Considering larger breasts? You have two main cosmetic surgery options when it comes to increasing the size of your breasts: Breast augmentation with breast implants or fat transfer breast augmentation.

Below, we’ll be taking a closer look at the latter by outlining the major fat transfer to breast pros and cons. But first, what is fat transfer to breast surgery?

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What Is Fat Transfer to Breast Surgery?

Fat transfer to breast surgery is a cosmetic procedure that takes the patient’s unwanted body fat (from the abdomen, back, flanks, thighs, arms, chin, etc.) and transfers that fat to the breasts. If you look at fat transfer to breast before and after photos, you’ll notice this surgery can reduce unwanted fat elsewhere on the body while modestly increasing the size of the breasts.

Now, let’s go over the pros and cons of fat transfer to breast surgery.

Pros of Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation

No breast implants required

With a fat transfer procedure, no breast implants are needed to augment your breast size. For many women, this is a great benefit simply because the idea of having foreign objects in their bodies is unappealing.

Likewise, if you don’t have implants, you don’t have to worry about issues such as capsular contracture (hard and painful scar tissue), breast implant illness (BII), or ruptures.

No regular imaging tests required to check on implants

With silicone implants, especially, patients need to be periodically checked for potential breast implant ruptures. This can be annoying to many patients and expensive.

Furthermore, if a rupture is indeed found (whether through an imaging scan or by the naked eye after a rupture of saline implants), breast implant surgery will needed to remove and replace the implant.

Natural looking results

The breast size increase you achieve with a fat transfer to breast will look very natural. This is because we are using your body’s own fat to make the size adjustment.

Reduction of unwanted body fat

For many patients, one of the most exciting benefits of fat transfer breast augmentations is the reduction of fat cells from “trouble areas” like the waist, flanks, and back. We can also take fat from the upper arms, thighs, chin, and elsewhere. This fat grafting element means that breast fat transfer surgery is like a two-for-one procedure.

Minimal scarring

Traditional breast implant surgery does not leave very noticeable scars, but the scars that result from fat transfer breast augmentation are even smaller.

Liposuction leaves the most significant scarring when compared to those left by the fat injections. And even then, these scars are typically just a few millimeters long. Once they heal, they should flatten, blend, and fade with your surrounding skin so that each one usually ends up looking like just a small freckle.

Cons of Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation

Breast volume increases have to be modest

Unfortunately, breast fat transfer procedures can only achieve a breast size increase of up to about one cup size. This varies, of course, but one half to one full cup size is the average breast size increase. If you want breasts that are larger than what a fat transfer can achieve, breast implants are the best option.

Patients must have enough fat to start with

Some patients will not be good candidates for this surgery because they simply don’t have enough unwanted body fat. With that said, not having enough excess body fat for a breast fat transfer is actually rare. It’s more likely that a patient might not have enough excess fat for a more significant fat transfer procedure such as a BBL (Brazilian butt lift).

Not all fat survives the transfer process

Finally, in order for the fat transfer to be successful and for the resulting breast tissue to actually plump up and make the breasts appear larger, the transferred fat must survive. There is really no way of knowing how much fat will make it through this process.

Following your recovery instructions closely, resting, sleeping in the proper position, and keeping pressure off your chest will help to aid fat retention, but in rare cases, not enough fat will survive the transfer to achieve your original goals.

FAQ: Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation

How much fat do I need to go up a cup size with fat transfer breast augmentation?

Naturally, you need to have enough excess unwanted body fat in order to qualify for fat transfer breast augmentation. The truth is, however, most patients do qualify because only a small amount of fat needs to be transferred with this procedure.

Can I get a fat transfer breast augmentation with my breast lift?

Definitely! Most plastic surgeons will absolutely perform a fat transfer breast augmentation with lift.

It’s not uncommon for breast lift patients to also want a slight increase in size along with correcting their sagging breasts. This results in larger, perkier, more lifted breasts and the added benefit of fat reduction (liposuction) in the areas where you have unwanted fat deposits.

Set Up a Consultation with Dr. Sieber Today

Considering breast augmentation but not sure whether a fat transfer or implants are best for you? Double board certified plastic surgeon Dr. David Sieber can help point you in the right direction. At your consultation, Dr. Sieber will meet with you one-on-one to discuss your goals, assess your anatomy, and present you with your best options.

A breast volume increase with a natural look via fat transfer breast augmentation is totally achievable for the majority of patients. Call today to schedule your consultation with Dr. Sieber. We look forward to hearing from you!

References

https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/blog/fat-grafting-for-breast-augmentation