risk of complications for breast fat transfer to breasts that had a breast lift 3 years ago?

Dear Darwin88,
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, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Hello,
Thank you for the question.
Fat transfer to the breasts procedure also known as breast lipofilling which can help increase breast volume and projection, and it can be performed after previous breast procedures. This is usually done through tiny incisions with minimal scarring. It also allows improvement of contour in the areas where the liposuction is performed in order to harvest the fat for transfer.
In general, about 50-70% of transferred fat will survive after the surgery and the fat that does survive will act like normal fat. Often, more than one fat transfer session is required to achieve desired results.
I suggest that you seek an in person consultation with a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon specializing in Breast surgeries to further discuss your options, specific techniques, concerns and expectations. Make sure you specifically look at before and after pictures of real patients who have had this surgery performed by your surgeon and evaluate their results.
I hope this helps.
Best, Dr. Karanetz
Dr. Irena KaranetzBreast Fellowship TrainedBoard Certified Plastic Surgeon

There is very little risks of fat emboli from a fat transfer to the breasts. I do not feel the complications are higher post breast lift, however, there will undoubtedly be residual scar tissue hindering some of the fat transfer but should not significantly interfere with augmenting your breasts.
Please remember that fat transfers to the breasts routinely increase the breast only 1/2 cup size (one cup size increase in rare cases).
Best wishes.
Dr. Taranow

The risk of fat emboli is very low with fat transfer to the breasts. The fat will be placed inside actual breast tissue instead of scar tissue and should be successful. However, your surgeon who examines you can tell you best what can and cannot be done with fat.

Breast fed transfer is a subtle procedure that can give 1/2 to maximum one cup of volume increase. The procedure does not improve the rest shape significantly. The shape remains the same the breast only becomes larger.
It’s really important to recognize if your concern is truly regarding breast size or if you want a different shape.
For improving breast shaped implants are generally a far superior option.
Fat transfer does not give a good fullness in the upper half of the breast sometimes called upper pole.
Grafted fat survives based on where you have a host tissue to support Grafted fat. Areas that are naturally thin to start with will only accept small amounts of grafted fat in areas where you have more bountiful volume will have more fat survive.
Grafted fat survives based on where you have a host tissue to support grafted fat.
Delivering consistent liposuction and fat transfer results is more difficult than most people believe.
Patients need to get an accurate assessment in regards to both Liposuction and fat transfer and likewise need to properly vent plastic surgeons in regards to skill for both Liposuction and fat transfer.
I suggest scheduling multiple in person consultations for local board-certified plastic surgeons in your community.
Serious medical complications are typically uncommon with both Liposuction and fat transfer but dissatisfaction and poor aesthetic outcomes are fairly common.
Liposuction and to some degree fat transfer should be considered a permanent and irreversible operation.
If done poorly people can be left disfigured.
During each consultation as providers to open up your portfolio and show you their entire collection of before and after pictures.
Look very carefully at all areas treated with Liposuction to make sure there are no skin contour irregularities. As providers to differentiate areas treated with Liposuction and what areas were not treated and looking very carefully at transition zones between treated and untreated areas.
For fat transfer results it is imperative to have a clear understanding of the timeframe when after pictures were taken.
Early fat transfer results can look very impressive but do not in anyway represent final results.
After pictures should never be taken less than three months and preferably six months or longer from the date of the procedure.
For most patients implants are a superior option for aesthetic breast augmentation.
Having had a previous mastopexy should not have major implications to the ability to graft fat.
Understanding your own candidacy for the procedure and choosing your surgeon wisely are the two most important variables.
It’s critical to have a good understanding of what both Liposuction and fat transfer can and cannot achieve for anyone individual.
Candidacy for the procedure varies greatly among different individuals.
The ideal candidate for the procedure should be an excellent candidate for Liposuction and be interested in only a modest increase in breast volume and be content with their breast shape.
The simplest way to describe an excellent Liposuction candidate would be to say someone who is “young tight and pudgy”.
I suggest starting off by scheduling at least five in person consultations and consider scheduling more if necessary.
An experience provider should have no difficulty showing you at least 50 that’s a before and after pictures of commonly performed procedures.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom MD