Fat transfer to breasts in London
Fat transfer breast augmentation also known as ‘fat transfer to breasts’ or ‘breast lipofilling’ is a cosmetic surgery procedure performed to enlarge the breast size using your body’s own fat harvested using liposuction. Fat transfer breast enlargement differs from breast implant surgery as it does not use a foreign implant and is therefore also known as a ‘natural breast augmentation’.
The first step in fat transfer breast augmentation or fat transfer to breast is to harvest fat using liposuction from areas from of the body which have fat deposits. The great advantage of fat transfer breast enlargement is that it is essentially a 2 in 1 procedure. You get the benefit of naturally enlarged breasts using your own fat and a more contoured body with the use of liposuction from the donor fat areas.
With the use of your own fat, there is also a reduced risk of infection as silicone breast implants inserted as part of a breast augmentation procedure has a slightly rate of infection. The scars after fat transfer breast enlargement are also much less compared with breast augmentation using implants.
Centre for Surgery offer state of the art Vectra H2 digital imaging software to give you a more accurate idea of how you could look after surgery. This helps you to make a more informed decision as to wheter fat transfer breast enlargement is the right procedure for you.
If a woman’s breasts don’t match up to or don’t satisfy her expectations, it often becomes a serious cause of concern. Breasts are a very important feature of a woman’s overall appearance, her body shape and her personality. If a woman’s breasts are too small (micromastia), it can result in significant psychological issues.
Often after pregnancy and breastfeeding, women’s breasts tend to sag. Ageing also leads to sagging or shrunken breasts. In these cases, can fat transfer can be a good solution. If one has to undergo mastectomy, then breast fat transfer can be used to regain her natural body shape. If the two breasts are unequal, then fat transfer can be done for one breast to optimise symmetry.
All our surgeons are on the GMC specialist register.
Why choose Centre for Surgery for Breast fat transfer
- Over 15 years experience in all types of breast fat transfer – large volume aesthetic, small volume reconstructive and hybrid breast augmentation
- We own and manage our own surgical facilities. Properly performed fat transfer to breasts procedure takes time and should not be rushed. Our surgeons perform a maximum of one fat transfer procedure in a day. We do not cram 3-4 procedures into one day like other providers. You want your surgeon to be well-rested and mentally and physically sharp to perform breast fat transfer which is a very physically demanding procedure to get the very best results.
- Our surgeons live and work in central London. We don’t work with ‘fly-in, fly-out’ surgeons from Italy. This is very important because whilst your surgeon takes all precautions to minimise complications, complications can and do occur and our surgeons are readily available to manage any issues if and when they arise.
What our patients say about us
Breast fat transfer vs Breast Implants
Advantages of Breast fat transfer
- Use of foreign material not involved
- Can increase size by one cup size
- Fat removal is part of the procedure
- Incisions involved are small and fades away over time
- Does not carry the risk of rupture or capsular contracture
- A decrease in any sensation is very unlikely
Advantages of Breast Implants
- Insertion of foreign material (silicone at Centre for Surgery)
- Can increase size as desired taking various factors into consideration
- Involves a 5-6 cm length incision
- The potential risk of rupture or capsular contracture
- May experience loss of sensation, temporary or long-term
Ideal candidates for breast fat transfer
All patients should be in good health and have realistic expectations about what can be achieved with natural breast augmentation surgery.
We do not treat patients below the age of 18 years of age.
Healing is better if patients refrain from or quit smoking.
Fat transfer to breasts is ideal for people who want subtle natural looking enhancements of the breasts. However, the individual has to have enough body fat to be transferred to the breasts.
We recommend breast augmentation with implants to individuals who do not have enough fat in their body to go ahead with fat transfer to breasts. We may also have to refuse the procedure to individuals considering to have children as pregnancy and childbirth can affect the results.
Breast fat transfer procedure
Prior to the surgery, you will have a consultation with one of our surgeons.
The decision to have a fat transfer to breasts is a major step for most women and extremely personal. The surgeon therefore always guides and supports his prospective patients through every stage of this process. During an initial consultation at our clinic, you will discuss your reasons for wanting this procedure and will undergo a thorough medical check-up.
The consultation begins by having an opportunity to discuss your ideas, concerns and expectations about the natural breast augmentation procedure with your surgeon, and ask any relevant questions you may have.
The fat transfer to breasts procedure is performed by highly skilled breast augmentation experts who will utilise fat deposits from a donor area and transfer it to the breasts for a natural enhancement.
Liposuction is first performed on the donor area to collect the best quality fat cells to be transferred. At Centre for Surgery, liposuction is performed using the PAL lipo method.
The fat is collected in a filter to purify it and then collected in multiple syringes. Once this is done the fat is injected back into the breasts.
Recovery after breast fat transfer
Following the surgery, there will be some swelling and bruising for the first few weeks that will fade away over time. The result will be noticeable after the swelling has gone down. We recommend our patients to avoid any strenuous activity for at least 4 to 6 weeks for the area treated to heal fully.
Fat transfer to breasts can help achieve one whole cup size with a very natural looking result.
The achievable result will depend on the surgeon’s skills to obtain best quality fat and equally the patient’s ability to retain the transferred fat cells. Some fat cells will be absorbed naturally by the body and cannot be prevented. Ageing will also have an impact on the result achieved.
FAQs
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What does the fat transfer to breast procedure involve?Fat transfer to breast is also known as lipofilling to breast, fat grafting to breast and fat injections to breast. Fat transfer breast augmentation is a specialist surgical treatment involving the liposuction of unwanted fat from a part of the body followed by careful processing of the fat using filtering, washing and decantation. The processed fat is then reinjected. It is a safer and less invasive option than having breast enlargement with silicone implants.
The fat transfer procedure to the breast takes place in two stages. The first step involves the harvest of fat using gentle liposuction from the donor areas of fat. Commonly treated areas include the abdomen, thighs, back and arms. The liposuction is carried out under a low suction force to preserve the delicate fat cells. Power assisted liposuction is often used as part of this process. The second damage involves purification of the collected fat in a specially designed sterile fat canister. The processed fat is then reinjected using fine cannulas into targeted areas of the breast for volume, shape and contour enhancement. Both size and shape can be addressed with a fat transfer to breast procedure. Fay is injected in small amounts on each pass as these helps to increase the viability of the transferred fat. Injecting too much in a single pass might reduce fat cell viability.
Compared with breast augmentation using implants, the fat transfer to breast procedure takes longer. This is often in the range of 2-3 hours depending on number of areas of liposuction. The process for harvesting, purifying and injecting fat is a very specialist process that takes time and should not be rushed. The priority in treatment is to create a natural appearance in harmony with the patients body shape and contour.
The final stage of reinjecting the fat is performed through small incisions often more than 2 to 3mm in length. These tiny scars heal very well leaving a barely perceptible scar after a number of months. Although fat transfer to breast can be performed under both local and general anaesthesia, it is recommended in most cases to have the procedure under a general anaesthetic for optimum comfort. In cases involving small amounts of fat transfer from a single liposuction area, local anaesthetic can work very well. Examples include revision cases or patients desiring only a subtle correction. About one week recovery time is usual after fat transfer to breast procedure. Virtually all patients are back to their normal activities at one month after the lipofilling procedure. -
Am I a good candidate for fat transfer to breasts?Natural breast augmentation is suitable for anyone wanting to enhance the shape and size of their breasts, however, you must have enough fat on other body areas for the transfer to take place.
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Who will we not treat?We will refuse the procedure to you if you do not have enough fat in other areas of your body for the fat transfer to breasts.
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How much body fat do I need for the fat transfer?The amount of fat you need on your body depends on how much added volume you desire on your breasts. The surgeon will need to assess this during your consultation.
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How is the fat grafting procedure performed?Liposuction is first performed to collect good fat cells from the donor area
Fat is purified
Fat is then injected back to the breasts using multiple syringes -
How do I prepare for my surgery?You are expected to quit smoking for at least 30 days before your bra line back lift surgery. Avoid taking aspirin or any blood thinners to prevent bleeding during the procedure.
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How long does the procedure take?On average the procedure takes around 3 hours, but it solely depends on how much fat you are looking to get transferred.
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Is the procedure going to be painful?The procedure is performed used local anaesthesia making the experience relaxed and pleasant throughout the whole procedure.
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Will I be left with scars?The incisions made for the cannula to go in during liposuction may leave small scars that will fade away over time.
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What is the recovery period going to be like?Expect some swelling and bruising for the first few weeks following your procedure and you should avoid exercise during this time to allow the treated area to heal fully.
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What are the risks associated with fat transfer to breasts?Fat transfer to breasts does not come with many side effects other than the common surgical complications like infection and bleeding that can be avoided with a good aftercare routine.
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What results can I expect from the procedure?The result achievable from fat transfer to breasts is very natural looking and the results will last long term as long as you are able to maintain a stable weight. Ageing will also play a role in your ability to maintain the results as its effect on the fat cells cannot be controlled.
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Are there limitations in the results I can achieve?Do not expect to gain two to three cup size following your surgery as some percentage of the fat will be absorbed naturally by your body. You may be able to gain at least one cup size but that also heavily depends on your own body.
What To Expect
The consultation
When you have decided to learn more about fat transfer to breast and if it right for you, we advise a consultation with one of our expert fat transfer surgeons. At consultation, a number of measurements are taken of the breast and also the body areas where fat is to be harvested and an assessment will be made of the soft tissue quality. The full range of treatment options will be explained including breast augmentation with implants. For those who do not have enough fat, the implant option may be more appropriate. Your surgeon has is skilled in all types of liposuction for fat harvest including power assisted liposuction and the most appropriate choice will be made based on your physical examination. The surgeon will also give information on the location of the small incisions for the liposuction and fat transfer and also whether the fat transfer to breast is to be combined with another procedure such as a tummy tuck. Our surgeons are also trained in composite breast augmentation or hybrid breast augmentation which involves both fat transfer and breast implants to enhance the female breast.
High-resolution photos will be taken and your surgeon may also use computer digital imaging. Your surgeon will take time to discuss the important risks and potential complications of fat transfer surgery and what you can expect in the postoperative period.
The surgeon will also take a full medical history which includes previous operations, current list of medicines taken and any potential allergies. This information will be used to decide on your fitness for the breast fat transfer procedure. If you are deemed to be a suitable candidate for surgery then we would recommend to spend a period of time to reflect on all the information given. We always recommend a minimum of a '2 week cool off period' for to weigh up your options.
All our prospective patients are more than welcome to have as many follow-up consultations after their initial consultation to make sure you are fully empowered with all the information to make an informed decision for proceeding with breast fat transfer surgery at Centre for Surgery.