Breast Fat Transfer Augmentation Adelaide

Side effects and complications of breast fat transfer

All surgical procedures carry certain side effects and risks, including breast fat transfer augmentation, even though it is seen as a more natural breast augmentation than other methods.

These complications and risks may include:

• Aching, pain and swelling
• Delayed healing time
• Bruising or bleeding
• Infection
• Scarring
• Breast asymmetry
• Changes in skin sensation
• Fluid accumulation
• Death of fat cells (fat necrosis)
• Oil cysts
• Blood clots
• Revision surgery being required to address complications

If you have any concerns about the side effects of fat transfer breast augmentation, you are welcome to discuss them with your doctor during your initial consultation.

The advantages of breast fat transfer augmentation

When compared to other breast augmentation procedures that typically require implants, breast fat transfer is often regarded as a natural breast augmentation, as the material used to enhance breast size is extracted from your own body as opposed to a silicone or saline-based product.

• The results of breast fat transfer may vary; some patients may experience a subtle increase in breast fullness and a natural-looking lift
• Sculpt other areas of your body simultaneously: Liposuction on chosen areas such as the thighs, abdomen, and hips, can help to shape the areas.
• Vaser liposuction and fat injections involve small incisions; however, as with any surgical procedure, there may be some risk of scarring. In addition, breast fat transfer procedure has been linked to fewer risks than other breast enhancement surgeries. Recovery time from breast fat transfer can also be noticeably lower than recovery time from other procedures.

Breast fat transfer surgery preparation

You will be instructed on the best way to prepare for your breast fat transfer procedure by your doctor during your initial consultation. To provide you with some guidance to preparation in the meantime, some tips can be to:

• Avoid certain medications that pose an increased risk of excessive bleeding during and after surgery
• Buy loose, comfortable clothing to wear after your procedure
• Quit smoking at least two weeks prior to surgery, as smoking can delay healing and increase the risk of surgical complications
• Fill required prescriptions
• Prepare some healthy meals to have available during recovery
• Arrange for someone to pick you up from the hospital
• Arrange for someone to help you with tasks at home for the first few days after your surgery, if possible

Suitable candidates for breast fat transfer

Good candidates for breast fat transfer augmentation are those who desire a natural lift with a slight increase in fullness, as opposed to a larger enhancement in size that can be achieved with silicone or saline breast implants. Patients may need to fit the following criteria to be considered suitable for a breast augmentation with fat transfer procedure:

• In good health, both physically and mentally
• At a healthy and stable weight
• Has skin that is firm and elastic
• Is a non-smoker (or willing to quit before and after surgery)
• Has realistic expectations as to what breast fat transfer can achieve
• Does not suffer from blood circulation issues
• Has sufficient fat stores available on the other areas of the body to transfer to the breasts

A consultation with one of our doctors will ultimately determine if breast fat transfer surgery is right for you, and is the suitable choice to achieve your desired outcome.

How long will I be in the operating theatre for?

It will depend on your individual procedure details, such as how much fat will be harvested with liposuction and transferred to the breasts, but breast fat transfer augmentation typically takes about two to four hours on average.

When can I see results, and are they long-lasting?

You should start to see results as soon as swelling begins to subside, within the few weeks following your procedure. Vaser liposuction offers a fat transfer survival rate of at least 80 percent, so just one procedure can be effective, however multiple procedures may be needed to reach your goals. After about six months after your surgery, your final results will be visible, and the fat that survives will stay in your breasts permanently. Just like breasts that have not been augmented by any surgical procedures, changes in weight can influence your breast size after your procedure. To maintain your final results, we suggest following a healthy diet and exercise routine.

Can I get more breast fat transfer procedures done if I want more fat to be injected into my breasts after my first procedure?

Multiple breast fat transfer procedures performed about three to six months apart may be able to be performed to enhance the breast size further.

Can fat transferred to the breasts make it harder to detect breast cancer?

Fat injected into the breasts will not make it more difficult for radiologists to detect breast cancer if you go for a mammogram, as stated by RACS. The RACS has also confirmed that the same risks or complications that are involved with other breast augmentation methods are involved with breast fat transfer procedures. If you see a radiologist for a mammogram, you should mention that you have had a breast fat transfer procedure, so that they can be aware that the procedure can be the cause of any calcification that may appear.

Does breast fat transfer augmentation leave scars?

At Cosmos Aesthetics, we use advanced Vaser liposuction technology, that carries a low risk of scarring thanks to its gentler method than traditional types of liposuction. Both the Vaser liposuction and fat transfer injections only need small incisions, and your doctor will place them in areas that are discreet or are easily concealed.  Therefore, even though the chance of highly visible scarring is low, if scars occur, they will be in hidden places.