Introduction
There are several women who would like to improve the size, shape and appearance of their breasts without silicone implants in order to avoid all of the complications that come with the use of silicone gel implants. This alternative breast enhancement procedure is known as the fat transfer procedure. This surgery is considered a safer option than breast implant surgery and the results of this technique have been deemed natural and long lasting.
In breast augmentation, there are several hazards and complications related to the use of silicone implants and these risks can pertain to the incisions, the use of foreign materials such as silicone, and complications related to the recovery period. On the other hand, the fat transfer procedure involves less risk and fewer side effects as the surgery makes use of the patient’s own fat cells to augment the breasts. Moreover, the incisions are smaller and recovery after surgery is easier and smoother.
However, all prospective patients should keep in mind that the fat transfer procedure is not suitable for all body types. An eligible patient should have a sufficient body fat that will be capable of achieving mild to moderate breast augmentation but if the patient has very small breasts, this procedure is not appropriate for the patient.
The fat harvesting and fat grafting procedures
Eligibility for the fat transfer procedure of the breast augmentation surgery requires a patient with a moderate distribution of unwanted fat deposits in particular areas of the body such as the abdomen, sides, flanks, love handles, back, thighs, and calves.
The first step of the fat transfer procedure involves the suctioning of fat deposits from the donor sites through the use of liposuction. The liposuction procedure makes use of a small cannula that is connected to a suction device. The cannula is inserted inside the fat donor site through a tiny incision and then it is moved in back and forth motions to loosen all the cells in the surrounding area. The suction pump is then used to extract the loose adipose tissue.
In the second phase of the procedure, the adipose tissue removed during liposuction is run through a purification process. It should be noted that only 25 percent of the total fat removed from the body qualifies for the third and last step which is known as the reinjection process. In this last stage, the purified fat cells are connected to a syringe that is used to transfer the fat cells to the recipient areas. Despite the low risk of complications, too much fat cells cannot be accommodated in the recipient because it might increase the risk of developing fat necrosis.
Scarring
The fat transfer surgery usually makes use of general anesthesia. Among its many advantages is that the fat transfer procedure does not leave behind any traceable scar on the breasts which also makes it popular among women. The size of the incision can range from 4 to 5 millimeters which means that the scars will be very small and hardly visible to the naked eyes.
Will weight loss affect the results?
Losing a small amount of weight will not affect the results of the fat transfer surgery; however, patients who experience a considerable loss in weight following the fat transfer procedure will notice that their breasts become smaller.
The bust is only one of several areas in the body that where fat tends to accumulate. This means that if a woman loses fat in her body, her breasts also lose part of that adipose tissue. It is important to discuss this situation with your plastic surgeon to minimize the effect of weight loss on the results of your surgery.
Bear in mind that despite the fact that the fat transfer procedure can provide sustainable improvements, these results are not permanent. The size of the breasts will gradually decrease by 30 percent after 3-6 years as a result of fat reabsorption by the body and this process is hastened by patients who have previously experienced weight loss. This is why it is imperative for fat transfer patients to maintain the stability of their weight.
Some plastic surgeons do not recommend the fat transfer surgery due to several aforementioned reasons. Moreover, some claim that adipose tissues are considered hormonal deposits and they can stimulate the growth of cancer after being injected inside the breasts. This is nothing but a rumor and no study has ever proven this theory.
In terms of the advantages of the fat transfer procedure, this surgical technique makes use of live fat cells from the patient’s own body to enhance the appearance of the breasts. This means that unlike the breast implant surgery, fat transfer does not involve the use of foreign substances that may trigger an immune response and the patient does not need to worry about rejection because the fat injected comes from the patient’s own body.
Conclusion
Nowadays, alternative surgical procedures are available for all of the people who are contemplating breast augmentation through plastic surgery. Two methods to achieve larger and fuller breasts are through the fat transfer surgery or breast implant surgery. The fat transfer procedure is known for its implant-free breast augmentation which makes use of the patient’s own fat cells to enhance the size of the breasts. In the course of this procedure, excess fat tissue is extracted from the body in areas such as the abdomen, sides, and flanks before running it through a purification process. After purified fat cells are obtained, they are injected into the breasts. This surgical intervention delivers natural results and the procedure is undoubtedly safer than breast implant surgery. However, to qualify for this type of surgery, you need to have surplus fat in your body. Moreover, this procedure does not suit women who want huge breasts since this intervention only results in mild to moderate augmentation.