Procedures
Fat Transfer To Breasts / Lipofilling
Fat transfer to the breasts, also known as autologous fat grafting or natural breast augmentation, is a sophisticated cosmetic procedure that enhances breast size and shape using your own fat. This technique offers a dual benefit: slimming areas where excess fat is undesired and augmenting the breasts for a more natural and subtle enhancement compared to traditional breast implants. Recommended for those seeking a moderate increase in breast size and improved breast contour without the use of implants, fat transfer presents an appealing option. Anca specialises in this minimally invasive approach, emphasising a personalised and natural-looking outcome. By carefully harvesting fat from one area of the body and injecting it into the breasts, she achieves results that are in harmony with your overall physique and aesthetic goals.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF AESTHETIC PLASTIC SURGEONS (BAAPS) FACT SHEET ON THIS PROCEDURE.
Download Miss Anca Breahna Breast Augmentation Guide
At a glance
2 hours
General anaesthetic
Overnight
7-10 days
6 weeks
Table of Contents
Who Needs Fat Transfer to the Breasts Surgery
Fat transfer to the breasts is an ideal procedure for certain patients based on their aesthetic goals, physical health, and personal preferences. Anca identifies suitable candidates through complex consultations, considering several factors:
- Desire for a Modest Increase in Breast Size: This procedure is perfect for women looking for a slight to moderate increase in breast volume without the use of implants. It’s particularly appealing to those seeking natural results.
- Correction of Breast Asymmetry: Patients with noticeable asymmetry between their breasts can benefit from fat transfer, allowing for precise adjustments to achieve balance and symmetry.
- Enhancement of Breast Shape and Contour: Beyond adding volume, this technique is sought by women aiming to enhance the overall shape and contour of their breasts, such as filling in the upper pole for a fuller appearance.
- Preference for Natural Materials: If you prefer to avoid synthetic materials in your body, you can choose fat transfer as a natural alternative, using your body’s own fat to enhance breast size.
- Recovery from Previous Breast Surgeries: Patients unhappy with the results of previous breast surgeries or experiencing complications from breast implants may consider fat transfer for corrective purposes or as part of a reconstructive process.
- Sufficient Donor Fat: Suitable candidates must have adequate fat in other areas of the body that can be harvested for the transfer. Anca assesses potential donor sites to ensure there is enough viable fat for a successful outcome.
Benefits of Fat Transfer to the Breast Surgery
Fat transfer to the breasts offers a range of benefits, making it an attractive option for those looking to enhance their breast appearance:
- Natural Results: Since the procedure uses your own fat, the results feel and look natural, avoiding the potential complications or aesthetic concerns associated with implants.
- Improved Body Contour: The need to harvest fat from other body areas means you enjoy the dual benefit of contouring places like the abdomen, thighs, or hips, leading to an overall more pleasing body silhouette.
- Minimised Risk of Allergic Reactions: As the procedure uses your own biological material, there is no risk of allergic reactions that can sometimes occur with foreign materials like silicone or saline implants.
- Less Invasive: Fat transfer involves smaller incisions compared to traditional breast augmentation, leading to quicker recovery times and minimal scarring.
- Correction of Imperfections: This method allows for precise corrections of breast asymmetry, shape, and volume, offering a customised approach to breast enhancement.
- Potential for Reabsorption: While some of the transferred fat may be reabsorbed by the body initially, the remaining fat cells can provide a long-lasting enhancement, with the possibility of further touch-ups if desired.
Types of Fat Transfer to the Breasts
Pure Grafting for Volume Enhancement
This technique is primarily aimed at increasing breast size. It involves the extraction of fat from areas with excess deposits, such as the abdomen, thighs, or flanks, through liposuction. The harvested fat is then purified and carefully injected into the breast tissue to achieve the desired volume increase. It’s ideal for patients looking for a modest enlargement without the use of implants.
Structural Fat Grafting for Shaping and Contouring
Beyond simply adding volume, structural fat grafting focuses on sculpting the breasts to improve their shape and contour. This method requires precise injection techniques to sculpt the breasts into a more desirable form, correcting asymmetries or enhancing the natural curvature. It’s particularly beneficial for patients who seek a more defined breast shape along with volume enhancement.
Composite Breast Augmentation
This advanced technique combines fat transfer with breast implants to provide both the natural feel of fat and the significant volume increase that implants offer. It’s suitable for patients desiring a larger augmentation than fat alone can achieve while still enjoying the benefits of a natural look and feel. Anca may recommend this approach for individuals looking to address significant volume loss or achieve a substantial increase in breast size.
Corrective Fat Grafting
Used to correct imperfections from previous breast surgeries, such as implant rippling, asymmetry, or irregular contours, corrective fat grafting uses your fat to smooth out and refine the breast appearance. This technique is often sought by patients unhappy with the results of prior breast augmentation or reconstruction procedures.
How Is the Procedure Performed
The fat transfer to breasts procedure is performed by Anca, involving several key steps to ensure safety, effectiveness, and natural-looking results. Here are the details of how the procedure is conducted:
- Consultation and Planning: An initial consultation with Anca is essential to discuss your goals, evaluate your suitability for the procedure, and determine the best approach. During this phase, Anca assesses the donor sites for fat harvesting and the breast area to plan the fat transfer.
- Harvesting Fat: The procedure begins with liposuction to harvest fat from the predetermined areas, such as the abdomen, thighs, or hips. Anca uses gentle liposuction techniques to minimise trauma to the fat cells, ensuring a high viability rate for transfer.
- Purification of Fat: Once harvested, the fat is then processed and purified. This step involves separating viable fat cells from the liquid and debris collected during liposuction. The purification process is crucial for the success of the fat grafting, as it ensures that only healthy, intact fat cells are used for injection.
- Injection into the Breasts: The purified fat is carefully injected into the breasts at various depths and areas to achieve the desired volume and shape. Anca employs specialised techniques to evenly distribute the fat cells, enhancing their survival rate and ensuring a smooth, natural contour. This step requires precision and artistry to achieve symmetrical and aesthetically pleasing results.
- Monitoring and Final Touches: Throughout the procedure, Anca continuously assesses the shape and symmetry of the breasts, making adjustments as necessary to ensure the best possible outcome.
The entire procedure is performed under anaesthesia to ensure patient comfort. The type of anaesthesia used (local with sedation or general) will depend on the extent of the fat transfer and your preferences.
Fat transfer to the breasts encompasses several techniques, each tailored to meet your unique needs and aesthetic goals. Anca employs various methods to ensure the most natural-looking results, focusing on volume enhancement, shape improvement, and overall breast aesthetics.
Each of the techniques requires a detailed consultation with Anca to determine the most appropriate approach based on your body type, existing breast tissue, and specific aesthetic desires. By customising the fat transfer process, Anca ensures that each patient receives a tailored treatment plan designed to achieve the most natural and satisfying outcomes.
Recovery and Aftercare
Recovery from a fat transfer to the breasts surgery involves a period of healing and adjustment as the body adapts to the newly transferred fat cells. Anca provides each patient with a tailored aftercare plan to ensure optimal recovery and the best possible outcomes:
- Immediate Post-Procedure Care: Following the surgery, you may experience mild to moderate swelling and bruising both at the donor sites and the breasts. Anca will recommend wearing a compression garment in the areas where liposuction was performed to help reduce swelling and support the healing tissues.
- Breast Care: A special supportive bra, often without underwires, should be worn as directed by Anca. This helps maintain the shape of the breasts as they heal and minimises swelling.
- Activity Restrictions: Patients are advised to avoid strenuous activities and heavy lifting for a few weeks post-surgery. Anca provides guidance on when it’s safe to resume various types of activities based on the individual’s recovery progress.
- Monitoring for Changes: Regular follow-up appointments with Anca are essential to monitor the healing process and assess the survival of the transferred fat cells. These check-ups also allow for the early identification and management of any potential complications.
- Maintaining Results: Long-term, maintaining a stable weight is key to preserving the results of the fat transfer, as significant weight fluctuations can affect the size and shape of the breasts.
Reviews
Patient satisfaction is the top priority for Anca. You can find how patients feel about her work below.
My husband found Miss Breahna on an internet search, I was slightly nervous, as I was always told to have someone recommended. However from the first appointment, to now, 6 weeks post op. I believe everything happens for a reason. Anca, is so thorough, and knowledgeable I have crohns, and AS, and struggle with fluctuating weight. This was something I thought would be a barrier. But with Anca’s expertises it was nothing. I have had a breast uplift, liopsuction, and fat transfer meaning my breasts now have shape, they are no bigger, but are the correct shape, and I haven’t needed to have an implant either. I felt that Anca, never even thought about money, she just wanted the best for you, in that sense, she offered 2-3 pre consultations, the aftercare has been amazing, excellent communication, and I even wanted another procedure, of which she has recommended waiting for (many other consultants would have gone ahead regardless for the money I feel). I honestly couldn’t be happier, and can’t wait to have the next procedure. I wholeheartedly have full faith and trust in Anca. I would also like to say thank you to Claire, Anca’s PA who made the communication seamless, and looking after my little ones to enable me to have a consultation.
Choosing Miss Breahna for my Breast augmentation was the best choice I made! She was really helpful in all consultations, nothing was awkward, I felt comfortable at all times. She made sure I knew everything before making a decision. The day of my operation was a breeze, I was reassured everything was going to be fine, I had the best treatment and care. I am so happy with my results, I couldn’t praise miss Breahna anymore, I would recommend her to anyone, she’s an amazing surgeon!
From the beginning, Ms Breahna has treated me with the upmost care and consideration, with a gentle and professional manner in all aspects of the process. Ms Breahna’s expertise was invaluable when considering between breast augmentation and a mastopexy augmentation, with the most appropriate implant size and shape. Saying I am happy with the results is an understatement as I couldn’t have imagined my breasts to be as perfect as they are, with incredibly neat scars and, personally, no complications. I have thoroughly enjoyed the process due to Ms Breahna’s kind nature making me feel so at ease throughout, with unfathomable attention to detail and care. Thank you!
How Much Is Fat Transfer to the Breast in UK
The cost of fat transfer to the breasts in the UK can vary widely based on several factors, including the extent of the procedure, the surgeon’s experience, and the geographic location of the clinic. Anca ensures that all patients receive a clear and comprehensive breakdown of costs during their initial consultation. On average, the procedure can range from £3,500 to £8,000. This estimate typically includes:
- Consultation Fees: The initial assessment to discuss goals and evaluate suitability for the procedure.
- Anaesthesia Fees: Costs associated with general anaesthesia or sedation to ensure your comfort during the surgery.
- Surgeon’s Fees: The cost for Anca’s expertise and time spent performing the surgery.
- Facility Fees: Charges for the use of the clinic or hospital facilities and equipment.
- Aftercare Costs: Includes follow-up visits, supportive garments, and any necessary medications.
It’s important to note that prices may vary, and additional costs could arise based on your individual needs, such as the necessity for touch-up procedures to achieve the desired volume or shape.
Further Reading
- Read Anca’s Blog on Natural Boob Job – Autologous Fat Transfer to the Breasts
- Read Anca’s Blog on How to Get Perky Breasts and Upper Pole Fullness
- Read Anca’s Blog on What are Tuberous Breasts and How to Correct Them
Procedure
Frequently asked questions
Am I suitable for fat transfer to breast treatment?
A suitable candidate for lipofilling would have a preference of enhancing their breast size and shape without having implants and is content to accept an increase of up to one cup size. You must also have the available fat deposits! Best results are seen in people who maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle, and keep their body well hydrated and their weight steady.
Is fat transfer to breast treatment painful?
The fat transfer to breast surgery is carried out under general anaesthetic to eliminate any pain during the procedure itself. Post-operatively, you are likely to experience some discomfort, which may take a couple of weeks to subside. A course of pain relief will be prescribed.
Are there any side effects or risks of transferring fat to the breast?
There is likely to be some swelling, bruising and temporary numbness, following this lipofilling procedure, which will ease within 2 – 3 weeks post treatment. Uncommon risks include infection, asymmetry, bleeding, fat necrosis, oil cysts, benign calcifications and difficulty with mammogram interpretations and excessive loss of fat cells.
How much downtime is usually needed?
This fat transfer procedure may incur a period of 2 weeks recovery time, to allow for successful healing, and time off work may be required. Driving will be possible after 2 weeks. It may need up to 3 weeks before travelling abroad and 6 weeks before returning to the gym.
Medical References about Fat Transfer To Breasts / Lipofilling
- Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation: Procedure, Results & Risks – Cleveland Clinic
- Breast Augmentation With Autologous Fat Injection – PMC
- The use of autologous fat grafts in breast surgery
- Large-Volume Autologous Fat Grafting to the Breast
- Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation – American Society of Plastic Surgeons
Ms Anca Breahna, PhD, MSc, FEBOPRAS, FRCS (Plast) is a highly regarded Consultant Plastic Surgeon specialising in the field of Aesthetic and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery. Anca performs a range of breast, body and face surgery and minor skin procedures.
