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Fat Grafting with Stem Cells vs. Breast Implants

After much research into both silicone/saline implants,I just wasn't comfortable with the complication rate of either,namely within five years of implant more than 40% of patients require a second. Also,reading many personal stories of women who had explant surgery due to various health problems including ruptured or leaking implants,especially pics of saline implants black with mold from faulty valves was disturbing. Fat grafting with stem cells sounds great,but very costly and not many ps do?

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20 Doctor Answers | Asked by Washington DC1566 in Maryland

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Fat grafting for breast augmentation

We have started performing breast augmentation with fat grating over the preceding year with excellent results and satisfied patients in the limited and informed patients we have worked with thus far. There is a learning curve and this is being performed in a limited number of centers in theuntied states. see video

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

32 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Breast augmentation via fat grafting is possible, but has its own concerns.

The published data on reoperation rates for implants based on the FDA core studies is 15% at 3 years for primary augmentation patients. I do not know where you got the 40% reoperation rate, but this in incorrect. As for fat grafting, it is definitely possible, however it has its own drawbacks. Here are some basics: You need to have modest expectations as to increase in breast size. Realistically, a cup size is about all one can expect. You need to have enough fat to harvest in... more

David Bogue, MD

6 reviews

Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

www.drbogue.com

Stem cell instead of breast implants

Fat grafting to the breasts can be done but the results are really diappointing. The fat usually dissolves with time and the amount of enlargement is about one cup size. In my experience, the chances of re-operation with silicone implants is very small. I have been doing these for over 15years and I would be surprised if I have re-operated on 5% of my patients. They have proven to be safe and the manufacturers have improved the silicone implants so the chances of hardening or capsular... more

Stem cell augmentation

You are right on both scores.The procedure is very,very expensive and few doctors do it.One concern is what happens to the fat that doesn't take? Can this cause suspicious calcifications? More needs to be done and more studies conducted.

Fat Grafting - Stem Cells. Good alternative

Fat grafting to the breast is a very reasonable alternative for the right patient. There is a volume limitation with fat injections to the breast that may make implants more appropriate. However, fat grafting can provide volume and it can be used to enhance specific areas of the breast. We have been using fat grafting since 1995 with predictable results and terrific patient satisfaction. It has become accepted for the breast in the last several years. Common uses... more

Fat Grafting for Breast Augmentation

A forty percent (40%) complication rate for primary breast augmentation? Can you quote the source of this? When the FDA put a freeze on silicone breast augmentation surgery in the early 1990s, one of the issues they highlighted was a "high" reoperation rate that plastic surgeons and implant manufacturers AT THAT TIME could not completely explain...however, since that time, a majority of the reoperative cases in studies since that time, have pointed to patient driven indications, nam more

Grafting with Stem Cells instead of breast implants?

There is no FDA authorized stem cell procedure in the United States. There are many people claiming to do stem cell facelifts, stem cell breast augmentation, stem cell anything. This is a bit of smoke and mirrors. Anytime you do fat grafting you are actually transferring stem cells along with it so all Brazilian Butt Lifts can also be called Stem Cell Brazilian Butt Lifts. It is still not clear whether stem cell augmentation to fat grafting actually does anything. The whole idea is still... more

Stem cell grafting for breast augmentation

Stem cells are one thing and fat grafting is another but sometimes the names are interchanged. This is still experimental and if it is fat grafting you are talking about, may not give the volume that you desire.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Stem Cell Grafting to Your Breasts is Still Investigational

Stem Cell grafting for breast augmentation is still in its early stages. And while breast implants are far from perfect, the pictures you see of "moldy" valves and so forther are generally the worst case scenario and extraordinarly rare. In addition, as pointed out in previous posts it is better suited for someone looking for a very subtle enhancement and not more than about a cup size increase. In my clinical experience, most patients will require a revision in... more

Stem cell breast augmentation

Stem cell breast augmentation is another term for fat grafting into the breast to increase cup size. The procedure is considered 'investigational' at best and is not widely practiced. We would not consider fat grafting an acceptable alternative to breast implants which have been very well studied and are infinitely safer. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd

How many Drs use Grafting with Stem Cells instead of breast implants?

Very few are experienced using Stem Cell + PRP activated Fat grafts. It is not a replacement for implants of size. Grafting can only increase a half to full cup at best, it is better as a filling of the breast as if you are having a very strong menstrual cycle. Longevity of the grafts a the real issue. I'm preforming this treatment more and more as my experience increases so do my results. I have now added this to my breast enhancement protocol. And yes the cost is double the implants,... more

I use stem cell grafts, cold fusion, and laser for breast augmentation!

Well, not really, but doesn't that "sound great" also? 40% re-operation in 5 years with implants is INCORRECT DATA! Leaking saline implants can be avoided by using the latest generation of cohesive silicone gel implants which cannot leak, nor can they become filled with mold since they are solid. Most reputable, experienced, board-certified (American Board of Plastic Surgery) plastic surgeons have breast augmentation re operation rates of less than 1-2% per year,... more

Breast implants vs. Fat Grafting

Fat grafts are loaded with stem cells, whether you specially process the fat or not. In fact, fat tissue contains larger volumes of stem cells than the traditional source -- bone marrow. Fat grafting to the breast was abandoned, when breast implants became available because the results were better. Breast implants were safer and more effective. Fat grafting cannot add the same volume that an implant can. Fat grafting can lead to calcium deposits in the breast, making mammography... more

Joseph Mele, MD

4 reviews

Walnut Creek Plastic Surgeon

www.DrMele.com

Breast augmentation

Breast augmentation with implants is very safe and effective. Complications are rare, rupture will occur because any man-made items will degrade with time. Fat grafting (stem cells) are still investigational, though they are being performed around the country, for breast augmentation. There are trials going on to determine whether they are safe in the long term. If you are in a rush, I would wait, for the time being, but if indications are correct, it will be another... more

"Stem cell" breast augmentation still controversial, implants not

The procedure marketed as a "stem cell" breast augmentation is actually fat grafting. The fat is obtained by liposuction, and since fat has stem cells in it, these can be isolated and concentrated in the fat that is prepared for grafting by injection into the breast (or other places.) The controversy relates to several issues: One is whether the addition of the stem cells contributes enough to the results to justify the additional time and expense. Another is that even with stem... more

Fat Grafting of Breasts is Controversial

Fat grafting of the breasts remains somewhat controversial, although to a lesser degree than it was several years ago. The reoperation rate you quote seems a bit high (my reoperation rate during the first 5 years is less than 3%). The plastic surgeon in the US with the most experience with fat grafting is Sydney Coleman in Manhattan.

Fat graft breast augmentation vs implants

Fat graft breast augmentation is the latest trend to enhance the breasts naturally. Some plastic surgeons have years of experience with the technique, first done in breast reconstruction. At national meetings, both ASPS and ASAPS there is a lot of talk about the procedure. Now, that the flood gates are open about this procedure, a lot of people jump on the band wagon. The problem is that most of them are not well trained to give you a good result. This is a more complex procedure than... more

Breast implants or fat grafting ?

Many patients have concerns over the health impact of breast implants or the possiility of future implant problems. There is no proven link between implants and systemic disease. I certainly would not perform any procedure with a revision rate of 40%, and I believe that number to be overstated. My concerns about fat grafting are that it may affect future mammograms, and at this point stem cells are completely unproven in breast augmentation. There has been some limited use of... more

Fat grafting for breast augmentation

You concerns regarding implants are certainly legitimate. implants are not the perfect device. Over the past few decades, they have undergone many improvements (both saline and silicone). The manufacturer quotes a rupture rate of 1% per year. In my clinical experience, I think this is relatively accurate. Unfortunately, though implants are not perfect, they are far superior to any other option available to surgeons today. Mold should never, under any... more

Fat vs breast implants

The current most appropriate way to augment the breast is with implants. The replacement rate you quote is absolutely not the experience of the top plastic surgeons who do many breast augs each year. If the revision rate was 40% we'd be done with doing this procedure. Fat is very limited in what it can offer for size and there are potential complications that make this not yet a standard procedure.