Feeling like your breasts are beautiful is a big part of owning your femininity. If you suffer from low self-esteem due to sagging, small, or asymmetrical breasts, but you have vetoed the idea of getting implants, you may be a candidate for a fat transfer breast augmentation. This natural approach gives you bigger, fuller, more lifted breasts by using your own fat.
Dr. Suarez offers this procedure and is here to help you become your most empowered and confident self.
WHAT IS FAT TRANSFER BREAST AUGMENTATION?
Fat transfer breast augmentation, also known as natural breast augmentation, is a way for women to add volume to their breasts without the implantation of foreign material. Women who have experienced an ample amount of weight reduction, loss of lift and volume due to aging, or have naturally smaller breasts, can benefit from this procedure. Oftentimes, women who have had a mastectomy or lumpectomy find that a fat transfer to reconstruct their breasts is a very viable option. This procedure also works well for reshaping the breast and remedying the size of the breast for women who suffer from disorders that cause deformities and underdevelopment.
Dr. Suarez will take the fat from another area of your body and use it as an injection to naturally enlarge your breasts. Many women are pleased with the average enlargement of 1 – 2 cup sizes that their breasts develop after undergoing this fat transfer procedure.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Fat transfer works by first using liposuction to remove the fat from a specific area in your body, most commonly your stomach, thighs, love handles, or buttocks. The fat is removed in such a way that it prohibits the fat cells from being destroyed. Next, the fat is put into a processor that purifies the fat graft and enhances stem cell concentration. The stem cells are highly beneficial for optimum healing. Lastly, the purified fat is then injected into the breasts, using an ultrathin incision, causing minimal to no scarring. The result is fuller, shapelier, more voluminous breasts.
FOR LUMPECTOMY RECONSTRUCTION
When a woman receives a lumpectomy to remove a cancerous tumor, her breasts may develop uneven lumps due to the missing tissue. A fat transfer can refill these areas by injecting the purified fat into these lacking spaces.
FOR MASTECTOMY RECONSTRUCTION
If a patient has lost a breast by undergoing a mastectomy, and then received a breast reconstruction, a fat transfer to the area surrounding the implant will give her more natural looking volume.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A FAT TRANSFER?
If you feel insecure about your breast size or shape, you may greatly benefit from receiving a fat transfer breast augmentation.
Many patients choose a fat transfer breast augmentation over implants or other procedures for some of the following reasons:
- Smaller incision
- Safer surgery
- Natural looking
- No foreign materials
- Thinner in liposuction area
- Minimal recovery time
- Little to no scarring
- No general anesthesia
- Easy, quick procedure
- Improved breast shape, size and volume
- Retain 50% to 60% of transferred fat cells
- Boosted self-confidence
FAT TRANSFER BREAST AUGMENTATION VS BREAST IMPLANTS
While both fat transfer breast augmentation and breast augmentation with implants achieve the same goal, they are done so by different means.
Fat transfer breast augmentation increases breast size by injecting your own harvested fat from one location into your breasts. Fat transfer can achieve a modest increase in breast size.
Breast augmentation with implants increases breast size by surgically inserting breast implants through one of three incision options. Breast augmentation with implants can provide a modest or very large increase in breast size. There are numerous options to choose from with breast augmentation implants, such as size, shape, profile, implant placement, etc.
There are pros and cons to both procedures. For example, fat transfer breast augmentation only uses substances from your own body to produce bust increase. Breast implants are a foreign object that has to be introduced to the body, but much greater bust increase can be achieved with a variety of implant options.
One is not better than the other, as everyone has different aesthetic desires.
Fat transfer may be a better for someone wanting a very small increase in bust size, and implants are ideal for women who desire a larger aesthetic change. The procedure that will best suit you will be determined by Dr. Suarez’s assessment at your initial consultation.
NATURAL BREAST AUGMENTATION CANDIDATES
Ideal candidates must also understand the realistic results that they are able to achieve and that they may need to undergo another procedure to get the desired effect.
Women who have a decent amount of excess fat deposits in their body may be good candidates for a fat transfer breast augmentation. Patients must be non-smokers who are in good health, with no history of breast cancer. If you have suffered from a condition that has caused breast deformity or if you have genetically smaller breasts and desire fuller, larger, shapelier breasts, the fat transfer breast augmentation procedure may be for you.
Patients must also be willing to get an annual mammogram, as well as one before their operation.
If you believe you are a suitable candidate for a natural breast augmentation procedure, please schedule your consultation here:
BEFORE YOUR PROCEDURE
To prepare for your procedure, do not take any blood thinning medications or consume alcohol for 3 weeks before your procedure, as this will hinder the healing process. Please arrange for a family member or friend to pick you up from your procedure and be available for you afterwards to help with any of your recovery needs.
Wear loose, comfortable clothing to your appointment that either wraps, zips, or buttons in the front, as you will have limited range of motion to lift anything over your head and should not have anything tight around your breasts.
If you have any other questions during the days approaching your procedure, please do not hesitate to give us a call. We want you to feel as comfortable and prepared as possible.
FAT TRANSFER PROCESS
The entire fat transfer process takes 1 – 2 hours and is performed on an outpatient basis. You will first be put under a local anesthetic and receive mild sedatives to ensure a comfortable procedure.
During your consultation, Dr. Suarez will help you select the most feasible area to perform liposuction. He will then remove the harvested fat from the determined location(s), and put the fat graft through a purifying process. The purified fat is then injected into the breast with a micro-thin needle, filling the deflated areas with localized fat deposits. Usually 50% to 60% of transferred fat is permanently maintained.
The operation site is then closed and sutured. The areas that received liposuction will be covered in a compression garment and the breasts will be wrapped in a protective dressing. You will then be released to go home and rest.
RECUPERATION
During your consultation, you will receive detailed instructions for your recovery process and Dr. Suarez will answer all your questions and concerns. Depending on the specific case, recovery time usually takes about 1 – 2 weeks, then patients are able to return to work and their regular activities. It is not uncommon to experience mild to moderate bruising and swelling following your procedure. You may feel sore and uncomfortable for the first few weeks as your body is healing, but it will subside.
It is recommended to not sleep on your stomach or put on any tight clothing or restrictive bras that would compress the breasts for 2 weeks after your procedure as live cells become cohesive with the breast tissue. Avoid taking aspirin or drinking alcohol, as this will affect optimum healing and intensify bruising. You may apply ice packs to reduce any swelling.
Dr. Suarez will see you for a follow-up appointment where he will check to make sure everything is healing properly and answer any other question you may have.
COST
Depending on the extensiveness of your procedure and any supplemental treatments performed alongside the fat transfer augmentation, your cost will vary. To get a quote, please schedule a consultation to discuss your individualized treatment plan with Dr. Suarez and his team.