Risks of using leg fat for fat transfer to breast procedure? (Photo)

Question

I'm wondering about the likelihood of bumpy legs if using my legs as the donor lipo site for a fat transfer to breast procedure. I am 5'6", 130 lbs, 34AA (sz 2 pants). I don't have enough midsection fat to harvest, instead always gaining in my legs. I was told I'd need lipo from saddle bags, banana rolls and front of thighs to get enough, but one place turned me away bc of lumpiness risks from lipo from front and rear. Curious the real risks there?

Robert M. Lowen, MD · Answer

When you are a AA cup, you are not going to get much of an augmentation with fat transfer,  maybe 100-140 cc will remain with a primary fat transfer.  That's why the BRAVA procedure was invented to be able to put more fat in.  Dr. Khouri can do this harvesting from multiple access points and get enough fat for BRAVA breast augmentation or reconstruction, usually staged.  But he's an expert and specializes in this. Us regular plastic surgeons would have to be very careful harvesting fat from smooth normal front of thighs for breast augmentation.  And beware taking anything from the banana, or you will end up with a saggy buttock fold.  Unless you want to settle for an A/B cup or have multiple fat transfer procedures, I would strongly reconsider using implants after all.

Alan Gonzalez, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello @Phenomenal920183, thank you for your question. To make an informed recommendation, more information is needed. A consultation is vital to establishing a surgical plan that meets your needs, meets your expectations, and takes into account what is possible. Best wishes! Alan Gonzalez MD, FACS.  American Society of Plastic Surgery Member (ASPS), International Federation for Adipose Therapeutics and Science Member (IFATS), American Society of Plastic Surgery Member (ASPS), Colombian Society of Plastic Surgery member (SCCP)

Randal Haworth, MD, FACS · Answer

The likelihood of developing bumpy or uneven skin after liposuction can depend on various factors, including the technique used, the skill of the surgeon, and individual healing characteristics.

Liposuction techniques have evolved over time, and newer methods such as tumescent liposuction and ultrasound-assisted liposuction (UAL) aim to minimize the risk of irregularities or contour deformities. However, it's important to understand that there is still a potential for unevenness, especially if large volumes of fat are removed or if the donor site has pre-existing irregularities.

The specific risks associated with liposuction of the front and rear of the thighs (saddle bags and banana rolls) can include contour irregularities, lumpiness, asymmetry, or waviness of the skin. Additionally, if too much fat is removed from these areas, it may result in an unnatural or disproportionate appearance.

To minimize the risk of complications and achieve the best results, it's crucial to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon who has extensive experience in performing liposuction and fat transfer procedures.

I hope this helps,
best of luck !

Joel Patrick Maier, MD · Answer

I would recommend harvesting the fat from your inner thighs, and it looks like you may have some in your lower tummy, but an in-person exam would help in assessing these area. Your skin looks like you have great elasticity so I would not be overly concerned with lumps given good technique. Thank you.

Rodney A. Green, MD · Answer

It is a potential risk of course, but if the technique is meticulous should be possible to avoid irregularity.
I think you are a good candidate

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

Fat is not your best option for an augmentation since you have limited donor fat and very limited breast volume to hold fat. Implants will do better for you and give a better stable result.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD · Answer

Great question! And nicely posted leg/thigh photos, BUT no breasts photos??? Yes you appear to have limited fat but if using a combination of areas like abdomen, flanks, inner thighs, posterior thighs I think you will be about to obtain 1 liter of supernatant fat t transfer to your breasts. Fee from $10,000. Best to virtual consult with....

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

Having a fat transfer, procedure is in fact, having to operations at the same time. Ideally somebody who is a good candidate for fat transfer should be a good candidate for Liposuction and be a good candidate for fat transfer.
Delivering consistent quality, liposuction and fat transfer result is more difficult than most people realize. The number of plastic surgeons who can truly deliver consistent quality results with these procedures is in a small minority.
If somebody doesn’t have the skill to do quality, Liposuction, then you should respect there I think on nature and go with a different provider. That could be harvested from any part of the body successfully not only leaving people without lumps and defect, but hopefully improving body contour as well.
Unfortunately, your pictures are pretty limited. One picture shows your lower abdomen based on that I don’t think it would be that difficult to harvest fat from your torso but there’s no problem harvesting fat from lower extremities or even arms if you prefer.
There are substantial differences in school and experience for both Liposuction and fat transfer among board-certified plastic surgeons, including talented providers, who been in practice for decades. Not everybody is good at Liposuction or fat transfer.
These procedures have more variation and outcomes provider than any other plastic surgery procedure I’ve ever seen. A number of plastic surgeons who truly mastered both Liposuction and fat transfer are in a small minority, and to find a sufficiently talented provider may require having multiple in person consultations. There’s no correct number of consultations needed to find the best provider. The more consultations you have the more likely you are to find the best provider. Considering how much variation there is, and the fact that poorly done Liposuction can leave people permanently disfigured I highly recommend starting the process by having at least five in person, consultations before scheduling, permanent irreversible body contouring procedures.
During each consultation, ask each provider to open up their portfolio and show you their entire collection of before, and after pictures of the previous patient who had similar body characteristics to your own.
Breast fat transfer can increase breast size by approximately 1/2 cup when done correctly by a sufficiently experienced provider. The procedure can increase breast volume by a moderate amount but there’s not do much for changing breast shape. Patients are often not knowledgeable about the inherent limitations of breast fat transfer. It is very subtle and unlike implants, which has a drastic change on breast shape fat transfer tends to leave subtle results, leaving the Braska, looking more or less the same just 1/2 cup larger.
It would’ve been nice if you were included breast pictures so we can make an assessment if this is even a good procedure for you in the first place.
Deciding how much fat can be harvested during Liposuction unload be in my patients can be tricky, but sufficiently experience plastic surgeons should be able to access your candidacy. And experienced provider should have no difficulty showing you the before and after pictures of at least 50 previous patience. When reviewing before, and after pictures, recognize that early postoperative results can look very impressive but do not represent final results. When reviewing before, and after pictures, always confirm that after pictures were taken at least 3 to 6 months from the date of the procedure.
Do not assume plastic surgeons are necessarily showing you final mature outcomes.
This procedure can easily leave people disappointed. The best way to ensure quality outcomes and having the experience be a positive one is to make sure you understand your candidacy for the procedure and find the right provider.
Patients should be more selective than they think necessary when it comes to choosing providers for both Liposuction and Fried to transfer. I highly experienced plastic surgeon who specializes in Liposuction and fat transfer, should ideally have hundreds or thousands of before, and after pictures to choose from to make it very clear what the typical results look like. Seeing a handful of pre-selected images, representing the best results of the providers career is insufficient to get a clear understanding of what average results look like in the hands of each provider. Individual patient’s candidacy for both Liposuction and fat transfer likewise vary greatly from one person to the next. Not everybody is a good candidate for either Liposuction or fat transfer. Ideally somebody considering the procedure should be a good candidate for both. 
Best,
Mats Hagstrom, MD

Risks of using leg fat for fat transfer to breast procedure? (Photo)

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