Stomach fat removal for breast fat transfer. Which is best - Beautifill, Other Laser Lipo or Tumescent Lipo?

Question

Can docs who utilize both tumescent lipo & laser lipo weigh in on the best method for stomach fat removal for breast fat transfer? In regards to recovery time & best method to avoid ripples & dents at stomach donor site? Docs who have utilize Beautifull is it truly better? I will go to a board certified plastic surgeon but just want some input so I can narrow down treatment options.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear sadechadea,
fat transfer breast augmentation is a viable alternative for women who desire larger breasts without the use of implants. Fat transfer is also widely used in reconstruction of the breast after a mastectomy or lumpectomy. It can also be very effective in correcting the size and shape of the breasts due to genetic problems such as tuberous breast or Poland Syndrome, two conditions that look like misshapen or underdeveloped breasts.In addition, the following scenarios are also reason to consider breast fat grafting:• If you have chest areas that appear creased and sunken• If you desire more permanent correction than is provided by temporary fillers• If you wish to improve your body contour, revise scars, fill bodily depressions and rejuvenate the natural curve of your breasts• To fill in contour irregularities or hide obvious signs of breast implantsYou should discuss your concerns with a board certified plastic surgeon and make sure your surgeon understands your concerns and your breast augmentation goals. Only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Leonard Grossman, MD · Answer

In order to have a successful procedure of breast augmentation with fat, every fat cell needs to be alive. In order to have live fat cells, you have to have a traditional or power assist liposuction for a fat harvest. Any laser liposuction device will destroy fat, completely resulting in zero effect in fat grafting.
I have been performing rest documentation with fat for over 27 years with nearly 100% of fat survival. I hope this helps and good luck from New York City Plastic Surgery.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

Start with I would like to tell you that I am a 59-year-old board-certified plastic surgeon whose career is devoted exclusively to doing only liposuction and fat transfer.
In reality Liposuction and all the terminology used has been purposely made confusing all in the name of greed and money making.
In reality it is actually very simple.
Liposuction has not changed in any significant way in the last 40 years.
The biggest breakthrough have been in learning fat transfer techniques and the research done by Dr. Jeffrey Klein with the use of tumescent solution
All forms of Liposuction Use tumescent solution.
All forms of liposuction use the same small stainless steel cannula‘s connected to a source of vacuum.
Everything else are variables that are fairly insignificant.
There are however two very important variables and these are the two variables you need to focus on.
Everything when it comes to this procedure delivering quality results and getting what you want isn’t based on these two variables.
The first variable is patient candidacy
Not everybody is a good candidate for Liposuction.
Do you understand candidacy you must first get a good assessment. In other words the process begins with getting an accurate diagnosis.
Liposuction only reduces subcutaneous fat.
This means that if there are other variables then subcutaneous fat causing someone’s body to look different than what they wish Liposuction is not going to fix it.
This means ideal candidates for liposuction are generally tight chubby young women.
Some men can also be a good candidate for liposuction but men generally have less subcutaneous fat than women.
Most people seeking liposuction want abdominal liposuction.
There are four variables that determine what the abdomen looks like.
Before variables are skin laxity, excess subcutaneous fat, muscle separation from previous pregnancies and lastly excess and visceral or intra-abdominal fat
If somebody doesn’t like the way their abdomen looks it is always because of one or more of these four variables.
You didn’t include pictures so we can’t even begin to make an assessment for you.
Getting an assessment is very important because people who are not good candidates for Liposuction are never going to have a good result regardless of who does the procedure or what device is used.
This is very important and it is the first step in the process of making correct decisions and ending up with a quality outcome.
Making accurate assessment is not always easy and those who do it well are generally the best providers.
Skin laxity and muscle separation which are generally related to previous pregnancies or potentially weight fluctuations are best treated with a full tummy tuck.
Excess visceral fat can only be reduced with weight loss.
Individuals who have an issue with fat distribution and have excess subcutaneous fat and no other variables can expect to get good liposuction results.
The second variable after patient candidacy is the skill and experience of the surgeon.
Liposuction results have more variation in outcomes based on who does the procedure than any other plastic surgery procedure I have ever seen.
Delivering consistent quality liposuction and fat transfer results is much more difficult than most people believe.
This means that being board-certified and plastic surgery with an overall good reputation and years of experience does not mean somebody has mastered either Liposuction or fat to transfer.
Poorly done Liposuction can leave people disfigured permanently.
Choosing the right provider is paramount and getting a quality outcome. A quality outcome is only possible if you are a good candidate.
To find the right provider you need to personally vets plastic surgeons and differentiate who has the greatest skill and experience.
In my personal opinion this can only be done by having multiple in person consultations.
 I do not believe it’s possible to properly vent plastic surgeons using your computer or telephone.
I recommend patients find providers and get quality assessments and choose the best provider by doing the following.
Make a list of all the major local plastic surgeons in your community.
Look at each providers website and see who has the greatest collection both in regards to quantity and quality of liposuction and fat transfer before and after pictures.
Choose five of the best providers based on available information and schedule in person consultations.
Before having your first consultation you should look at several hundred before and after pictures of Liposuction and fat transfer for the areas you’re interested in.
When reviewing before and after pictures do you need to make sure that you are selecting patients who have similar body characteristics to your own.Start by taking pictures of your own body the same way plastic surgeons take before and after pictures.
Pictures should be taken by someone else or using the timer on your camera. Take pictures from about 8 feet away standing in a neutral position wearing revealing undergarments. You can crop the pictures but they should include your body from your shoulders to your knees.
You need pictures showing your front, side and back side.
Print copies of pictures of yourself.
Bring those pictures with you for reference to all consultations.
Create a rating system or a grading system and what do you believe our quality outcomes of before and after pictures of previous patients who have similar body characteristics to your own.
During each consultation ask each provider to open up their portfolio and show you their entire collection of before and after pictures.
Providers may be apprehensive to do this and I will instead prefer to show you preselected pictures representing the best results of their career.
This is unfortunately not sufficient to give you a good understanding of what average results look like or how many of these procedures any one provider has actually performed.
For reference and experience provider should have no difficulty showing you a minimum of 50 set a before and after pictures of commonly performed procedures like abdominal liposuction or breast fat transfer.
Highly experienced surgeons should have 100s or even thousands of before and after pictures of procedures they perform on a regular basis.
There should be no difficulty in finding examples of previous patient who look very similar to what you do.
Ask providers to only show you before and after pictures of previous patients who have similar body characteristics to your own. this includes the same general age, the same amount of skin laxity, the same overall weight, the same degree of muscle separation or abdominal wall bulging etc. etc.
As providers to show you examples of excellent outcomes, average outcomes and outcomes that did not turn out as well as they had hoped.
We all have a variety of outcomes and it’s fair game for patients to ask to see different types of results.
You’ll know you’re with the right provider when they have what seems like an endless number of before and after pictures to show you are very transparent about different results including results that did not turn out as well as they had hoped.
I suggest you also as providers what the revision rate and revision policy is.
Looking very carefully at each result looking carefully to make sure there are no skin contour irregularities in any of the treated areas.
Ask providers to point out exactly what areas were treated with Liposuction and what areas were not treated. look very carefully at transition zones between treated and untreated areas to make sure they look natural.
Personally I view the torso as a single anatomic unit and generally prefer to treat the entire torso when doing liposuction.
By treating the entire torso patients are left with an even natural thin fat distribution without transition zones between treated and untreated areas.
Breast fat transfer can increase breast volume by 1/2 to maximum 1 cup per procedure.
Fat transfer does not change breast shape in any significant way. fat transfer only makes the breast larger but does not change the shape.
Patients were unhappy with the shape of their breast should consider better procedures.Breast fat transfer results are subtle.
When reviewing fat transfer results it is imperative that you have a clear understanding of when after pictures were taken.
Do not assume that after pictures represent final long-term results.
Early fat transfer pictures can look very impressive but early results did not in anyway represent final results.
Early fat transfer results can create immense fullness going beyond what breast implants can create.
This however is a temporary state and this image does not represent what final results look like.
After pictures from fat transfer should never be taken less than three months from the date of the procedure and preferably more than six months after surgery.
You should specifically ask providers when after pictures were taken and make sure that this is consistent with all the pictures you are being shown.
Highly impressive breast fat transfer results often represent early images that do not represent final outcomes.
Make notes during each consultation about the overall thoroughness of the consultation regarding all aspects of the consultation. This includes review of medical history, examination, assessment, recommendation of procedures including alternatives, risks and complications etc. etc.
Take care footnotes about both the quantity and quality of before and after pictures showing.
Like I mentioned earlier bring printed pictures of your own body to use as a reference making sure that providers are showing you previous patient sweat similar body characteristics to your own.
There are after all only two variables that matter when it comes to quality outcomes for liposuction and fat transfer. They are patient candidacy and skill of the surgeon. You cannot assess the skill of the surgeon if you don’t understand patient candidacy.
This is why it is imperative that surges show you appropriate before and after pictures that a representative of your candidacy for the procedure.
Most people did not have a lot of experience consulting with plastic surgeons.
Plastic surgeons on the other hand have years of experience giving consultations.
Some people find out the experience intimidating and it may not come natural to ask the surgeon to show you pictures other than what they present it to you.
Recognize that you are the one paying for the procedure and you are hiring someone to do a service for you.
You are in charge because you are the customer.
You can ask and insist that they show you were sufficient before and after pictures to make a well educated decision. If they don’t then that is a big red flag and you should go onto your next consultation.
I recommend patient start with at least five in person consultations but the process may require more than that.
Do not pay attention to what equipment they use. None of it makes any difference in comparison to patient candidacy and skill of the surgeon.
Plastic surgeons have the tools they need to do their job.
Would you ever consider asking a plumber what brand of tools they use?
Do you ask your auto mechanic what tools they use?
Do you buy bread from a baker based on what brand oven they use?
Liposuction is no different.
The equipment is not what’s important.
What is important is your candidacy your understanding of your candidacy and choosing the right provider.
Good luck,
Mats Hagstrom MD

Stomach fat removal for breast fat transfer. Which is best - Beautifill, Other Laser Lipo or Tumescent Lipo?

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Stomach fat removal for breast fat transfer. Which is best - Beautifill, Other Laser Lipo or Tumescent Lipo?

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Everything you need to know about Laser Liposuction

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