Introduction
Breast augmentation through fat transfer is a plastic surgery intervention that requires the use of the patient’s own body fat to augment and improve the appearance of the breasts. In performing this procedure, the plastic surgeon will make use of liposuction to harvest fat from areas in your body where unwanted adipose tissues have accumulated. The fat can be collected from areas such as the abdomen, sides, upper and lower back and thighs. After liposuction, the fat cells go through a complex purification process before they are transferred to the breasts. Finally, the breast augmentation through fat grafting will result in moderately large breasts with a perky and round appearance.
Fat transfer to the breasts is considered to be a safer method for augmenting the breasts compared to the silicone implants surgery because the former simply uses the patient’s own fat to add volume to the breasts. Moreover, you should expect the results to look natural and even better than the breast implant surgery.
Expectations of the patient from the surgery
The vast majority of patients undergoing the breast augmentation with fat transfer procedure are nothing less than ecstatic about the results of the intervention. Their testimonials talk about the significant boost in their self-esteem as well as the noticeable enhancements on the physical, psychological and even sexual level.
Several researches have demonstrated that there is an association between the dimensions of the breasts and self-esteem in women. Women who have been too self-conscious about the size of their breasts can get a major boost in confidence shortly after the breast augmentation procedure. In other words, expect to see improvements in many aspects of your life after the procedure.
Scars and bruises after the breast augmentation surgery
Expect mild scarring and bruising after the fat grafting intervention. As is the case with other plastic surgery interventions, the fat transfer procedure will leave behind a few scars. The scars after fat grafting will develop at the donor areas as well as the breasts. Don’t be discouraged by the scarring from fat grafting because they are certainly less visible than the scars resulting from breast implant surgery. The scars are permanent, but their appearance will improve with time. Bruises, on the other hand, should be expected to subside within a few weeks after the intervention.
Results to expect
Under normal operative conditions, the aesthetic results of fat grafting are impressive. One major benefit of the procedure is that the patient will notice a considerable improvement in the projection of the breasts together with the augmentation. As such, many women suffering from mild breast ptosis have become interested in this procedure. Breast sagging can be caused by multiple factors such as pregnancy, genetics, aging and weight fluctuations. The fat transfer technique gives these women an opportunity to restore the youthful and perky aspect of their breasts.
During the fat grafting procedure, the fat transferred to your breasts will help reduce the sagging; thus, making the breasts rounder and more elevated. In addition, patients with stretch marks on the breasts have noticed that these marks have become less visible after the fat grafting procedure.
However, keep in mind that the full benefits of the procedure cannot be observed immediately after the intervention. Your body needs time to heal from the surgery and the transferred fat needs time to adjust to its new position.
The results of the intervention are sustainable for as long as the patient maintains a constant weight as well as a healthy lifestyle. A massive weight gain after the procedure can cause the expansion of the fat cells in the breasts and it can also trigger the development of new fat cells. If this happens, the results of the intervention will definitely be altered to a certain extent. Drastic weight loss should also be avoided as it can cause breasts sagging.
Downtime after fat grafting
Complete recovery is dependent on the technique used to introduce the fat into the breasts and your body’s inherent ability to heal. Compared to the recovery period of the breast implant surgery, the fat grafting patients tend to heal faster and exhibit better results. The patient should expect a certain degree of pain and discomfort shortly after the intervention but these symptoms can easily be regulated by pain relief medications.
The patient is usually able to resume work within seven days from the intervention, but if the job involves exhausting physical activities, the plastic surgeon might advise taking a longer time off work. Diligently looking after your breasts during the recovery period will enhance the results of the intervention. Also, make it a priority to take the antibiotics or other medications prescribed by the surgeon.
The patient will also be required to drink lots of fluids and maintain a balanced eating regimen after the procedure. Healthy foods and mild exercises are highly recommended. Allow your breasts to heal properly before engaging in sports and other strenuous exercises.
It is also essential to keep in mind that smoking can hinder the recovery process and initiate the formation of blood clots. It is advisable for patients to quit smoking before and after the plastic surgery intervention to avoid future complications. Alcohol intake and drug consumption are also discouraged as these can cause excessive bleeding.
Unsatisfactory Results
Your surgeon will undoubtedly try his best to provide you with the best results, but there can never be a 100% guarantee that the results of the intervention will meet all of your expectations. Some patients are bothered by the scars, whereas others are troubled by the shape of the breasts as well as their volume. Of course, the chances of being dissatisfied with the results of the procedure increase when an inexperienced plastic surgeon performs the surgery.
If the plastic surgeon you have selected is not very familiar with the breast augmentation procedure using fat transfer, asymmetric breasts or excessive scarring can occur. This is the main reason why it is paramount that you select a highly qualified and board-certified plastic surgeon for your breast augmentation with fat grafting surgery.
Potential complications
The fat grafting procedure can be accompanied by several complications. The risk of developing these complications is dependent on your surgeon’s abilities. Fortunately, the complications that can occur after breast augmentation with fat grafting are minor. Here are a few possible complications:
- Infections
- Seroma and hematoma
- Temporary or permanent change in or loss of sensation in the nipple
- Poor or delayed wound healing
- Asymmetrical breasts
- Excessive bleeding
Conclusion
Breast augmentation via fat transfer is one of the safest plastic surgery interventions for adding volume to your breasts and enhancing their appearance. The procedure makes use of the patient’s own fat cells to enlarge the breasts so the results are incredibly natural looking. Moreover, the incidence of complications is lower than that of breast implant surgery.
The fat grafting technique can provide the patient with a moderate degree of breast augmentation. The breasts will also appear perkier, rounder and more elevated after this procedure. Although the fat transfer procedure yields exceptional results, choosing an experienced surgeon is the key to a successful surgery.