How long is recovery for fat transfer breast augmentation?

Hi, thank you for your question on RealSelf.Fat transfer for breast augmentation has been a "hot topic" in the news recently. Many women want larger breasts but are afraid of implanting a foreign body like a silicone or saline implants. This newer technology of transferring one's fat is an alternative to implant augmentation by using one's own body fat. It is a technique that is not broadly offered among plastic surgeons. The reason is the results are extremely variable and somewhat inconsistent in most surgeons hands. The fat being transferred is a graft. Not all of it will live after the transfer. Additionally, some of the fat can die and result in small pockets of "fat necrosis" or dead fat cells. If these pockets are large enough, they need to be excised. Also, it is recommended to use a Brava device preoperatively. This is a large suction device that "sucks" the breasts for usually 12-14 hours per day for a couple weeks prior to the surgery.Recovery after fat grafting is approximately 4-6 weeks. Sports bra at 2-3 weeks, squeezing the breast at 4 weeks, stomach sleeping at 4-5 weeks, sex anytime (avoiding breast manipulation). Thanks for your question. I hope this helps.- Dr. Bryson G. Richards, MD

Fat transfer to the breast is often performed in conjunction with other procedures, such as liposuction, mastopexy, and, yes, even breast augmentation, because fat can be used to further shape the breast, or balance breast asymmetries after the breast implants are placed.  In these cases, the timetable of recovery is often dictated by the surgeries done concomitantly with fat transfer.  However, it is important to remember that when fat transfer is being performed, there are at least two operative sites, the target site of fat transfer, in this case the breasts, and the site of fat harvest, usually the lower abdomen or the flanks.  In most cases in which fat transfer to the breast is the only procedure performed, the length of recovery is a function of the number of sites from which the fat is harvested.  In our practice, we place our patients who have had fat transfer to the breast into a surgical bra immediately at the end of surgery, as well as a compression garment for the harvest site.  Patients usually wear this compression garment for a month. Additionally, the skin over the sites of fat harvest is covered with Reston foam for a week.  Patients are usually ambulating the night of surgery.  If they have a desk job, and only one or two sites of fat harvest were used, they can often return to work within two or three days after the procedure.  If more sites were used, or a larger volume of fat was harvested, or the patient has a more physically demanding job, a patient may take a week off before returning to work.  Patients usually return to the gym, or their regular exercise routine about a month after the surgery, although it is important to emphasize that they should gradually transition to a full intensity workout over the course of two to three weeks.  One last point bears emphasis: although it is fine for patients to apply ice to the sites of fat harvest after the surgery for analgesia, patients should NOT apply ice to the sites of fat transfer for at least a month after the procedure, as the cold temperature will kill the transferred fat cells.

Excellent questions. Fat grafting involves the harvesting of fat from one area of the body such as the belly and placing it in another area such as the breasts. The fat cells immediately start developing new blood vessels to allow the grafted cells to survive in their new home. This process requires time and most importantly stability while those tiny blood vessels grow. Excessive movement will inhibit the growth of the blood vessels and compromise the result. I recommend patient avoid strenuous activity, exercise or sexual activity for 3 weeks. I recommend back sleeping only for 3 weeks as well. I use a gentle support bra immediately that is continued for 3-6 weeks.
Best wishes,
Dr. Jan