Breast augmentation is one of the most popular types of plastic surgery. Women often want to have their breasts augmented with implants and possibly a breast lift to give them a younger look.
However, not every patient can or wants to have breast implants. In recent years, breast augmentation with fat transfer has grown more popular. This procedure involves using liposuction on the abdomen, legs, or sides and injecting the fat into the breasts.
This is an all-natural procedure that gives a woman a small increase in breast size without putting implants in the chest.
Are you considering fat transfer breast augmentation? Then it’s important to consider all the pros and cons listed below.
Pros
Fat Transfer Is Natural
If you are leery of putting silicone or saline breast implants in your body, fat transfer breast augmentation may appeal to you.
The fat is removed from a body area that may be difficult to slim down, such as the belly. The fat is washed and processed and injected into the breasts. The tissue is your own, so it cannot be rejected.
Some patients worry if a breast implant will rupture or leak into the body. While this doesn’t happen often, a damaged implant must be replaced, which necessitates more surgery.
Also, there are some long-term concerns about whether leaked silicone from an implant can have negative health effects. The FDA says silicone implants are safe, but some patients remain concerned about the risks.
Reshapes The Body
Fat transfer breast augmentation removes fat from a trouble area that may be resistant to diet and exercise. Then, it’s injected into the breasts, so you get to improve the appearance of two or more parts of your body!
Say you have love handles that you cannot eliminate no matter how much you work out. The surgeon can suck that fat out, wash and process it, and put it into your breasts. You will look both slimmer and have larger breasts, which many patients love.
Subtle Increase
Many women want a small size increase that isn’t obvious to most people. For example, the woman may be a management professional in a company and doesn’t want to walk in one day with much larger breasts.
Breast augmentation with fat transfer increases their size, but the effect is more subtle. This is more desirable for many working and older women. Not every patient wants the attention that much larger breasts can bring.
Little Scarring
Fat is injected into the breasts with small incisions, so you don’t need to worry about significant scars.
On the other hand, larger incisions are needed to put breast implants in the chest. They are usually under the breasts and hard to see, but there’s no question you will have more scars.
Rare Complications
Fat transfer doesn’t come with any concerns about long-term risks with implants, such as leakage, rupture, and capsular contracture.
Also, breast implants usually need to be replaced every 10 or 15 years. But fat transfer breast augmentation can last forever and you may not need another procedure.
Cons
This procedure has many benefits, but it is also worth thinking about the downsides:
Size Increase Is Minimal
Fat transfer can only add about one cup size to your breasts. If you want more increase than that, you will need breast implants.
However, many fat transfer patients only want a slight increase anyway. Not every woman wants to have their breasts two or three times bigger than before.
Fat May Be Reabsorbed
When the fat is injected, the body will absorb a certain amount of it. This doesn’t cause harm, but you may wind up with a smaller increase than you want.
That’s why the surgeon will slightly overfill your breasts. So when some of the fat doesn’t survive, you will still get the increase you desire.
Fat Death
Fat necrosis is also known as fat death. If some fat dies, it can leave painful lumps and an uneven appearance. This doesn’t usually happen, but it’s a known possible complication of all fat transfer procedures.
No Breast Lift
If you have regular breast augmentation, you can have a breast lift simultaneously. But fat transfer breast surgery doesn’t give you the lifting effect.
Your breast will continue to age and may sag as the years pass. And having implants can give you more of a lifting effect by itself without a separate breast lift.
More Expensive
Fat transfer breast surgery means you have two procedures at once – breast augmentation and liposuction. Expect the procedure to cost up to $10,000 more than implant surgery.
Fat transfer breast augmentation can be the ideal choice for many patients. When you have your breast augmentation consultation, talk to your surgeon about your goals and concerns. They can tell you whether regular breast augmentation or fat transfer is best.
Request A Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation Consultation
Thinking about fat transfer breast augmentation in Beverly Hills? Dr. Nicholas Lahar is pleased to provide plastic surgery procedures to his Beverly Hills patients. He will discuss your aesthetic goals during your consultation and help you decide if you are a good candidate for this procedure.
References
Bigger Breasts Without Getting Implants. (2021). Accessed at https://www.verywellhealth.com/bigger-breasts-without-getting-implants-pros-cons-2709949
Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation Pros and Cons. (2020). Accessed at https://www.realself.com/surgical/breast-fat-transfer
Understanding The Risks Of Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation. (2021). Accessed at https://www.healthline.com/health/womens-health/fat-transfer-breast-augmentation-risks
