Many women consider a breast augmentation procedure but are turned off by the idea of foreign material like silicone being placed in the body. While there's no guaranteed safety with breast implants, they do have an established history of being safe and effective for most patients. However, there's still a risk of rupture, complication, or wear after many years.
That's where fat transfer comes in. Most commonly used in the Brazilian Butt Lift that's only growing in popularity, this technique can also be used to augment the breasts with your own, natural tissue.
How is it performed?
Although this procedure requires a liposuction donor site, it's less invasive than a traditional breast augmentation and has the added benefit of slimming down any areas where you've been carrying stubborn, excess fat. Once the fat is removed, it's treated and optimized for injection in the breasts. This requires very small incisions that are discreet and nothing like the incisions required for a traditional procedure.
How much fat is needed?
This will depend on the results you want and how much is available at the donor site(s). Generally, the body retains around 50-70% of the fat injected, as not all of the fat cells survive the process and thus are naturally absorbed into the body. This means there will be some loss of volume during the recovery process. There are also limits on how much fat should be safely removed from the body at one time, and everyone's body absorbs the fat differently, so you may need to have multiple sessions to achieve your goals. Dr. Ortegon can help you understand how your unique procedure will go.
What about results?
Although traditional implants provide nearly life-long results, they do require vigilance in looking for ruptures and checking for wear in the implants. Fat transfer, however, provides permanent results, as new fat is added to the breast and acts just like any other fatty area. This also gives the most natural feel possible, as it's your own fatty tissue.
If you're considering a breast augmentation and would like to learn more about natural fat transfer, contact San Antonio Cosmetic Surgery to schedule a consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Ortegon.