The Pros and Cons of Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation
Posted August 29, 2024 in Breast Augmentation
In 2023, over 300,000 patients underwent breast augmentation, putting it in the number two spot on the list of the most popular plastic surgeries. Liposuction came in at number one, with nearly 350,000 patients choosing to contour their bodies in 2023. But what if you could reap the benefits of breast augmentation and liposuction in just one procedure? You can—by choosing fat transfer breast augmentation. In this blog, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of fat transfer breast augmentation so that you can be well-informed when selecting your preferred method of enhancement.
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What Is Fat Transfer?
Fat transfer, also called fat grafting, is a procedure that uses fat harvested from your own body to add volume to areas that need a bit more shape or contour. Most people associate fat transfer with a Brazilian Butt Lift, but fat grafting can also be used to restore volume in your face and augment the shape and size of your breasts. Below, we explore the advantages and disadvantages of fat transfer breast augmentation.
Advantages of Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation
Breasts That Look and Feel Natural
While silicone implants do offer a soft, pliable texture, nothing can more accurately mimic the feel of natural breasts like, well, natural breasts. Fat transfer breast augmentation uses your own fat to add volume to your breasts, offering all-natural enhancement.
Bonus Cosmetic Procedure—Liposuction
Because fat transfer breast augmentation uses fat harvested from your own body, not only do you get to increase your cup size, but you also get to reduce or eliminate excess fat from elsewhere on your body. Many people choose to add liposuction to their breast augmentation procedure, but with fat transfer breast augmentation, liposuction is built right in.
Lower Risk of Complications
Breast augmentation with implants is an extremely safe procedure—one that is performed on hundreds of thousands of patients each year. However, any surgery that involves introducing foreign material into your body comes with the risk of potential complications. Capsular contracture, allergic reactions, or a leak or rupture of your implants are some of the more common complications that you may encounter after implant augmentation. Fat transfer augmentation eliminates those risks, as the material used for your breast enhancement is 100% your own.
Smaller Incisions, Smaller Scars
Even though breast augmentation scars are typically camouflaged and fade over time, they’re still there. Dr. Careaga, Dr. Durand, and Dr. William Schwarz at Careaga Plastic Surgery all use an inframammary incision, which is an incision under the breast in the crease where your breast meets your chest. The incision is typically under two inches long, so scarring is minimal. However, the advantage of breast augmentation with fat transfer is that there are no scars left on your breasts, and any scars you have from the liposuction portion of the procedure are just a couple of millimeters long.
No Need for Implant Revision or Replacement
Breast implants are durable and designed to last at least ten years and often up to 15 or 20. However, that means there will come a time when you need to undergo surgery to replace your implants. Additionally, if you experience complications or are unhappy with your results, you may require a second revision surgery to remedy the issue. Fat transfer breast augmentation eliminates the need for implant replacement or breast revision surgery.
Disadvantages of Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation
Limited Size Increase
One of the great things about breast augmentation with implants is that you get to choose exactly how you want your breasts to look, as implants come in different shapes, sizes, and projections. Breast augmentation with fat transfer is a bit more limited, as it can only increase your breasts by about one cup size. If you want to go larger than that, you may need to undergo a second procedure or consider implants.
Fat Survival Rate
While fat transfer is a revolutionary way to augment your breasts using your own fat, there’s no guarantee that all the transferred fat will survive. In fact, only 50 to 70% of the fat injected into your breasts will survive, which is why surgeons will “overfill” your breasts to account for the loss.
Lack of Adequate Body Fat
Because fat transfer breast augmentation requires taking fat from your own body, you must have enough excess body fat to spare. The amount necessary to achieve your desired results will vary according to your aesthetic goals, but without adequate donor fat, breast augmentation using fat transfer may not be the best option for you.
Learn More About Breast Augmentation With Fat Transfer in Miami
If you’ve been considering breast augmentation with fat transfer, there’s no better time to discover what the skilled, board-certified plastic surgeons at Careaga Plastic Surgery can do to enhance your figure. Call our office today at (305) 929-0445 to schedule a consultation or complete the online contact form.