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What is Fat Transfer to the Breast?

Fat Transfer to Breast, also known as Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation or Natural Breast Augmentation, is a surgical procedure involving fat being extracted from various areas of your body, usually the abdomen, thighs and flanks, using Liposuction. This fat is then processed and injected into the breasts to enhance their size and shape. It is a natural alternative to breast implants, with results that feel and look more like your own tissue. 

The procedure is suitable for patients looking for a subtle or modest increase in breast size. It's essential to understand that not all the transferred fat survives, and you may require multiple sessions to achieve your desired results. Candidates for Fat Transfer to Breast should have sufficient donor fat and realistic expectations about the outcome of the procedure. If you are interested in Fat Transfer to Breast, you can speak with one of our expert consultant surgeons to discuss your concerns and the options available from this surgery.


Is Fat Transfer to the Breasts Safe?

Fat Transfer to Breast is considered safe when performed by a qualified and experienced plastic surgeon. In many cases it is understood to have fewer risks than breast implants as no foreign object is being inserted into the body. However, like any surgical procedure, it carries some risks and potential complications.

To ensure your safety, you should undergo a comprehensive evaluation to determine if you are a suitable candidate for Fat Transfer to Breast. This evaluation will take into account factors such as your overall health, current breast size and shape, as well as your expectations for the procedure.

During a consultation with a specialist surgeon, they will discuss the potential complications that can occur during a Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation as well as during the recovery period. It is important to understand the risks and complications that may arise and how they can affect your surgery, so that you are fully prepared, but also so you are aware of any signs you need to be looking for in case a problem should occur.


What are the Risks of a Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation?

Some of the potential Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation risks include fat necrosis, infection, calcification, and scarring.

Fat Necrosis and Calcification

Fat necrosis is the death of fat cells in the body. Sometimes, the transferred fat tissue may not get enough oxygenated blood supply in its new location, leading to breast fat necrosis. This can cause firm lumps or areas of hardness within the breast tissue, known as Calcification. 

If lumps from fat necrosis are not causing pain or symptoms, they may resolve on their own, and you can simply monitor them without requiring treatment. If the lumps are causing pain or other issues, they may need to be treated. In such cases, a surgeon may recommend removing the lumps associated with fat necrosis to alleviate symptoms and ensure your well-being. It is important to remember that it is normal for your body to naturally absorb up to 50% of the injected fat following your surgery. This is not necessarily a sign of fat necrosis.

While these calcified fat deposits are typically harmless, they may be detectable on mammograms and could potentially cause confusion during breast cancer screening. When undergoing any breast cancer screening, it is important to discuss any surgeries you have had with the oncology team so they are aware of what may appear on the scan results.

Infection

Any surgical procedure carries a risk of infection. Although precautions are taken to maintain a sterile environment during surgery, infection can occur post-operatively. Some symptoms you may experience include redness, swelling, warmth, or discharge from the incision sites.

Cadogan Clinic has a surgical infection rate of less than 1%. Our surgeons take the risk of infection very seriously and will take all possible steps to prevent infection.

Scarring

One of the inevitable Breast Fat Transfer side effects includes a degree of scarring. The procedure involves smaller incisions than traditional Breast Augmentation but Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation scars are impossible to avoid. Expert surgeons place incisions strategically so they're less visible and fade over time.

Before undergoing Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation, it's essential to discuss these potential risks and complications with a qualified plastic surgeon. Following all pre-operative and post-operative instructions you can minimise the likelihood of complications.


What are the Benefits of Fat Transfer to Breast?

Fat Transfer to Breasts can provide more natural results with a less invasive procedure than traditional Breast Augmentation. It can also contour other areas of your body where fat is extracted from.

Natural Look and Feel

Fat Transfer provides a more natural breast augmentation with a softer feel compared to implants. As the fat used is extracted from the patient's own body, it can integrate seamlessly with existing breast tissue. 

Minimally Invasive

Fat Transfer requires smaller incisions than breast augmentation procedures, meaning you have less visible scars that may fade more quickly. This less invasive procedure also allows for a faster healing process.

Dual Benefit 

Fat Transfer to Breasts procedures extract fat from other areas of your body, such as the abdomen, thighs, or flanks, and inject it into your breasts. This results in a dual benefit as you can enhance the size and shape of your breasts and remove unwanted fat from other areas of your body in one procedure. Whilst it's not primarily a fat loss treatment, it can contour areas of your body where there's enough donor fat to be extracted.

Reduced Risk of Complications 

Fat Transfer uses your own tissue, meaning there's a reduced risk of complications from implant rupture, capsular contracture, or allergic reactions to foreign objects. 

Long-Lasting Results

Once the transferred fat establishes a blood supply, it becomes a permanent part of the breast tissue. Although you may lose some initial volume in the breasts (it is normal to lose up to 50% of the fat that has been injected), the remaining fat typically maintains the breast size over time, providing long-lasting results.


What are the Alternatives to Fat Transfer to Breast?

There are several alternatives to Fat Transfer to Breast, including Breast Implants, Breast Lifts, and non-surgical options.

Breast Implants

Breast Implant procedures involve surgically inserting saline or silicone implants in the breasts to increase breast size and improve shape. This procedure is more suitable for those seeking a more significant enhancement or who do not have sufficient donor fat for transfer. Implants can last for 10-15 years or more, but they require invasive surgery and come with associated risks, such as implant rupture and capsular contracture.

Breast Lift

A Breast Lift, also known as Mastopexy, is a surgical option for those concerned with sagging rather than small breasts as it lifts and rejuvenates the breasts. Although a Breast Lift does not increase breast size, it can restore firmness and contour without the need for implants or Fat Transfer. During the procedure, a plastic surgeon removes excess skin and reshapes breast tissue to raise the breasts, addressing sagging breasts and downward-pointing nipples. 

It's important to note that a Breast Lift can be performed combined with Breast Augmentation (known as an Augmented Mastopexy) or Breast Reduction procedures, depending on individual needs and goals.

Non-Surgical Breast Enhancement

Non-surgical methods, such as breast enhancement creams, pills, or vacuum suction devices claim to increase breast size without surgery. However, their efficacy and safety are often debated, and results may vary. These methods typically involve daily application or use over an extended period, with potential risks and limitations. At Cadogan Clinic, our surgeons do not recommend these options, as the results are never as satisfactory as the surgical options.


FAQs

In the UK, the cost of surgical Fat Transfer typically ranges between £5,000 and £8,000. The price varies so much due to the expertise of your surgeon, how extensive the procedure is, and where you're having the procedure performed. 

Consulting with one of our plastic surgeons to discuss your specific needs and budget will help you to make the right decision.

If you wish to have a modest increase in breast size, a Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation may be a suitable option. If you're seeking a more significant increase in size, breast implants would provide more drastic results. Consult with one of our surgeons to discuss your goals and individual circumstances to choose the procedure that's right for you.

One of the primary benefits is that it uses your body's fat cells which reduces the chance of allergic reactions, rejections, and implant-related complications. This also results in a more natural result for women seeking subtle enhancements in the size and shape of their breasts. It requires fewer incisions, meaning less downtime and less visible scars that can fade over time compared to a Breast Implant procedure. 

A significant downside is that this procedure requires a certain amount of donor fat, meaning it may not be feasible for those with insufficient fat deposits. The results can also vary from person to person due to how the body can absorb the injected fat in the breasts at different rates. Some people may notice a subtle change and others may find that too much of the fat has been reabsorbed and they need repeat treatments.

Treatments mentioned in this article



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