Large and perky breasts are an important part of the female body aesthetics. But some women have fairly small bosoms which lower their self-esteem and they may suffer from inferiority complex. Also, breasts become saggy with time. If you are going through a similar condition and looking for a solution but are reluctant about implantation surgery, fat grafting might be the right choice for you.
Fat grafting in Singapore augments the size and aesthetic appearance of your breasts. As this technique uses the body’s own natural fat for grafting, instead of artificial implants, it is also termed autologous breast augmentation treatment.
Due to fewer side effects, minimal scar mark formation, and natural-looking results, fat grafting is emerging as a more widely accepted breast augmentation technique, and its popularity is on the rise all around the globe.
This article contains everything you need to know about fat grafting for breast augmentation.
How Does Fat Grafting Breast Augmentation Work?
Breast augmentation by the fat grafting technique works in two phases. In the first phase, excessive and stubborn fat, which is resistant to diet and exercise, is removed by using a liposuction procedure. Then, in the second phase, the extracted fat, after purification, is injected into the breast. The fat provides volume and support to your breast so that your breasts look bigger and lifted.
How Is Fat Grafting Done?
Fat grafting is done by following these steps in a systematic way.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 towards pain or are usually afraid of undergoing surgical procedures, your doctor will prefer giving you general anaesthesia.
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Incision
Small incisions of around 1- 2cm will be made on the skin of the area from where fat grafts are to be taken.
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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.
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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.
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Marking Of The Augmentation Sites
The plastic surgeon will, now, carefully assess your breast and mark the sites where purified fat will be injected.
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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.
How Much Time Does It Take To Complete?
The whole session of the fat grafting procedure takes 2 to 3 hours to complete.
What Improvements You Can Expect From Fat Grafting?
Fat grafting is a “2-in-1” method as it not only enhances the aesthetics of your breasts but also helps you in reducing excess fats in other body parts.
- Plump up your breasts
- Provide better contour and shape to your breasts
- Helps you achieve a better cleavage
- Help you get rid of stubborn fat from other body areas
- Shape up your fat donor sites
How Long Do The Results Of Fat Grafting Breast Augmentation Last?
Despite autologous grafting techniques and the use of biocompatible grafts (fats), not all the fat will survive in your breasts. Around 50 to 70% of fat shows long-term persistence while the rest is eliminated over time by the body’s natural waste removal system.
The implanted fat cells need blood supply for their survival. Therefore, once the blood supply gets established, the results become permanent.
Am I A Suitable Candidate For Fat Grafting?
Fat grafting is a suitable treatment option for you if;
- You have enough fat at the donor sites
- You want to enhance your breasts for only up to 1 to 1.5 cup size
- You prefer natural-looking moderately enlarged breasts over busty breasts with scar marks
- You want to conceal the appearance of breast implants
Apart from that, there are some general conditions for this treatment, like, as you should be healthy, are mentally prepared for undergoing surgery, have no comorbidity which can increase the risks of complications, etc. Your doctor will explain and check all these things during a one-to-one assessment with you and will make sure that you are a suitable candidate for this treatment.
What Is The Recovery Period?
The recovery period of fat grafting treatment is very short and ranges from 10 to 14 days. Swelling of treatment areas is quite common and it usually subsides in a week or two. Small bruises and minute subcutaneous haemorrhages also recover within a few weeks. On the other hand, the little scar marks formed at the site of insertion of the cannula, will take few months or even up to a year to fade away.
However, the duration of the recovery period may vary from person to person. It depends upon multiple factors like how well the surgery is done, what is the size of grafts implanted, how good is your health, and what are your dietary and lifestyle habits, etc.
You need to take proper post-operative care which includes follow-ups, regular use of prescribed medications, abiding by your doctor’s instructions, and use of compression garments to speed up the recovery process.
Are There Any Risks Of Side Effects And Complications?
Side effects and complications are usually rare after fat grafting treatment. However, like all invasive and minimally-invasive procedures, some risks of ill effects are always there. The potential side effects and complications of fat grafting include;
- Bleeding
- Skin infections
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Poor and sluggish wound healing
- Numbness
- Scarring
- Complications of general anaesthesia
How Much Does Fat Grafting In Singapore Cost?
The fat grafting in Singapore cost depends upon multiple factors, like;
- Size and number of areas treated with liposuction
- Amount of fat removed during liposuction
- Type of anaesthesia used (local, general or light sedation)
- Post-operative follow-ups, compression garments and medications
- Experience of the plastic surgeon
Depending upon these factors, the price of fat grafting for breast augmentation in Singapore may range from $15,000 to $20,000. Therefore, if you are looking for having this treatment, consult with a few plastic surgeons, talk about the procedure and its cost, see their before-and-after results and choose the well-experienced surgeon with the best prices.
What Are The Benefits Of Fat Grafting?
The benefits of fat grafting over other breast augmentation treatments are listed below;
- Less invasive method
- Smaller incisions
- As grafts are taken from your own body, the chances of rejection and allergic reactions are minimal.
- Scar formation is minimal as compared to other breast augmentation techniques.
- A natural look and feel are achieved in the end
What Are The Limitations Of Fat Grafting Breast Augmentation?
Where fat grafting breast augmentation has numerous plus points, it has some limitations as well. These limitations are as follows;
- It is not suitable for lean and slim girls as an adequate amount of excess fat is required for grafting
- Fat grafts may get absorbed in the surrounding tissues, thus, fading the treatment effects
- This method enlarges your breast only up to 1 to 1.5 cup size
- Breast size may change with a change in body weight. Therefore, body weight needs to be maintained after getting this treatment
- More expensive than other treatments as it involves two procedures i.e. liposuction and breast augmentation
Take Away
Fat grafting is gaining popularity as an effective breast augmentation procedure. It is done by removing excess fat from other body regions through liposuction, and then after purification, the fat is injected into the breasts. This makes your breasts large and perky. Due to autologous grafts, there are minimal chances of rejection. Moreover, the risks of side effects and persistent scars are almost negligible.
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.
