How Long is the Process of Fat Grafting to Breasts?

Question

This question is posed to doctors who perform fat grafting to the breast. On average how long does the procedure take, and what is your average cost? Secondly why do some board certified plastic surgeons perform the procedure in less than two hours and others take six. What is the reason for the huge discrepancy? Thank you for your time Doctors!

Thomas Fiala, MD, FACS, FRCSC · Answer

There are 3 parts to fat transfer, and the length of time can vary a lot depending on the techniques used.

	Part 1)  liposuction of the donor sites.  If small cannulas or syringe liposuction is used - it takes longer.

	Part 2) processing the fat.  Centrifuging the fat in small volumes takes longer.

	Part 3) injecting the processed fat into the new area.  Using micro-injection techniques takes longer.

	Surgeons debate which technique is better.  Some experts, like Dr. Coleman of NYC, feel that the longer way at each step gives the best results.

	Most surgeons report that fat grafting to the breast takes between 3-6 hours, depending on the exact methods used.  Dr. DelVecchio of Boston, and Dr. Khouri of Tampa have been making important contributions in trying to reduce the procedure time, but still get good results.

Jed H. Horowitz, MD, FACS · Answer

fat grafting is still not widely accepted by plastic surgeons but is becoming more popular:

	
		it has been used worldwide a number of yearsa
	
		if done correctly at least 60% of the fat should remain as living fat
	
		it has been used widely for gluteal augmentation
	
		it shouldn't take more than 2-3 hours but it depends on how much liposuction is being done and the cannula technique preferred
	
		there is no complete agreement on best technique

Brooke R. Seckel, MD, FACS · Answer

As pointed out by several experts in previous posts the Fat Transfer procedure for Breast enlargement of Breast Augmentation takes 2-3 hours.

	Some surgeons take longer and justify their time by very careful Fat Transfer injection in small amounts and claim superior results as a result of their technique as is done by Dr Coleman in New York.

	Dr's Khouri and Del Vecchio have recently made strides in reducing the time required.

	The key is to find an expert who is used to doing Fat Transfer to the Breast, choosing a Plastic Surgeon you are comfortable with and trusting the doctor to use the best technique to achieve your result. Let the doctor worry about the time involved.

Lauren Greenberg, MD · Answer

Fat grafting is a growing movement for breast augmentation and reconstruction.  The "typical" breast augmentation case takes around 2 1/2 hours, which includes the liposuction to harvest the fat, the processing of the fat, and the time to inject it.

	Time variation? There are many reasons for this.  Is the fat hard to harvest? A skinny woman with little fat may take longer to harvest because you have to work harder to find the fat and harvest enough.  As with everything, when you are newer at doing the procedure (which most doctors are as this technique still is not mainstream) it may take a little longer.  I spent time with Dr. Khouri in Miami (who along with DelVeccio are among the most experienced) who has a team of people who assist him and do it day in and day out- so his times are likely faster.  Also, for some of my patients, they don't mind if I harvest a little extra fat, to maximize the changes from the liposuction portion of the procedure.

	Cost? This will vary by surgeon, time, where you live.

Mario Diana, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question.  As you can see, there is a dramatic difference in opinions among plastic surgeons on this issue.  You will note that Surgeons who routinely perform this procedure, have great outcomes like Dr. Del Vecchio, and have the background to discuss the science, will tell you that this is the single most important development in breast surgery in the past 10 years.

	Fat transfer works well, it has good results, and with comparatively less issues than other breast surgery options, in the right group of patients.  You should consider a consultation with a Surgeon who is experienced with this technique, has performed more than a few cases, and has adequate follow up to discuss outcomes with you.

	In terms of the time required for this procedure, Surgeons who are more experienced with the technique will take less time than others who are not.  We usually can perform a fat transfer to the breast in between one and two hours. I would encourage you to look into this option in your area.

How Long is the Process of Fat Grafting to Breasts?

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How Long is the Process of Fat Grafting to Breasts?

Answers (11)

Answer: How long does fat injection to the breast take?

Answer: How long does fat injection to the breast take?

Answer: Fat graft or fat transfer for breast augmentation

Answer: Fat graft or fat transfer for breast augmentation

Answer: Fat Transfer or Fat Grafting for Breast Augmentation time varies with the technique of the Plastic Surgeon

Answer: Fat Transfer or Fat Grafting for Breast Augmentation time varies with the technique of the Plastic Surgeon

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Everything you need to know about Breast Fat Transfer

Answer: Fat grafting to the breast - time and cost

Answer: Fat grafting to the breast - time and cost

Answer: Fat grafting to the breast works

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Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.