Breast Lift Through Fat Transfer to Breasts?

Question

I'm wondering if fat transfer (fat grafting) can be use for breast lifting. I don't like the scars of the regular breast lifting (I'll never have surgical breast lift). I lost a lot of weight (40lbs) so my breast also got smaller. I'm 36D (41 inches above breast, 32 inches below) and I really don't like scars and nipple reallocation. Also I don't like the idea of breast implants. So, if breast implants are used for breast lifting, can fat transfer be used, too? Thanks.

Armando Soto, MD, FACS · Answer

Hi there-

	Because I do a very large number of fat grafting procedures, as well as a large number of breast enhancement procedures, I can confidently tell you that what you are hoping for is simply not safe or possible.

	The fundamental problem in a sagging breast is not that it needs more filling, but that the supporting tissues of the breast have been stretched by pregnancy or changes in weight beyond their ability to recoil.

	Adding more "filling" to this situation would likely only exacerbate the problem.

	There are MANY unscrupulous people out there promising all kinds of things to nice people in an attempt to get their money- and I have no doubt that if you wave a bit of money in the air you WILL find someone who tells you you can have beautiful, youthful breasts without surgery or without scars....

	It is very important that you realize that just because these people exist; just because we are in the United States; just because they are doctors... does NOT mean what they are offering is safe or effective.

	Only you can keep yourself safe- be sure you see only surgeons certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Andrew P. Trussler, MD · Answer

This is a very popular topic in breast surgery and plastic surgery. First and foremost is that fat grafting is not accepted as a sound technique for cosmetic breast surgery, so to answer your question in short....this is not a good idea. In the larger question you have asked for a breast lift, but you are already a 36 D but will not accept scars or nipple repositioning ( breast lift), so it sounds more like you really need to sit down with a plastic surgeon to discuss what your goals and what you can accept. Be careful with fat grafting to your breast and note it is being promoted by non-plastic surgeons.
I hope this helps.
Dr. Trussler

Siamak Agha, MD, PhD, FACS · Answer

I do perform fat transfer to the breast for my weight loss patients. However, it is usually done with or after a breast lift. Fat transfer does little for significant breast sagging. A breast lift will serve you much better. However, fat transfer can be performed to fill the upper porition of the breast as an alternative with understanding that the breasts are not really lifted.

Richard Baxter, MD · Answer

No one wants the scars from a surgical breast lift, including plastic surgeons. For breasts that have deflated, for example after pregnancy and breast feeding, adding volume back can give some degree of lift, and implants are the most predictable way of doing that. However, it isn't really accurate to think of it as a lift. At the present time fat transfers can only be done in compartively smaller volumes, and after weight loss it seems very unlikely to give very good results.

William Albright, MD · Answer

Breast fat transfer is not sufficient to lift a truly ptotic breast.  Even a breast implant (which provides more structure than fat graft) can only provide so much lift.  I would encourage you to reconsider a breast lift which can have great results.   A great option is to combine breast lift with breast fat transfer whereby the breast is lifted and fat grafting is used to help shape and slightly increase the volume of the breasts.  Consider your options carefully and Good Luck.
Board Certified plastic surgeon

Andrew Jimerson, MD · Answer

Thank you for your questionYou won’t be able to obtain the best results if you truly need a breast lift and settle for fat transferring. Fat transferring will augment the breast, but to actually lift the breast you would need to remove the extra skin. There’s two different processes. Fat grafting will increase the volume, while a breast lift will physically raise them higher up. As always , I recommend you to speak with your board certified plastic surgeon.Goodluck

Suzanne A. Trott, MD · Answer

It is possible for a fat transfer to give the appearance of a breast lift, the same way that an implant can. An implant cannot lift the breast but it can lift the nipple in certain situations, by filling out the lower pole (bottom part). The same can be done with fat transfer. However, most likely with your breast size and weight loss, this would not be possible with your breasts. If you were a small C cup, with just a little ptosis (sagging) it could work.

Samir Shureih, MD · Answer

If  you need a breast lift, there is nothing but a surgical lift.There is atrophy of the gland, loose skin. Some times you can use techniques that utilize the skin and fat that is usually removed to augment your breast. BUT there will be scars.
Fat transfer to the breast is still in its infancy, and will need a lot of studies before using it. Besides you still will need a lift

Daniel P. Markmann, MD · Answer

Breast implants are not used for breast lifting when you really need a full lift. They help lift breasts that are borderline needing a lift. In many cases, women choose to have large implants in an attempt to avoid having the scars of a lift then return to their plastic surgeon later to have them removed and have a lift because they were unhappy that their breasts were larger than they really wanted. If you need a lift, get a lift. I have never had anyone who regreted having the lift and scars once they saw the beautiful shape of their new breasts.

Peter A. Aldea, MD · Answer

Neither Breast Implants NOR Fat have the lifting qualities of either hot air, hydrogen or Helium and cannot lift a sagging any object which is at the mercy of gravity.
While filling a shriveled, sagging breast envelope MAY temporarily impart a forward vector to the structure, it will not lift it.
As much as you may dislike it, the ONLY way to lift sagging breasts is to remove excess skin and re-arrange the breast tissue. By adding more volume to an already large envelope, one supports the flawed reasoning that the solution to wearing large over-sized, shriveled jeans is not expertly tailoring them along the seams but over-eating to the point of morbid obesity to fill such jeans to eliminate their creases...

Breast Lift Through Fat Transfer to Breasts?

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