I’m 40 years old and used to be a full B cup before pregnancies and breastfeeding. I would like to restore some fullness to my breasts, but prefer to not have implants. I am 5’7, 122 pounds. I’ve always been lean. I’ve had two consultations already and both surgeons have politely told me I don’t have enough fat to harvest, but they both only looked from waist up, no consideration of butt or thighs. Is fat transfer based solely on BMI? I think I have enough fat if taken from different areas.
Answer: What is the minimum BMI for a breast fat transfer? Or is it judged on a case by case basis? I hate to tell you but the surgeons you saw were right. It is not that you do not have any fat to transfer, but a matter of how fat transfer works. Lets just say that you are a B cup and want to restore fullness up to a C cup, for example. One cup size of volume is about 150-200 cc, for both breasts, you are going to need to retain a total of 300-400 cc of volume. Take into account that breast fat transfer long term maybe retains 50% of the volume injected, so now you are needing 600-800 cc of fat. Now take into account that if the fat is cleaned and processed prior to injection for maximum purity and retention, about 30% of the fat removed will not be suitable for injection, now you are going to need about 800-1000 cc of fat for a reasonable transfer. So now maybe you have a better understanding of why they felt you were not a good candidate. You have two options, if you really want the result no matter what, then consider an implant. If you are 100% against implants, then you can proceed with fat transfer but understand that the chance of a contour deformity in the donor sites is significant and also you have to be accepting of the possibility that at 3-6 months from surgery, you notice no difference in the overall volume of the breasts (not likely, but possible given the unpredictability of fat).
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
Answer: What is the minimum BMI for a breast fat transfer? Or is it judged on a case by case basis? I hate to tell you but the surgeons you saw were right. It is not that you do not have any fat to transfer, but a matter of how fat transfer works. Lets just say that you are a B cup and want to restore fullness up to a C cup, for example. One cup size of volume is about 150-200 cc, for both breasts, you are going to need to retain a total of 300-400 cc of volume. Take into account that breast fat transfer long term maybe retains 50% of the volume injected, so now you are needing 600-800 cc of fat. Now take into account that if the fat is cleaned and processed prior to injection for maximum purity and retention, about 30% of the fat removed will not be suitable for injection, now you are going to need about 800-1000 cc of fat for a reasonable transfer. So now maybe you have a better understanding of why they felt you were not a good candidate. You have two options, if you really want the result no matter what, then consider an implant. If you are 100% against implants, then you can proceed with fat transfer but understand that the chance of a contour deformity in the donor sites is significant and also you have to be accepting of the possibility that at 3-6 months from surgery, you notice no difference in the overall volume of the breasts (not likely, but possible given the unpredictability of fat).
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
January 23, 2023
Answer: Breast augmentation with implants vs. fat grafting You would be excellent candidate for augmentation with small implants. Although augmentation of the breasts can be achieved with fat grafting, in your case 2-3 stages may be needed, about 6 months appart. Combination of small implant and fat grafts can be a good solution for you as well. Hope this helps.
Helpful
January 23, 2023
Answer: Breast augmentation with implants vs. fat grafting You would be excellent candidate for augmentation with small implants. Although augmentation of the breasts can be achieved with fat grafting, in your case 2-3 stages may be needed, about 6 months appart. Combination of small implant and fat grafts can be a good solution for you as well. Hope this helps.
Helpful
January 24, 2023
Answer: Breast fat grafting Based on your photos, I agree with your consultants. Even if you target your back, flanks, lateral thighs, and anterior thighs for fat harvesting, the volume probably won't be enough to significantly change your breast volume.
Helpful
January 24, 2023
Answer: Breast fat grafting Based on your photos, I agree with your consultants. Even if you target your back, flanks, lateral thighs, and anterior thighs for fat harvesting, the volume probably won't be enough to significantly change your breast volume.
Helpful
January 20, 2023
Answer: It's not BMI Plastic surgeons can expertly assess how much fat can be removed, filtered/re-processed, and delivered back into the recipient site. It has nothing to do with your height and weight (BMI). This determination is done by skin pinch. You would see a minimal result given your lean body habitus. Get implants from and expert and you will happy for decades. If your fear is breast implant illness, then good news. It's likely a psychosomatic process or other something else. What it isn't is silicone, heavy metals, or unusual bacteria.
Helpful
January 20, 2023
Answer: It's not BMI Plastic surgeons can expertly assess how much fat can be removed, filtered/re-processed, and delivered back into the recipient site. It has nothing to do with your height and weight (BMI). This determination is done by skin pinch. You would see a minimal result given your lean body habitus. Get implants from and expert and you will happy for decades. If your fear is breast implant illness, then good news. It's likely a psychosomatic process or other something else. What it isn't is silicone, heavy metals, or unusual bacteria.
Helpful
January 20, 2023
Answer: Fat transfer It would be tough to get enough fat for transfer and doing so may cause dents where the fat is harvested from. I can understand not wanting silicone implants. Consider saline implants . They work great and are very trouble free compared to silicone. Results from fat transfer are often mediocre at best and don’t gain weight to get more fat. I know many surgeons advise that. Stay thin
Helpful
January 20, 2023
Answer: Fat transfer It would be tough to get enough fat for transfer and doing so may cause dents where the fat is harvested from. I can understand not wanting silicone implants. Consider saline implants . They work great and are very trouble free compared to silicone. Results from fat transfer are often mediocre at best and don’t gain weight to get more fat. I know many surgeons advise that. Stay thin
Helpful
