Am I too old to get a fat transfer to breast at 65?

Question

It has been recommended I get strattice to treat cc but my concern is that it does not guarantee that I will not require surgery in the future. Am I too old for FT to the breast? I exercise and am in good health but there must be a point in time that lipo doesn't make sense due to skin elasticity.

Gary M. Horndeski, MD · Answer

Unfortunately, you have not provided photographs or told us your bra size.  However, if you are having problems with capsular contracture, you may benefit from explantation and lift using The Bellesoma Method.  The implants are removed, your breast tissue is reshaped creating upper pole fullness, elevated higher on the chest wall and more medial to increase your cleavage.  Vertical scars are avoided and nipple sensation (in 95%) is maintained, if not injured during your previous surgery.  Later, fat transfers can be performed if additional volume is desired.  I have operated on women in their 70’s with fat transfer after a breast lift.Best Wishes,Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

If you are in good health, age is not likely to adversely impact the lipo and breast fat transfer.  Breast fat grafting has the decided advantage of utilizing your own 
tissue and avoiding all of the implant related complications including 
rupture and capsular contracture.  In addition, fat grafting by its very
 nature requires fat to transfer and thus liposuction is performed to 
harvest the fat.  Thus, the patient can get improvement in the breasts 
but in those areas of the body that are liposuctioned as well.   It is 
critical that the surgeon a patient selects is an expert in liposuction 
as well as breast augmentation.Breast fat transfer is a great tool to balance breasts, improve symmetry, and gain up to one cup size in volume.  In general, 200 cc perbreast is typically the upper limit of fat injection recommended by most plastic surgeons.  It is not that more cannot be injected; but on average, this has been determined to be the most that can be expected tolive during one transfer.  Multiple transfers would be required for additional cc's.  In general, the abdomen and thighs are preferred donor sites but fat from other areas can be used.

David C. Yao, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for sharing. Breast implant capsular contracture is well handled by pocket revision, capsule removal and frequently an acelluar dermal matrix like Strattice. Future surgery is possible.Fat grafting is a separate topic, and provided that a patient is healthy and has enough donor site availability, she is most likely an appropriate  candidate. Hope this helps. See a board certified plastic surgeon in your area. Best wishes!

Ronald J. Edelson, MD · Answer

I am assuming that you mean if the strattice doesn’t work and you need to get the implants removed. You certainly can get fat transfer to the breast at any age. You just need to keep your expectations very modest at best. In most cases little or nine of the fat survive and we don’t know if it’s age dependent.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear orbis,
as long as you are healthy, you are not too old for fat transfer. If you are considering a surgery, I would suggest you to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Daniel Zeichner, MD · Answer

Age is a number. State of health is paramount. Evaluation by your primary care physician is required to ensure you in optimal health. Medical clearance is required to determine if it is safe to proceed. 
The state of your overlying skin and the amount of underlying available transferrable fat is determined during an evaluation by a board certified plastic surgeon. One can transfer 200-250 cc of fat per session with 60-85% graft survival. It may take multiple procedures to reach your goal size. A lift may be required.
If stattice has been recommended, you may be suffering from thinning of the skin and soft tissue, requiring reinforcement.  That would be concerning. Inelastic skin thin would be a relative contraindication to surgery, depending upon its extent. 
Seek advice from a board certified plastic surgeon after full examination.
Best wishes...

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

If you have no medical risks that would restrict you from elective surgery, and have donor fat available, then you can have a fat transfer. With fat, you will probably gain up to one cup. If you want more, you might want to consider implants. I would suggest meeting with a board certified plastic surgeon and discussing your options.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

your age should not stop you from having this procedure and if it’s something that you wish to have done and you’re a good candidate. my experience is anecdotal only. That being said I have found fat transfer to be slightly less successful in older people. It’s probably a combination of fat cells being more easily damaged when removed using liposuction and having slightly less post tissue to support the fat graft. Sometimes older women will have less fat in their breast leaving them with a loose skin envelope and firm breast parenchyma. It’s difficult to successfully graft fat into that breast parenchyma itself. We primarily rely on grafting the fat in the fat layers between the breast tissue and the skin. Personally I also graft fat below the breast and through the pectoralis muscle.Fat transfer is reasonably good at giving diffuse overall volume but it’s not particularly good at reshaping a breast. If you’re content with your best shape and just one more volume than this may be a good procedure for you. if you don’t like the shape of your breast or your nipple position is low then there are other procedures that may be much better. Often  older women do great with implants with or without a lift.Consider re-posting with pictures or better yet have a few in person consultations with local board-certified plastic surgeon Who have extensive experience with breast fat transfer.Best, Mats Hagstrom MD

Am I too old to get a fat transfer to breast at 65?

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