Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation

All fat transfer procedures will have some of the transferred fat die within the first few days, and some of the fat will be retained by the body. This is both expected and safe. Approximately 50-75% of the transferred fat cells can be expected to survive. It is extremely important to adhere to your surgeon’s post-op instructions to maximize the number of fat cells retained after the transfer.

It varies between patients. About 6-12 months after fat transfer, the remaining fat cells should be well-established and the results of your fat transfer should be permanent. It should be noted that the number of fat cells in your body does not vary over time, and when you gain or lose weight, your fat cells increase or decrease in size. This implies that gaining weight may correspond to an increase in breast size, and losing weight may correspond to a decrease in breast size. For this reason, it’s advised to have achieved a healthy and stable target weight before pursuing fat transfer. Similarly, if you plan on having more children, you may want to wait to pursue a fat transfer breast augmentation.

Modern implants are designed to last over 10 years, and in many cases last an entire lifetime. Some patients require a revision surgery sooner than the 10 year mark, and many never require another surgery. Overall, it varies from patient to patient.

Fat grafting is another name for fat transfer surgery, or fat relocation. The procedure involves removing fat from one area of the body with liposuction and then injecting that fat into another area. The fat removal allows for body contouring in one area, and the fat injection allows for an augmentation in another area.

Typically around 200-250 cc of fat is needed to increase one cup size. There is a limit on how much fat can be transferred in a single procedure. If you transfer too much, a sufficient number of the fat cells will not survive and additional complications may arise. An average fat transfer breast augmentation increases the breast size between 1/2 cup to 1 cup. If you wish to increase your breast size naturally beyond 1 cup, you may require multiple fat transfer procedures, otherwise you may have to consider breast implants.

All surgeries have risks, including fat transfer. However, fat transfer surgery is generally regarded as safe if it’s done in the proper setting by an experienced and licensed professional. Surgical risks or concerns will be discussed in more detail during your initial consultation. The procedure will be performed by our experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Dreckmann, in an accredited surgical facility. Patient safety is of utmost importance to us and we take numerous precautions to ensure your surgical experience is a positive one.

Most patients return to their daily activities quickly, within 48 hours. However, it can take several months for breasts to settle into their final shape and to see the final fat transfer results.

Liposuction can be done twice in the same area, but it is up to the discretion of your plastic surgeon to see if you are eligible and that you stand to benefit from a second liposuction surgery in that area.

It is rare that a patient does not have enough fat to perform the procedure, but can happen. Fortunately, fat cells can be sourced from a number of areas on the body. Consider a free consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Stephanie Dreckmann, who can advise you on your surgical options and expected results.

A vast majority of patients are very pleased with their breast fat transfer results and think the procedure is worth it. In fact, on RealSelf, the fat transfer breast augmentation procedure has a 88% “Worth It” rating at the time of writing this article.

Patients go home and are encouraged to walk around on the day of surgery. The recommended time off work is usually 1-2 weeks. Depending on where the fat is transferred, you may have to avoid direct pressure on that area for 6 weeks and avoid strenuous exercise during that time. You’ll need to sleep on your back. A compression garment must be worn for 6 weeks after surgery. It can take several months for breasts to settle into their final shape and to see the final fat transfer results.

It can take at least a month for initial swelling to go down, and another 1 to 2 months for body to stop absorbing any of the transferred fat cells. You’ll probably have a good idea of your results after about 3 months, but your final results may not settle in until 6 months after surgery.

Yes. A fat transfer to breasts with implants can be done to help mitigate rippled skin and implant lines, as well as increase breast volume.

During the liposuction surgery, you will be put to sleep under general anesthesia so that you feel nothing during the procedure.

For the first few days, you will likely experience moderate pain and tenderness. Your surgeon will have provided you with medication to help control the pain.

During the first and second week, the pain should have largely subsided, and most people are capable of returning to work after two weeks, assuming it is not physically strenuous.

One can expect to increase 1/2 cup to 1 cup size in volume in a single fat transfer breast augmentation procedure. This can vary from patient to patient. If you would like a larger increase in volume, you may need multiple fat transfers or implants.