Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation

Procedure Time
2 – 3 Hours
Anaesthesia
General Anaesthesia
Recovery
7 – 10 Days
Stitch Removal
7 Days Post-op

What Is Breast Fat Grafting?

Breast Fat Grafting is a cosmetic plastic procedure involving removing fat from one part of the body and adding it to the breast. This is conducted to enlarge the breast size and make them appear more uplifted. The fat may be extracted from one location of the body, or it may be removed from multiple locations based on the requirements. This extraction of fat is usually done via liposuction.

what is fat transfer to breast

Benefits Of Breast Fat Grafting

  • 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

Candidates For Breast Fat Transfer

An individual may be considered a good candidate for breast augmentation with fat grafting if they are:

  • Over the age of 21 years
  • Having excess body fat at other locations of their body that may be transferred to the breast
  • Have realistic expectations about the results of the breast augmentation procedure
  • Currently in good health and not undergoing treatment for breast cancer
  • Not currently pregnant
  • Not currently breastfeeding their baby
  • Not having a history of previous breast implant complications or failure
  • Not habitual smokers or are willing to give up smoking before their fat transfer procedure

Your suitability as a candidate for breast augmentation with the fat transfer will most probably be determined during the initial consultation visit. The doctor will assess your health and medical history and discuss what you desire to achieve from the procedure. This will help them determine if this procedure is your best choice.

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Sites For Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation

These are some of the areas where fat is frequently harvested from:

  • Abdomen
  • Flanks (Love Handles)
  • Thighs
  • Buttocks
  • Upper arms
areas for liposuction

What To Expect For Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation in Singapore

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. 

  • 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.

  • 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.

Recovery From Breast Fat Grafting Surgery

The recovery from breast augmentation with fat grafting depends on several factors: the number of sites of the body through which the fat was extracted. The fewer the sites of fat extraction, the faster the recovery will be. Patients who have undergone the surgery report swelling and bruising on the fat extraction sites, which lasts for a few days. Some patients may also feel some swelling in their breasts; however, a majority report no pain.

The downtime for Breast augmentation by fat grafting is around 2-3 days. A majority of the patients are able to return back to their workplaces within a week. In order to promote a smoother recovery, you may also indulge in walking or light exercises. While slow walking can be started from the next day of the surgery, light exercises should be continued after at least ten days.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Breast Fat Grafting

Fat grafting procedure is effective in obtaining around 1 cup size increase in breast volume. There is also a possibility to obtain 2 cup size volume (or even more), but this depends on whether you have sufficient fats in the donor sites.

Yes! In a fat grafting procedure, your own fat is bio-compatible to your body, it does not involve any foreign materials and eliminates chances of any rejection.

For a long time, most surgeons worried over the chance of fat transfer to the breast causing lumpiness. However, any kind of lumpiness has been shown either not to happen or to be uncommon.

Yes! This is turning into a popular choice among people who are looking to achieve both breast enhancement and body contouring benefits in one procedure.

Many ladies who are looking to replace their silicon breast implants are also deciding to have the volume supplanted with their own fat.

The procedure generally takes from 3 to 5 hours. It takes so much time because the fat is removed from the donor site, purified while ensuring that the living tissue is not damaged, and grafted in the form of layers to ensure the optimal blood flow in the same day.

Most patients feel comfortable returning to work around one week following the procedure, while others who wish to factor in more time for recovery may choose to get back within 10 to 14 after the surgery. A small percentage of patients may still experience mild soreness and pain after the initial 2 week period but that should gradually subside in the following weeks.

Most patients can get back to light physical activity and exercise at around 10 to 14 days. However, it is recommended to avoid anything strenuous that could interfere with the outcome of the fat grafting. Studies have shown that most patients can resume their pre-operative physical activity 3 – 4 weeks after the procedure.

A portion of the aesthetic outcome of breast grafting will be noticeable instantly after the procedure. However, it takes 2 to 6 months to see the full outcome. It may even take longer for patients who have had a considerable amount of fat grafted.

Subsiding of the swelling and inflammation plays a key role in determining the recovery time period after the surgery. Moreover, the newly transplanted stem cells keep on supporting the adaptation of new fat cells in the treatment area for as long as a quarter of a year. So the final results of the surgery depends on different factors and each individual may experience slight variations in their recovery timeline.

Yes! Fat transfer is a viable method to reconstruct the breast after any extensive breast tissue removing procedure, such as lumpectomy and mastectomy (techniques that surgically excise all or a part of the breast tissue as a component of breast cancer treatment). This is a decent alternative option for candidates who don’t wish to be implanted with foreign bodies, for example, silicon or saline breast implants.

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

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.

Several factors play a crucial role in the success of fat grafting procedures, including the quality of fat, the type of harvest technique, fat cell purification, the injection technique, and the expertise of the plastic surgeon. When compared to other facial rejuvenating and breast enhancement techniques, fat grafting is shown to be safe, efficient, and cost-effective. Plus, the natural-looking outcome that usually lasts for several years has made this procedure popular across the globe.

Although quite safe, fat grafting does have some side effects – just like in any procedure. These may include swelling, bruising, numbness, mild pain, and scarring. In most cases, these side effects subside in a week or two.