Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation

A recent NY Times article reported that breast augmentation via fat transfer can now be considered a safe, effective means of enlarging the breasts. Do you agree? Would you offer this method of natural breast augmentation option to your patients?

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Lipotransfer - Fat transfer to the breast is not the same as breast implants

Breast augmentation with implants will form the breast into a certain look that is specific to implants. Because of the common appreciation for this "look", many women now seek that particular appearance as desirable and attractive. Other women, who do not wish for a large size change, but prefer a smaller size and shape adjustment without an operated appearance, now have an additional option: transfer their own fat to improve breast shape and increase breast size... more

Fat is ideal for breast augmentation

More and more data is accumulating that fat transfer, when properly performed is as safe if not safer than breast implants. With regard to mammography and breast cancer detection, cysts, lumps etc, again the data accumulating is that with good technique these problems can be minimized. With regard to long term breast cancer risk, there is also no data thus far to show increased risk in patients who have had fat grafting. Fat grafting in the breasts now has a track record going back 25 years... more

Fat transfer for breast augmentation: it works but should you choose that option

Hello, Fat transfer for breast augmentation works but there are three main issues that you should consider before deciding to go forward: 1) Since there is not yet an agreement about mammography among radiologists regarding fat transfer in the breast would you be comfortable with the idea that there might be some question about the mammagraphy results down the road? 2) Fat grafting breast augmentation is often more expensive than traditional implant augmentation since more work... more

Breast Augmentation with Fat Injection and Fat Grafts

Breast augmentation with fat transfer is currently under much research and debate in the United States and abroad. For years, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons had cautioned its members against performing breast augmentation with fat injections because of fears that the injected fat could interfere with mammograms, inhibit future breast cancer detection, and possibly stimulate breast cancer development. Recently, after finding a lack of scientific data to support... more

Fat injection for breast augmentation produces a different look than implants

Fat injection is probably safe for breast augmentation, but there are theoretical risks for interfering with mammography and breast cancer detection in general, which is important since breast cancer is common. Some scientists have also expressed concern that the fat cells could increase cancer rates. Another consideration is that fat survival is unpredictable, so fat injection may have to be repeated. Perhaps most importantly, patients should consider that breast enlargement with fat... more

FAT GRAFTING WORKS FOR BREAST AUGMENTATION - GAINING MORE ACCEPTANCE

This still is a controversial topic in plastic surgery, as no official regulating body is willing to endorse the procedure at the moment. As a board certified plastic surgeon who practices this technique, I believe that the procedure can be carried out very safely, but as to the long term effects of fat grafting on breast tissue - we do not know all the answers. Some of the potential complications regarding fat transfer to the breast are: inflammatory... more

Fat Transfer to breasts is a bad idea

We have been hearing more and more about this. The results are usually moderate, (one cup size). Historically, fat has been tried to augment the breast. The problem is that it there are an large percentage of untoward events, (cysts, fat necrosis, lumps, etc.). Most importantly fat will often calcify in the breast. Calcifications on mammogram are cancer until proven otherwise. In the past women have received biopsies or worse that they did not need to have. Up until recently the... more

Breast Augmentation using your own fat- Be careful.

As you can see by the number of responses to this question, it's a 'hot topic' in Plastic Surgery. Just like the more common procedure where your own fat is transferred to the buttocks, we have learned that 'fat transfer' is a successful procedure when performed properly. However, there are concerns regarding the breast that don't really exist anywhere else on the body- most importantly the fact that cancer in the breast is not uncommon and we don't... more

Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation

This is a hot new topic in plastic surgery and it is something that, if it is done correctly, is an operative procedure that may have some merit in selected patients that refuse to have implants and only want to be one size larger or one size change. However, it is still only an evolving and emerging technology and is not considered the standard of care for breast augmentation. I think it may have a role in a selected group of patients and certainly is done commonly in secondary breast... more

Rod J. Rohrich, MD

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Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Fat Transfer to Breasts

The techniques for fat grafting to the breast are promising, but still developing. I would not recommend fat grafting for breast augmentation unless you fully understand the risks and trade-offs, including unreliability of volume, possible asymmetry, risk of cyst formation, proper preparation and possibility of further surgery. For most women (and their surgeons) it is not yet a practical alternative to breast implant augmentation.