Fat transfer to the breasts is a minimally invasive surgical procedure with a shorter recovery period compared with breast implants. Having said that, there will be a degree of bruising and swelling and this will begin to settle down within the first two weeks after the procedure. The exact recovery period for different types of fat transfer procedures primarily depends on the number of regions where liposuction was performed. Any bruising or swelling is usually temporary and will improve during the first two weeks. It is important to refrain from exercising during the first four weeks after surgery and we would recommend taking at least one week off work to ensure your recovery is as smooth as possible. It is normal to experience mild discomfort in the breasts and this is easily controlled with simple painkillers. Any discomfort will settle down as the breasts become less bruised and swollen. To ensure you have the best healing after fat transfer to the breasts, it is important to follow all of the surgeon’s post-operative instructions.
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It takes approximately 4 to 6 months for the breasts to remodel and reach the final size and shape. Any type of fat transfer procedure requires up to 6 months for the final results to be visible. This is because some fat is naturally reabsorbed by the body during the first week after the procedure and this is a recognised side-effect of the procedure.
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Is fat transfer to breasts a painful procedure?
Fat transfer to the breasts is also known as natural breast augmentation as it uses your body’s own fat for increasing the size of your boobs. Fat transfer breast augmentation is not known to be a painful procedure and in most cases does not hurt. All types of fat transfer procedures are carried out under a general anaesthetic at Centre for Surgery which means you will be unable to feel anything during the procedure.
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Compared with breast implant surgery, the time taken for recovery is much quicker with the main side effects being localised bruising and swelling where liposuction was carried out as well as where breast fat grafting was performed. The side effects are temporary in nature and will rapidly settle down after two weeks. You will be given a prescription for painkillers by your surgeon although many patients have no need to take painkillers as it is a very well-tolerated procedure with minimal downtime.
How long does breast fat transfer take to perform?
Fat transfer to breasts at Centre for Surgery is a commonly performed procedure at our Baker Street clinic and takes between two and three hours to carry out. The first step involves removing excess fat with a Liposuction from unwanted parts of the body followed by purification of the harvested fat prior to injecting the fat into the breasts. Breast augmentation with implants is a much quicker procedure to carry out although fat transfer breast augmentation has a quicker recovery period and has a lower risk of complications such as wound infection. There are many other advantages to having a natural breast augmentation. Many patients are not keen on the idea of having a foreign object inserted into the body. Some patients may notice breasts which appear unnatural when breast implants are used for increasing the size of the breasts. When using your own fat for breast enlargement, it is possible to achieve more natural-looking results.
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How long does it take to recover from fat transfer to breasts?
Fat transfer breast augmentation has a quicker recovery compared with breast implant surgery with most patients undergoing a complete recovery within six weeks after the procedure. To get the best fat transfer results, it is important to comply with the surgeon’s post-operative instructions in full including avoiding smoking. Smoking has adverse consequences on fat cell survival and many patients may require repeat surgery to restore breast volume. We would recommend stopping smoking as smoking is associated with delayed healing and an increased risk of wound infection.
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After six months, the breasts will have matured and settled into a new size and shape. It is important to adopt healthy lifestyle habits after the procedure to optimise healing and reduce the risk of complications.
How to get the best results after breast fat transfer?
Patience can optimise the likelihood of getting great results after fat transfer surgery by avoiding several activities which are known to affect fat cell survival. We would recommend that you refrain from exercising, driving a car, carrying out strenuous work duties or going to the gym. Our post-operative nursing team will be able to advise you on went to recommence these activities. We would recommend taking a minimum of one week off work to allow proper rest and healing. Most patients can restart driving a car after the first two weeks.
We would advise against going to the gym for a minimum of six weeks after the procedure. It may be permissible to carry out low-intensity yoga and Pilates after four weeks but you should check with your surgeon first. Any activities such as racket sports or swimming long distances should be avoided until after six weeks.
Sexual intercourse should be avoided for the first six weeks after surgery. Many women will notice that their breasts may have increased sensitivity especially to light touch for at least 3 to 4 weeks after the procedure. The key with any type of fat transfer procedure including breast fat transfer is the take it easy and not to do too much too soon. If you are in any doubt about an activity, you should speak to a member of our postoperative nursing team for clarification.
The best sleeping position after fat transfer to breasts is to lie on your back for the first two weeks and to continue wearing your post-operative support bra for a minimum of six weeks after surgery. By following these steps, you will significantly increase your chances of achieving the best results from the fat transfer to breasts procedure.
For more information on fat transfer to breasts or to book a face-to-face consultation, please get in touch today and speak to one of our friendly and knowledgeable patient coordinators on 020 7993 4849.
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