If I lose weight after the transfer is complete, will my breast stay that size or will they shrink?

Question

I am looking into getting a breast augmentation fat transfer, where I take the fat from my stomach/legs and transfer it to my breast. I am on a diet and my weight tends to fluctuate. Do the breast stay that size for good or can they shrink? I guess I'm just curious as to how this works. I wouldn't want to waste money making my breast the size I want them and then lose them if I end up losing weight after the transfer is complete and I am all healed

Vivek Bansal, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. If you lose weight, fat can be lost from any place, the body is not specific.  You could lose fat from any place fat is present. I hope this helps!

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD · Answer

Be aware that transferred fat retains the biologic characteristics from which it came. So if you use stomach fat for your breast augmentation and then lose weight afterwards, yo will lose some or all of the fat that was transferred.

Andrew M. Lofman, MD, FACS · Answer

Fat transfer sounds like the perfect idea for breast augmentation. Unfortunately, it is really only a good procedure for very small augmentations. Implants work much better for a much more predictable result.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

Fat transfer to the breasts often does not achieve the volume that patient want for the  long term unless they want fairly small breasts or multiple treatments.  The most reliable way to augment the breasts are with implants.

Melek Kayser, MD (retired) · Answer

Thank you for your question. Fat grafting is an excellent procedure for the right patient. This would include patients who desire to have a completely natural breast and who are willing to accept the possibility that there could be some fluctuation in cup size either after surgery or with weight change. It is important to understand that fat is living tissue and, therefore, must be transferred in a way that maximizes its potential to survive. Because of this, there can be some inconsistency with regard to changes in volume after transfer, and with alterations in weight, transfer of fat will also maintain that characteristic after it is placed into the breast. For a woman who desires to be disproportionately large, or in a patient who has a breast that will simply not accept a large volume of fat, an implant is most likely the best choice as this provides a constant and fixed volume that reliably reproduces the cup size that patients are fitted for in the office. However, implants are man-made devices and it is communicated to each patient in my practice, that at some point in a patient's life, the implant will have to be removed and with that, additional costs and surgery. In situations where the tissue characteristics are restrictive, the use of a Brava dome may be necessary in order to achieve a larger size, otherwise, a patient may desire to undergo an additional procedure.  Needless to say, it would be essential that you seek out a board certified plastic surgeon who has had experience in the use of fat grafting procedures. I hope this helps and have a wonderful day. Dr Kayser - Saint Clair Shores, Michigan

If I lose weight after the transfer is complete, will my breast stay that size or will they shrink?

Answers (5)

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