Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation

Conveniently located to serve the areas of San Diego and La Jolla

fat transfer breast augmentation procedure

Breast augmentation is the most sought after and performed cosmetic procedure in the U.S.

In 2018, there were over 350,000 breast augmentation procedures performed in the United States. These included both augmentations with implants and fat transfer procedures. The popularity of the fat transfer has grown, reaching over 23,000 surgeries nationwide in 2018. Fat transfer breast augmentation can provide you with the natural physical enhancement and boost in self confidence that you have been looking for!

About

The breast is naturally comprised of breast tissue and fat. The amount of breast tissue and fat can vary significantly between individuals. When the patient is not looking for a considerable change in their cup size, fat transfer to the breast is a great solution.

Fat transfer breast augmentation, also referred to as fat grafting, lipofilling, or lipoinjection, is a safe alternative to getting breast implants to enhance projection, volume, and fullness of the breasts.

Fat transfer to breasts allows you to look and feel your best, through the repurposing of your own natural fat deposits. 

The fat transfer breast augmentation procedure removes fat from other areas of your body, such as your tummy or thighs, and places it into the breast.

Benefits

Many patients choose lipofilling of the breast instead of  implants for several reasons. For those who do not want a foreign object (breast implants) in their body, fat transfer allows the breasts to be augmented using their own, natural, tissue. 

Patients are able to achieve a long-lasting, modest enhancement with lipoinjection.

The best way to keep the results consistent is to maintain a healthy weight. Fat transfer allows for a natural look and feel of the breasts, eliminating any of the artificial elements that can sometimes occur with implants.

Candidates

Candidates for fat transfer breast augmentation are individuals who may be unhappy about the size and shape of their breasts, but are not looking for a dramatic change. Fat transfer breast augmentation allows for a modest increase in breast size. Also, people who may be looking to contour their body through the use of liposuction, may be appropriate candidates.

It is important to note that fat transfer breast augmentation alone will not lift breasts which are sagging. 

Individuals in San Diego looking to have Dr. Erfani conduct their fat transfer breast augmentation should be in good health, have appropriate skin elasticity in the breasts, have appropriate amounts of body fat to transfer, and have realistic expectations of the procedure.

Consultation

When you express interest in a lipofilling procedure to augment your breasts, you will be scheduled for a one-on-one consultation with Dr. Erfani. During this appointment, you will have a chance to discuss your concerns about your body and ask questions about the procedure. Dr. Erfani will take his time in explaining the fat transfer breast augmentation surgery in detail to ensure your questions are answered. Afterwhich, Dr. Erfani will record your medical history and conduct a physical examination. From there, Dr. Erfani will create a customized treatment plan for surgery to help you achieve the best results that are in line with your aesthetic goals. Personalized costs and next steps will be discussed to help you prepare for surgery.

Procedure

The fat transfer to breast is a three-step surgery that ultimately combines two procedures: liposuction and breast augmentation.

Harvesting

After you have been prepped for surgery, including being anesthetized or sedated, the first step of the surgery consists of harvesting fat from the donor sites using liposuction. During the consultation you have with Dr. Erfani, donor sites will be decided upon based on your aesthetic goals. Some people struggle with getting rid of stubborn fat deposits in their lower abdomen, flanks, thighs, arms, and/or back, and thus, will use these areas as donor sites. Dr. Erfani will contour the sites while collecting the fat using a blunt-tipped cannula. 

Purification

The fat Dr. Erfani has removed through liposuction is collected in a centrifuge where impurities are separated from the pure fat cells. The remaining fat is then washed with an antibiotic solution and prepared for transfer.

Transfer

Once the fat is prepared through transfering into syringes or smaller cannulas for injection, the fat is inserted into the breast. Dr. Erfani will carefully guide the cannula or syringes to create a smooth and supple breast profile. 

Recovery

After your surgery, you will be placed in a compression bra and other compression garments which will help reduce swelling. The compression garments will evenly apply pressure to reduce the amount of fluid build up across the surgical site(s). You can experience swelling, bruising, and soreness at the treatment sites (your breast(s) and the areas that received liposuction). Usually, associated pain can be treated with over the counter pain medications.

During your consultation, Dr. Erfani will discuss with you the medications you will be cleared to take after surgery. 

You may feel comfortable enough to return to work about a week after your fat transfer breast augmentation. You should avoid strenuous activity immediately following your surgery. You may resume cardio workouts after week 3 and can return to more demanding exercise after week 6. 

You will be directed to sleep on your side or back so no pressure will be placed on the breasts. After a week you will switch from the compression bra to a sports bra, which you are to wear for a month following your fat transfer breast augmentation. The sports bra is to continue providing compression and support, while also allowing for blood circulation to increase fat survival rate. 

Results

After you have your augmentation surgery with Dr. Erfani, you will meet with him at a post-op follow-up appointment, scheduled one week following the procedure. During this appointment, Dr. Erfani will examine your breast(s) and the areas where liposuction was performed. At this point, you will stop wearing the compression garments. Although your body may still be swollen from surgery, you will be able to visualize the results from the body contouring treatment. 

You may notice that your breasts may be larger than anticipated and this is due to swelling. If your breasts feel hard, you may begin a gentle massage regimen to help reduce swelling and soreness.

Fat transferred to the breast has a 50%-70% survival rate. This means that about 30%-50% of fat will die following this procedure. This is why it is important to follow any instructions provided by Dr. Erfani very closely. You will begin to see and feel your final results around 6 months post-op. It is important to note that recovery and results will vary. 

Cost

Breast augmentation with fat transfer provides long-lasting results, barring any significant fluctuations in weight. Also, since the grafted fat becomes a natural part of the breast tissue, other factors like normative aging and bodily changes that come with pregnancy and/or breastfeeding, can alter the effects of the surgery. 

Fat transfer surgery costs vary between patients due to a number of various factors. Contact Dr. Erfani’s office today to schedule your one-on-one consultation for your fat transfer breast augmentation!

Fat Transfer v. Implants

The decision on how to enhance your body should be yours to make. So, it is important to know the pros, cons, and details of the options available. Saline (saltwater) and silicone gel implants have been the most common choice for breast augmentation. While breast implants have been proven to be safe and provide many benefits, one must consider all that goes into this surgery. In using these devices to enhance a patient’s bust, a surgeon will create incisions in or around the breast to insert an implant. Also, the implant will be placed either above or below the pectoral muscle. Implants require general upkeep; needing to be replaced every 10 years.

Fat transfer to breast requires the removal of fat from undesired areas, allowing for body contouring in the same operation. The surgeon would then purify and inject the fat into the breast tissue to enhance the aesthetic of the bust. 

In deciding between fat injection and breast implants, it is important to discuss both options with your surgeon.

Dr. Erfani will work with you to decide which approach will be beneficial in helping you reach your goals. Contact us to schedule a consultation with Dr. Erfani today!

Complementary Procedures

If you are looking for results that are more than what a fat transfer breast augmentation can provide, there are several options to consider. You may combine your natural breast augmentation with any of the following procedures. 

Breast Augmentation with Implants

You may “finish off’ your breast augmentation with implants with a fat transfer to breasts. The fat injected into the breast may be used to camouflage the edges of a silicone implant or the ridges from a saline implant. This can provide you with a smoother and softer result. 

Breast Lift

You may opt for a breast lift if you experience sagging breasts due to loss of volume. The breast lift will remove excess skin and tighten the remaining skin in an effort to eliminate sagging of the breast. A fat transfer can be utilized to reshape or contour the breast, as needed.

Tummy Tuck

A tummy tuck can provide you with the complete body contouring results you are looking for. If you have extra skin in the abdominal area, in addition to fat, a tummy tuck can remove the excess, giving you a smooth midsection that will further enhance your fat transfer breast augmentation.

If you are ready to discover what a fat transfer breast augmentation can do for you, contact Dr. Erfani’s office today to schedule your one-on-one consultation