How Long is the Process of Fat Grafting to Breasts?

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.

Fat Grafting to the breast can be routinely performed by a single surgeon in under two hours.  This is a fact.  See the link below for our  paper published in June, 2011 Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.  The average volume of breast increase long term was 250cc, or a doubling of breast size.  Patients who have results at 4-6 months have kept their results 4-5 years now.  Fat grafting to the breast can result in mammographic abnormalities , however, these are readily distinguishable from cancer.  The statement "most of the fat goes away"  is simply not true.  I would encourage any of our colleagues who inform patients that fat grafting does not work or is not safe to read the exciting work that is comng out in our specialty's journals.    Although I perform many breast augmentations, I believe implants have their own set of problems.  Where this will settle out is that there will be a subset of women who will prefer natural fat for minor augmentation, and there will always be a need for implant augmentations.  The two are not interchangable, have different aesthetic results, and will appeal to different patient groups.

 

Dr Daniel Del Vecchio, Boston

bostonbreastcenter.com