Dr. Scott Reis has either authored or reviewed and approved this content. Page Updated:
Why Choose Breast Augmentation With Fat Grafting?
Breast augmentation with autologous fat transfer is a minimally-invasive cosmetic surgery, requiring only tiny incisions from the liposuction cannula entry points and thus, leaving the smallest of scars that are virtually undetectable. Patients recover faster with this type of breast enhancement and can often return to their normal activities in just a few days and results are visible immediately. Key benefits of this breast augmentation procedure are that it is more natural, only using the patient’s own body fat, offering the body contouring benefit of liposuction in troublesome areas such as the love handles, in addition to providing larger and fuller breasts without the use of silicone or saline breast implants.
Additionally, breast augmentation with fat grafting can correct mild to moderate breast asymmetry. Those with excess saggy breast tissue often chose to combine breast lift surgery with their fat grafting procedure for higher, firmer, and Trusted Source The use of autologous fat grafts in breast surgery: A literature review Bayram Y, Sezgic M, Karakol P, Bozkurt M, Filinte GT Go to Source more lifted breasts .
Your Houston Breast Augmentation With Fat Grafting Consultation
If you would like to find out if you are an ideal candidate for this procedure, the first step is to make an appointment for a consultation with Dr. Reis where you can review your medical history and your cosmetic goals, and ensure that you have realistic expectations for this particular procedure. You could be a good candidate for natural breast augmentation with fat grafting if you:
- Are in good general health
- Have adequate tissue and fat deposits in at least one area of your body such as the back, abdomen, buttocks, or thighs
- Don’t use nicotine products
- Are seeking a moderate increase in breast size and natural results
How Breast Augmentation With Fat Grafting Works
Breast augmentation with fat grafting is an outpatient procedure performed in one of Dr. Reis’ AAAASF-certified operating rooms under either local anesthesia with IV sedation or general anesthesia. This procedure begins with Dr. Reis harvesting excess fat from one or more predetermined harvest sites on the body—patients usually choose troublesome areas of stubborn fat on the abdomen, thighs, or flanks—using liposuction. He then purifies it, before injecting it into the breasts and sculpting this transferred fat for additional volume with symmetrical and Trusted Source Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation American Society of Plastic Surgeons Go to Source natural-looking contours .
Breast Augmentation With Fat Grafting Risks
As with any surgery, breast augmentation with fat injections does have some risk of complications. While rare in the hands of an experienced surgeon, side effects can include
- Cysts
- Infection
- Fluid collection
- Bleeding
Breast Augmentation With Fat Grafting Recovery
Immediately after your breast augmentation with fat grafting procedure, you will wear a compression garment where the liposuction was performed on donor sites to help your body mold to its new contours. It’s important to avoid direct compression to your breasts to ensure optimal success of the fat transfer. It’s common to experience some discomfort, bruising, and swelling in the first week following surgery, but this subsides quickly and Dr. Reis can help manage any discomfort with medication. Additionally, Dr. Reis requires a post-operative series of manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) massages for all body contouring procedures. MLD helps speed recovery and optimize results. Most patients can return to work approximately one week after a fat grafting procedure.
FAQs About Breast Augmentation With Fat Grafting
How long does fat grafting in the breasts last?
When performed correctly, fat transfer to the breast is long-lasting and for an experienced surgeon like Dr. Reis, results are typically permanent. Because of the biological nature of fat, in general, 30% to 50% of fat will not survive the transfer, and is naturally absorbed by the body during the healing process. Dr. Reis prepares for this by initially overshooting the amount of injected fat grafted to achieve optimal and natural results after healing is complete.
How much fat is needed for breast augmentation with fat grafting?
For most patients, a few hundred milliliters of fat is enough to satisfactorily enhance the cup size and overall silhouette of the breasts. That means even slender patients can be good candidates for natural breast augmentation with fat transfer.
Does breast augmentation with fat transfer leave scars?
Yes, however, because this procedure requires only tiny incisions for liposuction as well as for transferring the fat to the breasts, the scars associated with the breast fat transfer procedure are strategically hidden and virtually unnoticeable.
Can I remove my breast implants and replace them with fat transfer?
Yes, some patients who previously had a breast augmentation with implants choose to remove their implants and have a fat transfer to the breasts instead. Often performed as a two-part procedure, many patients ultimately decided to combine breast implant removal with breast lift surgery along with breast fat transfer.
Will my breasts feel natural after breast augmentation with fat transfer?
Yes, fat transfer results in breasts that feel and look completely natural, since breasts are naturally made of two types of tissue: fat and the glandular or milk producing tissue.
Does breast augmentation with fat grafting interfere with mammograms?
No, fat grafting to the breast will not Trusted Source Radiographic Findings after Breast Augmentation by Autologous Fat Transfer Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Go to Source interfere with mammograms .
Does breast augmentation with fat grafting cause or increase the risk of breast cancer?
No, there is no elevated risk of breast cancer for those that undergo breast augmentation with Trusted Source The use of autologous fat grafts in breast surgery: A literature review Archives of Plastic Surgery Go to Source fat grafting .
Contact Dr. Reis for Breast Augmentation With Fat Grafting in Houston
If you are interested in natural breast augmentation with fat grafting, Dr. Reis has the skill and experience to deliver exceptional results. Contact us today to learn more or to schedule your personal consultation.
1 Bayram Y, Sezgic M, Karakol P, Bozkurt M, Filinte GT. The use of autologous fat grafts in breast surgery: A literature review. Arch Plast Surg. 2019;46(6):498–510. doi:10.5999/aps.2019.00416. Available: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6882697/. Accessed September 18, 2020.
2 American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation. Available at: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/fat-transfer-breast-augmentation. Accessed September 18, 2020.
3 Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Radiographic Findings after Breast Augmentation by Autologous Fat Transfer. Available: https://journals.lww.com/plasreconsurg/Abstract/2011/03000/Radiographic_Findings_after_Breast_Augmentation_by.32.aspx. Accessed June 24, 2022.
4Archives of Plastic Surgery. The use of autologous fat grafts in breast surgery: A literature review. Available: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6882697/#:~:text=Fat%20grafting%20in%20breast%20surgery%20is%20a%20powerful%20tool%20for,for%20future%20breast%20cancer%20development. Accessed June 24, 2022.