Year after year, breast augmentation remains one of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures in the US according to industry statistics. Part of the reason for this consistent demand is the ability for patients to customize their procedures. Patients trying to achieve natural and beautiful results from breast augmentation have more options than ever before. Breast implants used during augmentation can come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials, depending on the patient’s individual style and preferences. And in recent years, another major breakthrough has come along to provide patients with yet another alternative to consider.
Fat transfer injections are sort of a recycling system for fat. When I perform a liposuction procedure, the fat that is removed is often simply discarded after the surgery. This is a waste of a material that is often referred to as “liquid gold” due to its ability to provide a natural rejuvenating effect on areas all over the face and body. I have developed a special fat transfer technique that uses suction to remove fat from one area of the body, process it, and place it in another area of the body in a just a matter of minutes. This allows me to increase the amount of available fat and speed up the injection process.
Breast augmentation with fat transfer involves injecting fat removed during a patient’s liposuction procedure to provide a more subtle and modest increase in breast size. Last year, fat transfer injections to the breast saw a massive 41% increase in popularity according to statistics collected by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). While breast implants are still hugely popular and have a number of their own advantages, augmentation with fat transfer appeals to certain patients since it eliminates the need for implant replacements down the road and the risk of implant-related complications like capsular contracture (though these are quite rare).
Fat transfer doesn’t have to be used a replacement for breast implants during breast augmentation surgery. In fact, fat transfer injections can be done in conjunction with breast implants for patients who want to optimize the shape of their breasts and add a more natural feel to their breasts during the procedure. Additionally, fat transfer can be used for breast construction for women who have undergone a mastectomy or lumpectomy after breast cancer.
Regardless of how you choose to employ it, fat transfer to the breasts presents patients with yet another option to help them achieve the contoured breasts they desire. For more information on breast augmentation or fat transfer injections, please contact Dr. David Whiteman at Southern Plastic Surgery today. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for more plastic surgery tips, news, and updates.