Mortality rate breast fat transfer

Question

I would like to get fat transferred from the abdomen and flanks to breasts. Is there any significant evidence of the mortality rate of this procedure?

Justin Yovino, MD, FACS · Answer

We have been performing this procedure for over a decade and have found it to be very safe. This is especially true with the procedure being performed under local anesthesia and not general anesthesia.

Harry T. Haramis, MD, FACS · Answer

Understanding concerns with any surgery, in healthy individuals, liposuction with fat transfer to the breasts should be very safe and risks while not 0% should be extremely low.

In my experience, liposuction with fat transfer 
should offer great results in proper candidates.

An exam and consultation with a plastic surgeon who performs these procedures is recommended to confirm you are a candidate as well as discuss your options and expectations.

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

The mortality rate for liposuction to the abdomen and flanks and fat transfer to the breast done by a board-certified plastic surgeon in a certified facility or facility well prepared for emergencies is very low. It is a much lower risk than driving home at 5 pm in the city.

Douglas Taranow, DO, FACOS · Answer

Fat transfer to the breasts appears to be a very safe (and somewhat effective) procedure.  The mortality rate is extremely small and I have not heard of a death following a fat transfer to the breasts.
Normal complication exist:
Bleeding, infection, scar tissue formation, fat necrosis, asymmetry, fluid accumulation (hematoma or seroma).  All of these complications are very rare.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

I’m not heard of a single case of someone dying from breast fat, transfer surgery. Patients have certainly died in the past from Liposuction, and it certainly possible to have complications from fat transfer including fatal outcomes.
When discussing and thinking about complication, complication rates need to be taken in context with the various outcomes. For example, an average automobile driver has a one in 10,000 chance of dying from driving a car during one year. The chance of dying in an automobile accident over a lifetime is 1 in 93. 
Most people get in cars and drive on a regular basis without ever thinking about this as something that could kill them. Statistically having a safe elective surgical procedures isn’t all that different than driving a car.
Perhaps you’ve been reading too many scary things on the Internet.
In my opinion, what you should be focused on is if having the procedure is a good idea in the first place. Breast fat transfer is a pretty limited procedure and there are substantial number of plastic surgeons were not particularly good at Liposuction or fat transfer. 
The chance of ending up being disfigured from Liposuction is very real. The chance of dying from the procedure while theoretically possible is highly unlikely.
Breast fat transfer can increase breast size by about 1/2 cup. You can get about 50% total increase in breast size if done by sufficiently talented providers. The outcome of this procedure varies greatly among surgeons. In the hands of a less talented provider, you may not see any significant visible long-term increase. the procedure while it can increase breast size does virtually nothing to change the breast shape. For patients who aren’t happy with their breast shape fat transfer is not a good procedure. Understanding the difference between needing breast size and needing a change in breast shape is something that most people completely overlook.
Understanding, if you’re a candidate for the procedure in the first place is the first step in this process. The second step is to find the right provider. These two variables are the only variables that actually matter when it comes to long-term quality outcomes. 
The two single most important variables for any cosmetic surgical procedure are the patient’s candidacy for the procedure and choosing a sufficient talented Provider.
When patients are left, disappointed from cosmetic surgical procedures, it is almost always, because of one of those two variables. Either they weren’t a good candidate in the first place or they did not vet providers thoroughly enough.
To understand your candidacy for the procedure, which includes both fat transfer, and Liposuction I suggest having multiple in person consultations. During each consultation, ask each provider to open up their entire portfolio and show you their entire collection of before, and after pictures of previous patients who had similar body and breast characteristics to your owner. And experience plastic surgeon should have no difficulty showing you that before and after pictures of at least 50 previous patients. Recognize that early fat transfer results can look very impressive but do not in anyway represent final results. Do not assume that after pictures showing represent final after results. It takes a minimum of 3 to 6 months for Fat Transfer results to be final. Early fat transfer results can look very impressive. These do not represent final results. Always confirm the exact timeframe of when after pictures were taken when reviewing before, and after pictures for this procedure. Unfortunately, temptation leads some providers to show early results which does no one Any favor since it sets expectations incorrectly in what the procedure can deliver as a long-term final outcome. The results of breast-fat transfer even when done by sufficiently experienced providers is still quite subtle, and as I mentioned earlier, it does not change breast shape in any significant way.
Considering how much variation there is in both Liposuction and fat transfer skills among plastic surgeons, I suggest starting the process by having at least five in person consultations. Take carful notes during each consultation especially regarding the quantity and quality of before and after pictures.
I don’t think anyone has compiled compiles on fatality of this procedure, since it is extremely rare.
My best guess is that the fatality rate is probably around one in 30,000. 
That is somewhere between the mortality of a full tummy tuck, which is one in 13,000 and the mortality of Liposuction, which is one in 50,000.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom, MD

Mortality rate breast fat transfer

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