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Fat Transfer to Breasts

asked 3 years ago by barbiebionda16 in usa
Latest answer by Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS
Question viewed 60,970 times
Tags: breasts, bigger

I'm looking to get a fat transfer to my breasts. My doctor says they can get me up 2 cup sizes ( I am about 5'4 107 lbs and 22 years old). They're going to be using UAL technique. I've been hearing so many different opinions and I just want to know the truth. I dont know what to do, I'm really stuck. I want larger breasts but if I can do it without implants, I'd be ecstatic. My biggest fear out of all of this is the results of the Liposuction (I don't want to end up like Tara Reid with all the dimples). Can someone advise me on this matter?

34 answers to Fat Transfer to Breasts

+5

Fat injection to the breasts

It is so intuitively appealing... natural tissue injected into the breasts, all natural breast tissue that survives. What could be better? Here's the rub. Fat injection consists of mainly dead cells, with a disputed amount of living cells (Our research showed 20-25% alive, other studies have shown as low as 3% if you look at the ability of the cells to "breathe" (metabolize). Those dead cells, when injected into the breasts, either are dissolved away by the body's white blood... more
Brent Moelleken, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

www.drbrent.com

+13

Fat transfer works but not after ultrasound-assisted liposuction

I been doing fat grafting for more than 11 years and fat grafting to the breast for 3 years. It works, but: 1) You cannot increase the breast size more than a cup size 2) You do not have a lot of fat, UAL is ultrasoinc harvesting and will kill all the fat cells 3) I am concerned that your doctor does not have enough experince, otherwise he would not suggest UAL 4) Make sure to ask for referral from previous patients, and also ask for mammogram of the previous patients 5) I have an on-going... more
Kamran Khoobehi, MD

New Orleans Plastic Surgeon
+5

Breast lipoaugmrntation or fat transfer to breasts

I do perform this procedure for selected patients. It is not suitable for everyone and is usually twice more expensive. However you can simply not use dead cells after UAL or laser lipo. The cells are damaged after such procedures reducing their survival. Also, you can not go up more than one cup size at a time at best. Thus you will need two procedures at least.
Siamak Agha, MD, PhD

Orange County Plastic Surgeon
+4

FAT GRAFTING WORKS FOR BREAST AUGMENTATION - BUT NOT FOR EVERYONE

I do not believe you are a good candidate for this procedure because: you have inadequate fatty stores / deposits - based on your weight and height the technique you have chosen (UAL) will only graft / inject dead cells - this will be reabsorbed and you will be left pretty much where you started, with regards to your beasts. Don't forget that the possibility to end up with irregularities (dimples) is still present. Dr. Carlos Cordoba MDCM, CSPQ, FRCS,... more
Carlos Cordoba, MD

Montreal Plastic Surgeon
+4

Breast enhancement with fat, does it work?

I have been performing successful breast enhancement using fat grafting with Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) for the past five years. It works very well if you’re a good candidate with enough fat and realistic expectations. From your physical description being 5’4” tall and 107 lbs, there might not be enough fat to harvest (liposuction) for fat grafting. You might want to consider silicone implants. Good luck
Kevin Sadati, DO

Orange County Facial Plastic Surgeon
+4

Fat for Breast Augmentation

Today there several options for breast augmentation. The more traditional option is breast implant surgery. Fat grafting is also one of the viable alternatives. The benefit is that there is no implant and if fat heals well, the breast looks and feels normal. The downside is that fat transfer into the breast usually requires use of BRAVA system prior to surgery, the amount of breast enlargement is usual limited to 1 cup size, there is minimal to no breast lift associated with it... more
Boris Volshteyn, MD, MS

Reno Plastic Surgeon
+4

Breast Augmentation Using Your Own Fat

Breast Augmentation using your own fat a potentially great procedure.  You get liposuction of the fat in the unwanted areas and also get a breast augmentation using your own fat, a 100% natural substance.  Once fully healed these breasts are indistinguishable from 'normal' non-augmented breasts. HOWEVER, patients always overestimate the amount of fat that they have for the use of breast augmentation.  If you are 5'4" and 107lb, you will barely have... more
Martin Jugenburg, MD

Toronto Plastic Surgeon
+4

Ultrasonic liposuction for fat transfer is not good

For fat transfer to work, the cells harvested must be injected alive. Ultrasonic liposuction kills the fat cells. The injection will then only last for a brief time. Also, for someone who is 5ft4inches and 107 lbs, it highly likely that you do not have enough fat to make a significant difference. Herein lies the dilemma for Fat Transfer for Breast augmentation, most small breasted woman do not have enough fat to make a difference. Typically, 200 cc of fat is one cup size... more
Robert M. Freund, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon
+4

Consider your options very carefully

The previous answer is accurate, but you need to know that at this time in the U.S. the option for fat grafting to the breast is specifically banned by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, so no board-certified plastic surgeon would do it for augmentation unless it is part of an approved clinical trial. Also, the use of VASER here doesn't make sense to me; I do use it frequently but the ultrasound actually destroys the fat cells so it would not be suitable for grafting. We do hope to... more
Richard Baxter, MD

Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+4

Fat Grafting for Breasts is an Emerging Practice

Barbiebionda16, First of all, fat grafting for breasts is an emerging practice. Very nice results are possible with the newer micro-fat injection techniques. However, it is important that you see someone with extensive experience with fat grafting, but cause you can also end up with poor results. Also, there is currently controversy about the effect of fat grafting on mammograms and other breast imaging techniques, so it is very important that you have baseline imaging studies done before... more
David Shafer, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon

www.ShaferPlasticSurgery.com

+3

Fat transfer

American society of aesthetic plastic surgery and american society of plastic surgery stil do not recommend breast augmentation by fat transfer, please research this technique prior to embarking on this procedure by any surgeon
Christopher K. Livingston, MD

Houston Plastic Surgeon
+3

Fat transfer to the breast- liposuction is a secondary benefit !

We do fat transfer to the breast for augmentation- I have to be honest : thus far, patients have been as happy, sometimes happier, with their LIPOSUCTION results obtained from this procedure. Fat grafting to the breast can give a fairly reliable ONE CUP size augmentation with appropriate BRAVA pre-expansion. Without pre-expansion, results are less reliable. I tell every patient that we see for breast fat grafting that a breast implant can give them a reliable result at less cost and risk... more
Scott Sattler, MD

Bellevue Plastic Surgeon
+3

Fat transfer to breast

  It si definitely good possibility ,   Since breast implants are very  consistent in the results they are used more often but fat is a good possibility.  I will not used ultrasonic energy because it damage the cells  and the survival be impaired
Alejandro J. Quiroz, M.D.

Mexico Plastic Surgeon
+3

Breast Augmentation Using Your Own Fat

While there are some experienced board-certified plastic surgeons performing liposuction and fat grafting to the breast, this procedure is very technique-dependent and should only be done by those with proper training and experience.  Of concern, however, is that it is unrealistic to expect an increase in breast size by two cups with this procedure.  Breast augmentation with implants is the only way to attain such a large increase in size.  What is even more concerning,... more
Jaime Perez MD

Tampa Plastic Surgeon

www.jaimeperezmd.com

+3

Fat transfer for breasts - Very controversial and inconsistent procedure at best

Using fat liposuctioned from other areas in your body has been written about for over 15 years. It is most often performed by physicians who are not board certified plastic surgeons and are looking for a way to break into the breast augmentation market. Since fat reabsorption is inconsistent, the question arises as to whether to overinject fat, with the assumption that a certain percentage will reabsorb. That's how it's done in many other parts of the body such as cheek augmentation.... more
Joseph M. Perlman, MD

Houston Plastic Surgeon

doctorperlman.com

+3

Breast augmentation with liposuction and fat injections: NO UAL

Dr. Seify had succinctly summarized some of the concerns with breast augmentation using fat injection. I only have one, but very important concern. PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT THE FAT IS NOT HARVESTED WITH UAL TECHNIQUE. The fat obtained with UAL is completely dead and you will essentially be injecting oil into the breasts which will result in cyst formation and other potential complications. Although fat is easy to put on and hard to eliminate, it is an extremely delicate tissue and the cells... more
Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+3

Fat Transfer for Breast Augmentation and Breast Cancer

In my San Francisco area practice I do a fair amount fat grafting (face, hands, buttocks) and I do not perform breast augmentation using this technique. The issue here becomes one of fat survival and scar tissue. If a portion of the fat dies (which typically happens) this area can heal with scar. Usually it is not enough to be cosmetically noticeable. The problems start when screening for breast cancer. Both mammograms and MRIs can detect this scar tissue as calcifications. These can be... more
Steven H. Williams, MD

San Francisco Plastic Surgeon
+2

Fat Transfer to Breasts - Hype and "Truth or Consequences"

There are a few reasons you should not use this surgeon (Run Away) ! First - UAL or ultrasonic assisted liposuction, destroys (kills) fat cells - so by definition this technique will not work and you will probably end up with complications. (e.g. oil cysts requiring drainage later on) Second - Perhaps a half cup size at most is possible for each fat transfer procedure in my experience. No way is he going to make you 2 full cup sizes larger in a single surgery. Third -... more
Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS

Orange County Plastic Surgeon

drnichter.com

+2

Fat Transfer to breasts

Thanks so much for your question-this is a really controversial topic amongst plastic surgeons. Historically, we have stayed away from fat transfers to the breasts as our concern is fat necrosis (when the fat looses blood supply and makes a lump) masking or hiding a breast cancer. Personally, I do not perform this procedure as I feel there has not been enough long term data on breast cancer findings in this population--however, there are doctors, board certified plastic surgeons that are... more
Thomas B. Lintner, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+2

Fat transfer to breasts

You're looking for assurance that doesn't exist.  No one can guarante you what you want (two cup sizes larger and perfect suction result) - if they do, run away! There are a few credible surgeons in the US doing large volume fat transfer to the breasts.  Most of the results that I have seen at meetings are in a word, underwhelming.  I would have no confidence that I could get you two cup sizes without implants and I suspect that most surgeons out there would... more
Robert Sigal, MD

Reston Plastic Surgeon
+2

Fat grafts to breasts can be safe

The American Society of plastic surgeons just published a position paper on this. Basically the experience of the surgeon in the technique matters a lot. Do not use fat extracted by UAL. Blasting the cells with heat (Laser or ultrasound) is not a good idea. I am doing another study with Breast reconstruction after lumpectomy, and I have reviewed the literature on the subject. Your main task is to find a surgeon who is well versed in the technique. see video
Ricardo Rodriguez, MD

Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

www.cosmeticsurg.net

+2

Fat transfer and breast augmentation

Fat transfer for breast augmentation is still controversial. The few surgeons that do it, can maybe increase the breast size by about a cup in one session. The procedure takes 4-5 hours in some of these doctor's hands (normally, breast augmentation takes about 1-2 hours) and the fees are even more expensive than Face Lift fees. Ultrasonic liposuction can cause fat emulsion than other harvesting techniques.
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+2

Fat grafts to the breast come with a lifetime of risks

Fat grafting to various areas of the body are gaining in popularity and structural fat grafting to the face, buttock, liposuction dents and in breast reconstruction defects have become widely practiced. In addition data from Asia and Europe show some early promising results with fat grafting to the breast. Please accept however my firm warning! No matter how skilled a surgeon might be in placing grafts within the breast, reported complications are frequent and growing in number. The volume... more
Peter E. Johnson, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+2

Are you kidding?

Fat transfer to the breasts can certainly be effective to increase volume. The problem is that the amount of augmentation is reported to be fairly small. There is also the risk of firm lumps from areas where the fat does not establish a blood supply. This could be quite difficult to distinguish from a cancerous breast lump. You stated that the technique that your physician is planning to use is ultrasound assisted liposuction. WOW! This would be a VERY bad idea as you have basically... more
York Jay Yates, MD

Salt Lake City Plastic Surgeon
+2

New article in our journal would scare you away from this

The medical journal "Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery" is the leading plastic surgery journal probably in the world. The January '09 issue has an article on the many complications associated with fat transfers to the breast. This is a new and very controversial topic and not well worked out at all at this point. You would be wiser to have implants done rather than fat transfers.
Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS

Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+2

This treatement has problems.

This form of breast enlargement is experimental at best and dangerous at worst, in my opinion. Silicone and Saline breast enhancements are well studied, safe, effective and may be permanant ways of increasing your breast size. If you do not like the implants, they can be removed or replaced with either larger or smaller ones. Fat injections have problems - and it can not be easily reversed. 1- The fat needs to be gotten from somewhere else on your body, and needs to be preserved and left... more
William B. Rosenblatt, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon
+1

Fat transfer for Breast Enhancement

We routinely perform fat transfer to the breast in select patients for breast enhancement and correction of defects. It is also called Natural breast enlargement. The available literature on fat grafting to the breast suggest that it is a safe method of augmentation and correction of defects when performed by an experienced Board certified Plastic Surgeon. There are limitations. The best thing would be to consult with your Plastic Surgeon to see if you are a candidate for breast enlargement... more
Stanley Okoro, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

www.georgiaplastic.com

+1

Fat Transfer to Breasts.

I advice against it. If you want larger breasts, you need predictability of breast implants. Almost all of injected fat will go away. However it can leave behind calcium deposits in breast which will interfere with breat exam and mammograms. On the other hand properly done liposuction is a wonderful operation. It should be done for body contouring only. Only amount of excess fatty bulge should be removed to leave behind sculpted body. You don't even have... more
Vasdev Rai, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast augmentation with Fat transfer

Run away!  There is no way to guarantee that you could go up by two cup sizes especially with you body weight and height characteristics.  There is just not enough fat on your body to do this and if someone tries to get enough fat from you they will surely leave you with dimples and depressions.  Please read more about this procedure and do not go into it lightly.  Remember, breast augmentation with implants has been around for many years. It is safe and time tested,... more
Erez Sternberg, MD

Jacksonville Plastic Surgeon
+1

This is strictly experimental.

To barbiebionda16, Hi!  The national plastic surgery societies do not recommend fat injection breast augmentation.  Terrible complications have been reported.  It may have a place eventually, but I would not do it now. We get great results with implants. Why take a chance?
George J. Beraka, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Don't do it

Fat transfer is quite unpredictable. To achieve the results you are talking about, you would need a significant amount of fat and you would need each injection to work out perfectly otherwise you run the risk of lumps, calcifications, skin irregularities, cysts. These are not good condtions for the breast, the most highly oncogenic tissue of the female body. There are also not easily treated. Mammograms that you get subsequently can be abnormal and present complex situation for any doctor... more
Robin T.W. Yuan, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
+1

Very controversial topic

This is a hot and controversial topic in the plastic surgery community. These are the available facts regarding fat transfer to the breast: 1- The micro fat grafting techniques are used in many body areas (face, buttock etc...) with very good results. The key in achieving a good result is to be conservative and to perfect the injection technique. 2- Using fat for primary breast augmentation is still a controversial topic. There are very good results presented by several well know surgeons... more
Hisham Seify, MD, PhD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+1

Ultrasonic liposuction is appropriate if intensity decreased

Even though ultrasonic liposuction is not my preferred method of fat harvesting, studies have been done on fat harvested with the Vaser ultrasonic liposuction device that prove that the fat will survive if the ultrasound level is turned down. In our clinic we have numerous liposuction devices available to us, including Vaser, so I choose either regular low vacuum liposuction or Body-Jet as my choices for fat grafting, depending on the volume of fat needed. You are quite petite it seems so I... more
Jeffrey Hartog, MD

Orlando Plastic Surgeon

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