer breast augmentation eliminates complications that typically arise from having silicone or saline implants such as rupture, rippling or wrinkling, and capsular contracture.
A more natural look and feel
Once the fat cells are harvested, they will be purified and added to your breasts. This produces a subtle increase in volume, giving your breasts a natural appearance and feel.
Virtually no scarring
In breast augmentation using implants, the incision made during the procedure is 3-6cm in length. Fat transfer breast augmentation results in virtually no scarring as the body fat is injected into the breast only through a small needle. As fat transfer breast augmentation is less invasive, this also makes your healing from the procedure much quicker compared to implant surgery.
Is Fat Grafting a Replacement for Breast Implants?
Fat grafting is not meant to replace breast implants. The choice between the two will depend on what your body goals are. If you wish to increase your breast size by 1 or more cups, silicone or saline implants may suit you better. With implants, many women can achieve a significant increase in breast size.
On the other hand, if you want only a small additional volume to your breasts (about half to one cup size bigger), then fat grafting may be a more practical option for you. Fat transfer is also very safe since the patient’s tissues are used in the procedure, and it gives you more natural-looking results in a shorter recovery time.
However, fat transfer can result in a less predictable outcome as not all injected fat will last long term. Because of this, you may have multiple fat transfer procedures to give you your desired results. Ultimately, consulting your surgeon and being more certain about your body goals can help you in making the right decision for you.
How Long Do the Results of a Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation Last?
While the results of any procedure may vary from patient to patient, maintaining a stable weight is one of the key factors in ensuring the lasting results of a fat transfer breast augmentation.
Silicone and saline implants do not change in size with fluctuations in weight. As a result, breast augmentation with implants is less affected by weight fluctuations. On the other hand, fat cells used in a fat transfer procedure can increase or decrease in size depending on the significant changes in your weight.
Because of this, patients need to ensure that they are in good health and have a stable weight. Life changes, such as childbirth and aging can have an impact on the results, so we recommend talking to your surgeon further about this.
Am I a Candidate for Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation?
Since fat transfer breast augmentation has its own limitations, not everyone is an ideal candidate for the procedure. Women may always opt for implants to obtain a more dramatic augmentation result. However, if your body goal gears towards more natural-looking results through a fat transfer breast augmentation, here are some factors that make you an ideal candidate for the procedure:
- You are in good overall health
- You have manageable expectations for its results
- You desire only half to 1 cup increase
- You have sufficient excess fat from other body parts
Whether you are considering the new fat transfer breast augmentation or the traditional breast augmentation with implants, you may consult with me at Midwest Breast & Aesthetic Surgery clinic for guidance on which breast reconstruction option would be best for you. We recommend that either procedure, breast augmentation with implants or fat grafting breast augmentation, be performed by a board-certified and experienced surgeon who can guarantee their safety throughout the procedure.
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