Many women in Singapore and around the globe love to have bigger and plumper breasts, but they don’t like the idea of getting breast implants. Fat grafting to the breast or breast augmentation gives them the opportunity to fulfill their dreams by avoiding the hazards and side effects of implants.
A fat grafting procedure in Singapore helps enlarge breast tissue and improve the shape, profile, and appearance of your busts. As it uses natural fat from the person’s own body – rather than saline or silicone implants, the technique is also called autologous breast augmentation.
The breast augmentation technique using one’s very own fat is also emerging as a new breast reconstruction technique and its trend is on the rise in Singapore, Europe, US, Australia, and Asian countries
How Does Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation Work?
Fat transfer breast augmentation involves removing stubborn or excess fat tissue from the body parts such as thighs, buttocks, belly, or hips and transferring it into the breasts by injection method. Plastic surgeons complete this procedure in two phases;
Phase 1 – Liposuction
Lipo means “fat” and suction means “the extraction of fatty tissue using suction techniques.” It is the surgical intervention to remove excess fat from areas of the body with an abundance of it, such as the belly, thighs, and hips. It offers a dual advantage to the patient,
- Remove stubborn fat from body areas that are otherwise hard to lose with diet and exercise.
- Providing a source of fat grafting to any fat-depleted areas.
The surgeon makes small incisions (around 2 cm) in your skin and uses small, sterile needles to remove the fat. Depending on what is suitable for you, the procedure is done under general or local anaesthesia. How much fat is required for fat transfer breast augmentation depends on how much it is needed to give your breast a perfectly rounded shape?
Phase 2 – Fat injection
After liposuction, the fat tissue is run through a special machine called a centrifuge. This procedure is called fat purification and it separates the fat from impurities, such as blood. The surgeon then injects the purified fat into your breasts. The entire procedure may take around two to three hours to complete.
Fat Grafting Breast Augmentation Procedure
Fat grafting is done by following these steps in a systematic way.
Consultation
Before the treatment, you will have a one-on-one assessment with your plastic surgeon. During this initial consultation, your doctor will ask you about the improvements you which to achieve. You will be briefed about the procedure and what results you can expect from this fat grafting treatment.
Initial Assessment
Your doctor will do a thorough examination of your breasts to assess what modifications will be required to achieve the desired results. The amount of fat that needs to be extracted and grafted for this purpose, will also be determined.
Determination Of Fat Extraction Site
Since it is an autologous grafting technique, grafts of fat will be taken from your own body. That’s why the surgeon will identify and mark the potential body sites for harvesting the fat grafts. Mostly, grafts are taken from body parts like buttocks, thighs, belly, or hips.
Anaesthesia
Anaesthesia is a part of pre-operative preparations. A local or general anaesthesia will be given to you to make the procedure comfortable. The choice of anaesthesia will be made based on which type is best suitable for you. For instance, if you are highly sensitive to pain or are usually afraid of undergoing surgical procedures, your doctor will prefer to give you general anaesthesia.
Incision
Small incisions of around 1- 2cm will be made on the skin of the area from where fat grafts are to be taken.
Liposuction
Fat is then removed from the donor sites by using the liposuction technique. In this method, body fat is liquefied and then sucked out with the help of a small, sterile cannula.
Fat Purification
The next step is the purification of harvested fat. It is mostly done by using the Coleman technique in which the extracted fats are placed in a special machine called a centrifuge. Centrifugation (spinning the contents at high speed) will separate the fat cells from the impurities like blood. Along with it, stem cells also get isolated in this process. These cells are beneficial for better retention of fat grafts in the breast.
Marking Of The Augmentation Sites
The plastic surgeon will, now, carefully assess your breast and mark the sites where purified fat will be injected.
Fat Injection Into Breast
Lastly, a calculated amount of purified fats will be methodically injected into the appropriate layers of the augmentation sites with the aid of syringes. This will not only increase the size but also give your breasts a perfectly rounded shape.
What Are The Benefits Of A Fat Transfer Breast Enlargement Procedure?
Compared to synthetic saline or silicone breast implants, fat grafting uses a natural bio-compatible substance to shape and plump up your busts. It has the following benefits;
- It gives a natural look and feels to your breast
- Helps achieve better breast shape or cleavage
- The procedure puts less weight and results in less scarring than implant augmentation
- Liposuction may contour fat donor sites
- It has fewer side effects and causes no to a minimal skin infection.
- There is very little chance of rejection since it is your own body fat
What Are The Disadvantages Of A Fat Transfer Breast Enlargement Procedure?
Autologous breast augmentation does carry a number of disadvantages too. Compared to the silicone or saline breast implants, fat grafting;
- Require enough excess fat to transfer
- Has no standard technique and the implanted fat may get reabsorbed
- Can only enlarge 1 to 1.5 cup size
What Can I Expect During Surgery?
A fat transfer procedure involves liposuction to remove stubborn fat from the donor site and transfer it to the breasts using thin, sterile needles. Compared to implants, scars secondary to fat augmentation are minimal and occur due to cannula use.
You will be given general anesthesia or a local anesthetic agent for your comfort during surgery. Your surgeon will remove fat from your donor sites using a liposuction cannula. The fatty tissue is then filtered, purified from blood and other impurities, and processed. It is then injected into the fatty layer of the breast tissue.
Some plastic surgeons in Singapore use laser machines or dermapen therapy to minimize the scar and boost healing. Your swelling will reduce in a few days while you may have to wait for 6 to 12 months for the remaining scars to disappear.
Am I A Good Candidate for Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation?
You should be overall healthy, have done research on your side, and be mentally prepared for the surgery. This procedure is good for you if;
- You are looking to achieve a small size increase in your breast size
- You want a soft appearance of breast implants and mask the implant tissue
- You have sufficient fat in the donor sites
- You are looking for a more natural procedure with fewer side effects
How Long Does It Take To Recover?
How much time you require to heal from the procedure will depend on the plastic Surgeon, the graft’s size, and other health, diet, and lifestyle factors. The recovery length can vary from individual to individual.
The swelling usually subsides within a week or two. However, scar maturation often takes a few months or even up to a year. Be sure to follow your Surgeon’s post-surgery instructions, take anti-inflammatory medicines on time, and wear your post-operative compression garments as instructed to boost the healing and recovery.
It is equally important to ask your surgeon’s permission before resuming daily activities such as exercise, lifting, and driving. Plastic surgeons in Singapore will provide you proper post-surgery and follow-up instructions. Good results depend on a healthy lifestyle and a collaborative approach.
What Are The Common Risks And Complications?
Like all invasive and minimally-invasive surgeries, the fat transfer also poses some risks and complications.
During your initial consultation, your surgeon will guide you and make you aware of potential side effects and complications secondary to general anesthesia, bleeding, skin infection, deep vein thrombosis, slow wound healing, numbness, and scarring.
Always stay informed by asking relevant questions and doing your research. Avoid smoking and alcohol ingestion before or after your procedure as it can interfere with the body’s healing response.
How Much Does Fat Transfer to Breasts Cost In Singapore?
The cost of fat grafting in Singapore will depend on several factors, such as the size and the number of areas treated with liposuction, choice of sedation method, medication, post-surgical garments, the surgeon’s experience, and follow-ups after the procedure.
In general, breast augmentation in Singapore runs between $9,000 to $20,000. The success of the surgery depends on the technique and skill of the surgeon performing it. If you are looking for breast augmentation in Singapore, consult with a few plastic surgeons, see their before-after results, and choose the one with extensive experience in this technique.
About Dream Aesthetics and Plastic Surgery
Bespoke surgical for cosmetic or medical reasons is what Dream covers to bring out the beauty in every individual. Going beyond the aesthetics and working on physical anomalies are what we value the most in leading our patients to cherish self-improvement and confident lifestyles.
Derived from Associate Professor Vincent Yeow’s long-standing experience performing plastic surgery in Singapore, our treatment plans deliver physical remodelling in our patients’ favour. One of the notable remodellings is droopy eyelid correction. The ptosis surgery used for treatment eventually fixes drooping eyelids, improves vision and enhances appearance.
Most importantly, as a trustworthy plastic surgery and aesthetic clinic, we treasure positive and natural outcomes for each individual. We will ensure to deliver the beauty refinement of your dream without compromising your safety and privacy.
