Saline Direct Injection 700 CCs to Breast to Stretch Tissue During Fat Graft Consult, is This Safe?

Question

Hi, I recently went in for a fat graft to breast consult and was told my tissue was too tight and that I could stretch the tissue with a saline injection. I agreed, knowing saline is a safe substance, and was shortly injected with 350 ccs of saline to each breast (700ccs total). The dr did it himself, there are 3 puncture marks on each breast, sterile needles and local anesthesia was used. By the evening, all the saline had been reabsorbed by my body. Are there any dangers to this?

Sarah Mess, MD · Answer

This type of procedure received some press within the last year as the "24 hour breast augmentation". As you saw, the results are short lived. Fat transfer in tight breasts typically requires a series of transfers to achieve optimal results. You can see several examples of this on the web page referenced below. I think you will receive better results with a staged procedure than with saline.

Kurtis Martin, MD · Answer

I don't see any benefit to this as it won't stretch the breast at all and the saline will be gone in a few hours. The Brava would make more sense and does work.

Gerald Minniti, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello SamyOrien,

	If you are considering this procedure, you should have it performed by Dr. DelVecchio in Boston.  He is one of the leading scientists and professor at Harvard involved in this newly evolving technique.  He utilizes a 'vacuum bra' to stretch the tissues out.  Regardless, this is a very involved process requiring a lot of time on your part to be down and not fully functioning.  Fat grafting is difficult to quantify and unreliable, in the best of hands.  Breast augmentation utilizing breast implants is reliable, quantifiable, effective, and most importantly safe.

	Best of luck!

Ronald Schuster, MD · Answer

I can't imagine that this is legit. Be very cautious. The saline is going to be absorbed very quickly and will not be able to "stretch" the breast to accept the fat. Before fat fat grafting, most women have to wear an external Brava device to expand their breast tissue. There is also a limit to how much fat can be successfully placed into the breast at one time. Do your homework before proceeding.

Raja Mohan, MD · Answer

This is safe but does not last very long. It was a short fad.
Most patients want something that last longer so I recommend either breast augmentation with implants or serial fat grafting.
Hope this helps.

Nina S. Naidu, MD, FACS · Answer

Hi, saline injection to the breasts is safe, especially if sterile technique is used as was done in your case.  However, as you noted in your own case, saline reabsorbs very quickly, and will not provide long-term expansion of the breast tissues.  Some surgeons will inject saline to give patients an idea of how they might appear following surgery.  The Brava system, which unfortunately is no longer available, was the most effective way of stretching the tissues to accommodate volume from fat grafting.  At this time, I recommend to patients that they have smaller amounts injected, which may require two or more surgeries to achieve their final volume.  Best wishes.

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

Injecting saline directly into breasts is safe but very temporary.  The saline will be quickly absorbed by your body, and any stretching obtained will also quickly resettle.  Using the Brava system, you can obtained better prestretching of your breasts.  Some women have too small and too tight of tissue for fat transfer.  Just because it can be shoved there does not mean it should be.  You may be one who will need a series of fat grafting, or best treated with breast implants.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD · Answer

Never heard of this option before. Either use the Brava or have serial fat grafting surgeries. I agree with the use of Dr Del Vecchio in Boston, see what he says.

Karol A. Gutowski, MD, FACS · Answer

Based on what you describe, this should not hurt you or your breasts. Many surgeons do a similar thing when they injection tumescent fluid during a breast reduction.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

This can only give you an idead of what you may look like with the additional volume. Sicne the water absorbs so qucikly, I doubt that it would have an substantial long term effects.

Saline Direct Injection 700 CCs to Breast to Stretch Tissue During Fat Graft Consult, is This Safe?

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