Breast Augmentation Fat Transfer Surgery - Fat Grafting

First, the patient is consulted with Lucia Clinic’s plastic surgeon. The surgeon explains to the patients how to prepare for the procedure and what the procedure looks like. Also, the surgeon discusses with the patient her goals and expectations. The surgeon examines the present state of the patient’s breasts to determine the best surgical technique. The surgeon assesses:

● Breast shape and size
● Body area from which the patient wishes to transfer fat
● The quantity and quality of breast skin and tissue
● Patient’s medical history - any cases of breast illnesses
● Allergies that the patient might have
● Possible medication that the patient is currently taking

Once all the questions are answered, the surgeon creates a customized plan and explains it to the patient. The plan includes the size of the breast the surgeon will achieve with fat transfer, how long the procedure will last and how long the patient will need to recover.
It is important for the patient to fully understand what are the benefits, risks and possible complications of the surgery before she definitely decides to undergo it.

Also, it is important that the patient keeps realistic expectations about the results of the surgery.

Often yes. Especially if the patient is not satisfied with the breast size after the first session, she may have additional ones. Of course, the number of sessions is discussed with the plastic surgeon.

The reason why some patients decide to have multiple sessions is that there is a limit to how much fat can be transferred to the patient’s breasts. If the patient wishes to achieve a larger size of the breasts, more sessions are necessary, because in the first 6 months post-surgery the patient’s body can naturally absorb almost 30% to 50% of fat that was transferred into breasts. Every patient is different so the percentage of absorbed fat and the final size of the breasts can’t be guaranteed. Therefore, this technique of breast augmentation may need more time to perform and maintain the results.

The treatment time for every session may last for 2 to 3 hours.

Before the surgery, the patient can do a few things to make the recovery time quicker and easier.

The surgeon can recommend the patient to avoid smoking and alcohol because the recovery will be faster. Nicotine should be avoided at least for 6 weeks before and after the surgery.

It is recommended to find somebody to drive the patient home after the surgery. Also, the patient shouldn’t be without supervision for the first 24 hours after the surgery in case of any complications.

First, the surgeon draws lines to show the patient which areas will be treated and explain the specific goals of the procedure.

Next, the patient will receive anesthesia before the surgery. It can be only local anesthesia or general - it all depends on what the surgeon has agreed on with the patient.

Once the patient is in the operating room, the surgeon cleans the breast area to keep it sterile and avoid infection. Then the surgery can start.

Breast augmentation with fat transfer surgery involves multiple steps. First, the surgeon removes the fat from the body area that is pre-agreed with the patient, using liposuction. These areas can be arms, thighs, buttocks or stomach. Tumescence solution is injected into the chosen body area - a medication that reduces bleeding and pain during the surgery. The fat that was removed goes through the process of cleansing -washing and refinement.

The purified fat is then carefully injected through a small plastic tube into the upper part of the patient’s breasts that consists of small natural hollow pockets. As a result, the patient’s breasts become enlarged.

Finally, the surgeon finishes the surgery by putting tape and straps on the tiny wounds from fat injection and liposuction.

The patient’s body should completely heal after 4 to 6 weeks, but every patient is different so the full results may vary. If a patient needs several sessions to achieve the desired size and shape of the breasts the full results may be seen after 12 months.

It is highly recommended to follow the strict aftercare protocol to achieve the best results from the surgery.

It is absolutely crucial that the patient follows the strict recovery protocol given by the surgeon during consultation. As every patient is different the recovery time may vary.

A lot of patients can go home on the same day after the surgery, but some might be required to spend the night at the hospital. Before the patient goes home she needs to arrange a follow-up appointment with the surgeon within the next two weeks.

During the first week of recovery, the patient mustn’t lift heavy objects. These include shopping bags as well. It is vital that the patient keeps a healthy and balanced diet after the surgery - rich in proteins and low in salt, fats and sugars. It is also important that the patient drinks a lot of water.

Another tip for the recovery time is to sleep on the back in the first days.

All the additional recommendations and the duration of the recovery time are given by the surgeon and the patient should strictly follow them.

There are a few possible complications that might happen after the surgery. They include:

● Bruising and bleeding

As in any surgery, bruising and bleeding are possible. This generally happens right after the surgery.

● Oil cysts and fat necrosis

These complications happen really rarely and there are treatments that can help with these conditions. When the surgeon uses a good technique to perform this surgery these complications are unlikely to happen.

● The possibility of infection

Infections may occur after the surgery, precisely in the first two weeks. The symptoms include major redness in the skin around the wound or the wound is not properly healing. Antibiotics can solve minor infections, but in any case, the patient must inform the surgeon right away if she notices these symptoms.

There are some other, general surgical risks like allergic reactions, nausea, post-operative pain, formation of the blood clot or anesthetic risks.

Some patients can have problems breastfeeding and produce less milk after the surgery although this condition is pretty uncommon. Usually, women are able to breastfeed the same as before. However, if a woman has recently become a mother, she can have the surgery 6 to 12 months after she has stopped breastfeeding. This is something to keep in mind when timing the surgery.

If the patient significantly loses or gains weight after the surgery, this might affect the look of the breasts. Every patient is different so it’s not always easy to predict if the breasts will change their appearance. In some cases, the fat that was transferred to the breasts can act as if it is in its original body area. So, if the patient would lose fat in the thighs she would also lose it in the breasts.