Are there any alternatives to a saline or silicone implant for breast augmentation?

Hello,I'm sure your husband is not alone in his thinking, however most people report that silicone cohesive gel implants feel VERY close to the real thing and many people cannot tell the difference. They are typically less palpable, less prone to rippling and have better movement and feel than Saline. Fat grafting for breasts has limitations in the small size increase and multiple treatments possibly required. Only about 2/3 of the fat injected can be expected to remain.There are risks and considerations for fat grafting as with all surgery.   I recommend that you book a consultation with a board certified Plastic Surgeon who specialises in both methods and compare each. Try on silicone sizers in the office to get an idea of the look and feel. Ultimately, I hope  you will choose what you are most comfortable with. All the best

Many people assume that implants always look fake but it is only the ones that are obvious that get noticed; most implants look and feel natural and it is likely that you have friends that have them but you would never guess. The only realistic alternative to implants is fat grafting, which is less predictable, often requires more than one session, and provides a comparatively smaller amount of volume. 

Flaps from your tummy can be used for breast augmentation or free fat grafting. However neither are as reliable or efficient as breast implants. Saline implants are very doable through a tummy tuck incision. No incisions need be made on your breast itself. Fat grafting can increase the breast size a half to one cup size. An implant is more predictable in te4rms of shape and size of the new breast and can increase breast size by two cup sizes. Good luck... 

Fat grafting can be used for breast augmentation.  It will require you to have fat to donate from another area on your body and you may need multiple fat transfers to achieve your desired results.

Fat grafting is still in its infancy.  I doubt you will get a meaningful change with fat, assuming you have enough to harvest.  Has your husband felt silicone implants?  He may have a skewed perception of what is out there! I feel like most women (and their husbands) and very happy from silicone implants!  Take your husband with you to consult with a BCPS and that should help!

Fat grafting is a good option for you, but the IDEAL implant is also a good saline breast implant option as it looks and feels like silicone, but only has saline on the inside.

If you or your husband are opposed to saline or silicone breast implants, you may consider a fat transfer to the breasts for augmentation. It is an effective procedure in the right patient. You will likely only be able to increase your bra cup size by one full cup since about 50% of the fat will shrink a few months after surgery. You must have some available fat (usually the abdomen or thighs) and also have breast tissue that is not too tight; meaning it will expand with the injected fat. Consult with a surgeon who is experienced with fat transfer techniques for a consultation in person.Best wishes,Dr.Bruno

Thank you for your questions and congratulations on your mommy makeover decision.  Though implants are a very safe and reliable method of replacing or increasing the volume of a woman's breasts, some prefer not to have implants.  Fat grafting is a method of using liposuction to remove fat from another part of your body, "cleaning" it of impurities, and then reinjecting the fat into your breasts for volume. This is common in the breast reconstructive population after breast cancer, but has become increasingly popular for cosmetic purposes.  There are issues with fat grafting in that it normally can provide approximately a cup size of increase to your breasts, and may require multiple rounds of grafting to reach a desired size.  Since many women who have smaller breasts are already thin, there also needs to be enough fat elsewhere on their body to be able to transfer.  See a board certified plastic surgeon for an in-person assessment.  They can discuss with you the best treatment option for your particular situation.  

Fat Transfer to the breast has become more popular in the press, but we do not perform this procedure as we do not believe that it has been properly proven as a safe, dependable, and cost effective means of performing breast augmentation. There are also possible side effects that one must consider, including the risk of scarring on a mammogram that can complicate detection of breast cancer. Other side effects are possible infection, fat resorption necessitating more sessions of fat grafting, and possible asymmetry. I'm sorry to hear that your husband is so against implants.  Implant based breast augmentation is very safe and predictable with an extremely high patient satisfaction rating in our practice. Fat grafting is best for breast contour irregularities. Very large amounts of fat and possible multiple sessions would be needed to approximate the result of large breast implants for breast augmentation. Perhaps it would be helpful for him to go to a consultation with you. This will allow him to express his concerns directly with the surgeon and perhaps might help your plight. Best of luck!

Thank you for your question.  Fat transferred to the breasts can be an alternative to breast implants.  In my practice, I use implants to augment the breasts.  If you are seriously considering a fat transfer to your breasts, please be sure that you discuss this option with a surgeon who is board certified in plastic surgery as well as an expert in the procedure.All the best,Dr. ResultsMiami, FL