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Is Fat Grafting Now a Good Solution for Breast Asymmetry (Less Than One Cup Size)? (photo)

I'm 33 and planned to get implants to correct my asymmetry (B on left and prob an A and a half on right). I mentioned to a surgeon that I would wait to get implants until after I have children if I were symmetrical. He suggested fat grafting on the right breast. He is an experienced and board certified surgeon who has attended several seminars on the topic, but is still somewhat new to the procedure. I do trust this surgeon to do the best job possible, but I'm not sure that I should do this now.

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18 Doctor Answers | Asked by HappyHeart

Doctor Answers (18)
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Fat grafting for breast asymmetry not a good idea

I highly discourage this procedure on breasts. I've seen and had to correct fat grafting gone horribly wrong. Fat grafting is certainly helpful and successful in some instances, but the risks and complications are too high in my opinion when it comes to breast filling. Pregnancy/breast feeding can bring significant changes to them. I encourage you to wait until after you have children to attempt any cosmetic procedure. Best wishes, Dr. H

Fat grafting for mild breast asymmetry

Thank you for your question and photos. The answer is, Yes. For mild asymmetry of one cup size or less, fat grafting to a breast, in experienced and skilled hands, can get you the results you are looking for to correct asymmetry Fat grafting is not for everyone and it is not possible to go from an A to a D cup. But, with two grafting sessions it is possible to go from an A on the right to a B on the right to match the left B. The results are subtle and your asymmetry is subtle... more

Breast Fat Transfer or Fat Grafting may work well for Breast Asymetry but wait until you have had your children

Breast Fat Transfer or Fat Grafting is a very new and promising technique. However many significant changes occur in the Breast during Pregnancy and Childbirth and after nursing A year or two after having your last child is the ideal time to consider Cosmetic Breast Surgery. At that time you may desire augmentation of both breasts or a Breast Lift or both. Certainly in a few years Fat Transfer to Breast will be a more refined and developed technique. Fat transfer of Breast does... more

Controversies over fat grafting breasts

Yes this is a very controversial topic and you would certainly have to consider the risks before employing this technique. The best option if you know children are in your future would be to delay breast surgery until done so you can have the best experience post-partum. In addition, fat grafts do react to weight fluctuations and will increase in size disproportionaely to your native breast tissue if you gain weight. But if you are willingn to accept the risks, it is a very... more

Curtis Wong, MD

7 reviews

Redding Plastic Surgeon

Please don't put fat into your breasts

Hi there- While I am a huge fan of fat grafting for other purposes, the fact is that 1 in 8 women in this country are diagnosed with breast cancer EACH YEAR, and that most radiologists say that the scar tissue and cysts that can result from fat grafting into the breasts can make mammograms and ultrasounds a bit confusing when evaluating the breasts for cancer. The technique may be acceptable for a woman who has already had cancer and had her breast removed, but for a young woman like... more

Fat grafting is unpredictable in all situations

Although fat grafting is much touted in plastic surgery these days, it is neither reliable, nor predictable or safe. Fat grafts to breasts are even less desirable since they can leave behind scarring and mislead mammograms forever in future.

Fat grafting to the breast

There are two separate issues here. The first is the safety and efficacy of fat grafting to the breast. The second is the capability of your surgeon. Fat grafting is an excellent technique for volumizing structures. It is well established in most areas of the body. Breast is controversial not because of the technique but because 1 in 8 woman in this country are diagnosed with breast cancer. Concerns about surgical changes in the breast caused by fat grafting interfering with diagnosis of... more

Fat grafting for modest breast asymmetry

From the posts you might have seen, fat grafting is controvertial because of the cysts and calcifications which can form within the breast. Despite this, fat grafting has been effective in filling out the breast after breast reconstruction, and for modest breast asymmetry. We use grafts well dispersed in the subcutaneous tissue over the breast, and grafting under, rather than within the breast. With good judgement the grafts can work out for you, though know the risks well. Best of... more

Fat grafting now a routine part of breast augmentation

The beauty of fat grafting for correction of breast asymmetry is that the fat can be placed exactly where needed to correct not only size and volume asymmetries, but shape asymmetries as well. In effect the breast can be sculpted to the shape and size you want. You appear to have good breast shape to start with so you should be an excellent candidate for fat grafting. You may in fact be quite pleased with fat grafting alone and decide not to do implants in the future. I also perform... more

Fat grafts for small increase in breast size

There is obviously still a lot of controversy about fat grafts for breast enlargement, but the main issue now is that only erlatively small amounts can be reliably done. For less than a half cup size in order to be more symmetrical, I would consider it.

Fat grafting is a great option

Fat grafting is a good option for you if your are just looking to make your breasts more symmetrical or enlarged 1 cup size. Fat grafting to the breast has been a source of much controversy since it inception. The thought was it would interfere with mammographic findings making it more difficult to find cancers. In 2009 the American Society of Plastic Surgeons endorsed the use of fat grafting in reconstruction of the breast. Furthermore they suggested to use it... more

Kamran Khoobehi, MD

28 reviews

New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

Fat grafting to the breast for enhancement

Fat grafting is a perfect solution to treating minor breast asymmetry. The surgery would include harvesting some fat from your torso, "purifying" it, and then feathering it into the smaller breast. The surgery is not disabling and recovery would be minor. I have enjoyed having this tool in my back pocket for fine tuning breast size and shape!

Fat injections for breast asymmetry

Some surgeons are using fat injection for breast augmentation. Some with ok success for small augmentations and some with better. I am not offering this procedure for primary augmentation at this time. It is a tough call, because no one knows the long term effects on the breast in this situation.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Is Fat Grafting Now a Good Solution for Breast Asymmetry (Less Than One Cup Size)? (photo)

I do not agree, this time, with my colleagues. I would recommend fat grafts to correct your issue. A very easy operation that has reproducible results.

Avoid breast fat injections

Breast fat injections in somebody like you are still experimental and most of us are still concerned about possible problems from doing this to a healthy breast. You are about as symmetrical as anybody, so I would concur with the others and suggest you do nothing at all for now and see what you look like after kids. Good luck!

Fat injections in the breast are not recommended.

Hi. 1) It sounds appealing, but there is too much that we do not know about injecting fat into a healthy breast, and the majority of plastic surgeons would tell you not to do it.. 2) This is true just for the healthy breast.. Fat injections are great for several other problems (in post mastectomy breast reconstruction, for example, and in the face). 3) A small silicone implant over the muscle in your right breast is really safe and will give you good... more

Fat injections to the breast?

I would urge you to be cautious as well because we still do not have enough information about fat grafting to the breast for cosmetic purposes. Fat grafting has been around for a number of years, and has been used primarily to improve facial wrinkles or minor contour irregularities. While it is gaining acceptance as an adjunct in breast reconstruction after mastectomy, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons has advised caution in its use for breast augmentation. This... more

Fat injections for breast asymmetry?

The jury is still out on fat grafting. The American Society of Plastic Surgery does not endorse this procedure. I, too, have attended seminars but would not encourage a patient to undergo a procedure unless and until there is sufficient evidence that it is effective and safe. The asymmetry of your breasts is not significant and the nipple heights are comparable. Slight asymmetry between the breasts is normal. At this time, I would not recommend surgery for you but would encourage you to... more