17 Oct Will Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation Soon Replace The Need For Implants?
The Rise Of Fat Transfer Augmentation
Breast augmentation is a commonly performed plastic surgery in the US. The procedure traditionally involves opening up the breast area and inserting breast implants over or under the chest muscles depending on the patient’s profile goals and lifestyle needs. However, some women decide to skip implants and opt for a fat graft instead. Known as fat transfer, many individuals wonder if using excess body fat to boost the breast’s profile will put an end to the need for implants.
Finding fat
For many patients undergoing augmentation, fat transfer can be a convenient option. In particular, women who only need a small volume boost in the breast area and individuals who can maintain a stable weight are great candidates. However, people who want to significantly increase chest size or individuals who don’t have enough excess weight in key body parts are usually not well-suited for such a procedure. Also, keep in mind that fat transfer breast augmentation requires undergoing 2 different types of plastic surgeries; liposuction and augmentation. As such, recovery can be extended depending on how the body responds to the initial fat removal.
What about breast implants?
Any plastic surgery comes with both risks and benefits. So, breast implants are no different in this regard. The biggest pros to choosing implants include not requiring multiple simultaneous surgeries and the option to increase the breast size beyond a cup, like with fat transfer. However, implants usually require replacements every 10-15 years. Likewise, risks such as capsular constructor, blood clots, and even rupture are all possible.
Fat transfer as the norm
While appealing for ideal candidates, healthcare providers note that fat transfer as a standard for breast augmentation is unlikely. First, fat cells are still living, and in many cases, the cells can die. As a result, research suggests only 50-70% of the newly injected fat will survive the procedure. The lower survival rate is because the fat must touch other living cells to thrive. This caveat is also why transfers are limited to people who want smaller volume increases. In short, a woman can’t shift from an A cup to a C cup in a single surgery with fat grafting. Likewise, few people are perfect candidates for fat-only breast augmentation surgery.
Fat vs implants
As with any other plastic surgery procedure, working with a board-certified plastic surgeon well-versed in specific augmentation operations is the best way to yield optimal results. In many cases, individuals may decide to use fat transfer in conjunction with implants. Regardless of the surgery selected, having realistic expectations is critical for potential breast augmentation patients.