Fat Transfer: Q&A

Ask a Question

I Have Loose Skin on my Breasts. Would a Fat Transfer Make More Sense then Removing the Skin Itself?

I have C cup sized breast with loose skin, sagging breasts and stretch marks. I was considering a fat transfer to plump them up but read on here its not very reliable. Would it make more sense to just remove the excess skin? Are there any other suggestions? I am 5'2, 120 pounds.

Tags:

Comment on this

14 Doctor Answers | Asked by Joy92 in Ottawa, ON

Doctor Answers (14)
Community Comments (0)

Breast lift makes breasts firmer.

Hi. 1) Fat transfer does not correct sagging breasts. 2) It sounds like you need a good breast lift (lollipop scars). Removing excess skin is actually secondary. You want an INTERNAL lift that shapes and tightens the breast tissue itself and that gives you a good long term result. see video

Implants vs. breast lift vs. fat injection

Current issues with fat transfer to the breast include: high revision rates because of the variability of fat survival; potential interference with mammography, ultrasound, and MRI for breast cancer screening; theoretical possibility that injected fat could increase cancer rates (this is not likely but possible); lower volume increase than typically possible with implants; generally less upper breast fullness than implants can provide. Fat transfer to... more

Fat injections are still in the experimental phase.

Although fat injections (transfer) has been employed for years, we really don't know the fate of the injected fat. It is being studied now at various research facilities. Although apparently safe, the results are unpredictable. Treatment for your breasts, in my opinion, should be by more conventional methods (mastopexy).

Mastopexy versus Fat Transfer to Breasts

Without "before" pictures or seeing you in person, it is impossible to answer your question. However, if you have loose skin and stretch marks on your breasts, I doubt that fat transfer will be very useful. You likely need a mastopexy and possibly an augmentation as well if you need to replace volume. Good Luck.

Sagging Breasts. Is the answer - Breast Lift VS. Fat Transfer?

In the presence of sagging breasts, especially large, deflated sagging breasts with stretch-damaged skin - adding volume is NOT the answer. Neither an implant nor fat grafting would give you long-lasting, perky breasts. the answer is to lift the breasts by expert tailoring of the breast skin, removing the excess skin and lifting the breast mounds to their youthful positions. Good Luck. Dr. Peter A Aldea

Breast lift

If your breasts are sagging, it is better to remove the excess skin and lift the breasts than try to attempt to fill them with fat.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Breast augmentation together with breast lift

Without a photo or preferrably a physical examination it is impossible to know what would be best in your situation. Given your description of sagging breasts with stretch marks it is highly unlikely that fat transfer/grafting alone will correct the issue. Thinned stretched out skin with stretchmarks just does not have the elasticity to give you the result you want. If you just put an implant or fat into the breat it just may end up sagging more. I hope you realize that this format of... more

You may benefit from combination of fat grafting and breast lift

You stated that you have excess skin and your weight indicates that you do not have a lot of fat. I would recommend breast lift and mastopexy combination. I have done more than 50 cases of combine procedure. The advantage is that fat fills the upper pole and lift bring the nipple to the new position. Please check my web site for examples

Kamran Khoobehi, MD

28 reviews

New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

Fat transfer to breasts instead of lift

Thank you for your question. In our San Francisco area practice we routinely perform fat transfer for buttocks enhancement, facial rejuvenation and breast enhancement. The challenge in your situation has to do with the amount of breast sag you have and the amount of excess skin. In most cases, fat transfer can't match the changes that a breast lift (mastopexy) can provide. Find a board certified plastic surgeon familiar and experienced with both techniques and see... more

Fat transfer for the breasts is a volumizer, not a lifter

If you percieve that your breasts are saggy - fat grafting alone is not the solution. A well done breast lift is an amazing procedure that can totally rejuvenate the breast. Fat grafting can add some volume, but not as reliably as an implant. I do fat grafting to the breast in my practice, and recognize its limitations.

Fat transfer for breast

If you have sagging skin, it would really take a lot of fat to take up the excess. It would be hard to make that fat fill the breast evenly and softly to give a good result. From the description, it sounds like you would benefit most from a breast lift. That would probably give you the most predicable result.

Fat transfer is not the answer for sagging breasts and loose skin

I am a fan of fat transfers for many purposes. However, if you have sagging breasts and loose skin, putting fat in will not improve the situation. Even an implant is not the answer, when you have sagging (ptotic) breasts. You will need some sort of lift (mastopexy). Without photos, it is impossible to determine what type, but that is a discussion you should have with your plastic surgeon. Implants, or even fat transfers, could be adjunct procedures, possibly at... more

Fat Transfer to the breast for loose skin unlikely to be of help

There has been a resurgence in interest and usefulness of transferring fat to all parts of the body to achieve shape improvements. Using fat as a means to augment the deflated breast has also been more successful with strict patient selections and careful technique. However, when there is loose skin on the breast the options are to fill the breast skin envelope adequately or tailor and reduce the excess skin with a breast lift. Often a combination of adding volume and tightening the skin... more

Loose Skin and Sagging breasts

Stretched out, loose skin and loss of volume of the breasts is not uncommonly seen after pregnancy and weight loss. If significant, and if the nipple descends below the infirmary crease, some type of breast lift may be a good option for many patients. If the sagging is minimal and the skin only minimally stretched, a conventional breast augmentation may be an option. Fat transfer for breast augmentation, although possible, may still be regarded... more