Fat Transfer to the Breast in Houston, TX
Breast fat transfer, also known as natural breast augmentation, helps women add fullness and fine-tune the shape of their breasts. Not only does this procedure help women achieve the volume they desire, but it can also increase their comfort and confidence.
Fat transfer (fat grafting) is a common plastic surgery procedure performed to enhance the shape, size, and/or volume of a particular body area, such as the breasts, face, buttocks, or hands. For this procedure, fat is harvested from one area of a patient’s body which has excess fat, processed and purified, and then injected into another area for natural augmentation and fullness.
Am I a Candidate for Fat Transfer to the Breast?
Women who want to achieve one or more of the following objectives may be ideal candidates for fat transfer to the breast:
- Increase the size of the breasts
- Improve upper pole fullness
- Achieve additional volume without an implant
- Provide extra “cushion” to cover an implant’s edges for reduced visibility (such as implant rippling)
- Maintain some extra volume after breast implant removal without replacement
- Correct minor asymmetry with the breasts
Ideal candidates are non-smoking women in good overall health with realistic expectations for their results.
What Results Can I Expect After Fat Transfer to the Breast?
How Is Fat Transfer to the Breast Performed?
Unlike breast augmentation surgery, which increases volume through the insertion of silicone or saline implants under the pectoral muscle, fat grafting utilizes a woman’s own fat to augment her breasts. In some instances, both fat grafting and implants are used.
Dr. Patronella performs fat grafting to the breasts under general anesthesia in his private surgery facility. In the first portion of the procedure, he removes fat from a region like the abdomen, hips, thighs, or back through liposuction. These harvested fat cells are purified to remove contaminants, such as cellular debris, before they are injected directly into the breasts.
Once the fat has been injected, you will be ready to begin your recovery.
It is important to note that not all of the fat cells injected into the breasts will survive the transfer. An estimated 40% to 50% of the fat will be naturally metabolized and processed by the body. Dr. Patronella accounts for this when he performs the procedure.
What Can I Expect With Breast Fat Transfer Recovery?
You can expect swelling, bruising, and some discomfort after your fat transfer procedure. Though the exact length of recovery varies, most women require one week of downtime. After this, you can return to work or school and most of your normal activities.
While most swelling will subside after two or three weeks, you may still have some minor swelling for several months.
You should refrain from strenuous activities until Dr. Patronella clears you. Contact Dr. Patronella and his team with any questions or concerns during your recovery.
Fat transfer to the breast offers long-lasting results that can be permanent under the right circumstances and when a stable weight is maintained.
Most women can expect to increase their breasts by one cup size. Once your results finalize, you can look forward to wearing tops that highlight a fuller and natural-looking bustline.
How Much Is Fat Transfer to the Breast in Houston, TX?
The cost of fat transfer to the breast varies with each patient, depending on the extent of correction needed and whether you are combining your fat transfer with any other procedures. At your consultation, you will be provided with a cost estimate.
You can learn more about fat transfer to breast cost here.
What Are Some Frequently Asked Questions About Fat Transfer to the Breast?
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Fat transfer to the breast is performed under anesthesia, meaning you won’t feel pain during your procedure. However, you will likely feel slight soreness, tightness, and discomfort afterward. This discomfort should subside within a few days, and medication can be taken to alleviate any pain you experience. Contact Dr. Patronella immediately if you have increased or prolonged pain and discomfort.
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There are benefits to both implant surgery and fat transfer to the breast. Ultimately, the right procedure depends on your cosmetic goals. With fat transfer, the volume which can be achieved is limited to one cup size. If you want to increase the size of your breasts by more than one cup, then an implant or an implant plus fat grafting would be the better option. You can read more about breast augmentation with implants vs. fat grafting here. During your consultation, Dr. Patronella will help you decide which breast procedure is best for you.
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Like breast augmentation surgery, fat transfer to the breast improves the size and shape of the breasts but does not correct sagging breasts. If you desire to improve sagging breasts, you can include breast lift surgery (mastopexy) in your fat transfer procedure.
Additionally, many women combine other body contouring procedures with their fat transfers to achieve a more complete and dramatic improvement.
Some of the most common procedures to combine with fat transfer include:
