Will my breast fat transfer fluctuate with my weight?

Question

Hello, I am having a breast augmentation with cohesive gel implants. The doctor would also like to do a fat transfer to help the cleavage area and the bone in between. I am open to it, however I am a bikini athlete so when in prep body fat can be lower than maintenance. So the question is, will the fat transfer go with the weight fluctuations? I don’t want to spend the money and have it go months after because I am in prep and body weight lower.

Zoran Potparic, MD · Answer

Once fat grafts are taken and stable they behave the same as the rest of fat tissue in your body. That means loss of weight will result with loss of volume. However, volume of transferred fat in breast area is minimal so these oscillations will be barely seen. Hope this helps.

Donovan Rosas, MD · Answer

It is important to remember that transferred fat is unaware of where it is located. Thus is it susceptible to weight changes same as all other body fat.

The best time to undergo fat transfer is when you have reached a happy, healthy, stable weight.

With regards to your specific question, while it cannot be guaranteed, there is a risk of susceptibility of transferred fat to weight changes.

As always, discuss your concerns with a board certified plastic surgeon (ABPS).

Chet Mays, MD · Answer

Thank you for your inquiry!!   Fat cells regardless of the location will fluctuate with weight loss and weight gain.  We would love to meet with you to discuss your concerns.  Schedule a consultation with a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon to discuss your goals.

Carlos Marciales, MD · Answer

Thanks for asking, only up to 70% of the fat that you transfer will survive but it could be less than that, and if you increase your weight the fat grows and if you lose weight the fat decrease, so it will depend on how it looks in this moment. I recommend to you to do the procedure.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear LauraS83,
once you are fully healed, you can expect transferred fat to act the same as other fat in your body (it will change with major weight loss). If you are considering surgery, I would suggest you consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination, you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Gary M. Horndeski, MD · Answer

Yes, fat transfers will fluctuate with your weight. However, fat throughout your body, is decreased when you lose weight and this may make you small or even significant change in what has been transferred.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Ronald J. Edelson, MD · Answer

I am entirely unconvinced that fat transfer along with implants is a worthwhile procedure so I would just do the implants alone and I would place them under the muscle

Rajaie Hazboun, MD, MBA · Answer

Thank you Laura for posting your question here!The beauty of fat transfer is that it is natural , it's your own tissue so once it gets integrated into the new location it will act like the fat in the rest of your body . If you lose weight it will lose volume and if you gain weight it will gain volume. If done right, roughly speaking between 60-80% of what is transferred will eventually integrate and once integrated it won't go away it might fluctuate in volume but it will still be there and will regain volume if you gain weight again.
I hope this answers your question. Best of luck!

Eric Swanson, MD · Answer

Yes, any transferred fat will be subject to weight fluctuations. Most surgeons do not find it necessary to inject fat in the cleavage area at the time of a cosmetic breast augmentation - particularly a submuscular one (barring an unusual circumstance). And there is considerable extra cost. Remember, just because your surgeon "would like to do it" does not mean you have to do it.

Lawrence Iteld, MD · Answer

In general, grafted fat will behave just like the rest of your body fat- as you gain weight, the fat cells will get larger and as you loose weight, the fat cells will shrink. So, with show preps and bulking cycles, you should see proportionate changes with the rest of your body.