What is autologous fat grafting?
Autologous fat grafting (also known as fat transfer or fat injections), is a surgical procedure in which fat is grafted from one area of the body and injected into another area of the body, in the same patient.
The goal of fat grafting is to augment or improve the aesthetic appearance of the area where the fat is injected. The procedure is performed by a surgeon and involves extracting adipose fat (usually from the so-called love handles, abdomen, or hips) by liposuction. The fat is processed in a sterile environment, and the purified fat is then reinjected into the desired area.1
How is fat grafting used in breast aesthetics?
Fat grafting was initially used in breast reconstruction procedures, mainly to improve the breast appearance following lumpectomy or to correct contour deformities and fix minor differences in the shape, balance, or position of the reconstructed breast compared to the other breast.2
In the last two decades, fat grafting has become a more common procedure also in breast aesthetics for a wide variety of indications and has proven to be a very useful complementary procedure in breast augmentation.3,4
While it can be used as a form of primary autologous breast augmentation, today fat grafting is mainly used as an adjunct to implant-based breast augmentation, providing better coverage of the implant edges and addressing the limitations of soft tissue coverage of breast implants. Fat grafting can also be used to improve the breast contour alongside mastopexy techniques.5
The hybrid technique of implant-based augmentation and fat grafting presents low complication rates and is reported to be safe, simple, and fast.3 Surgeons report high patient satisfaction and good aesthetic outcomes with a ‘natural’ looking breast shape and a ‘smoothened’ appearance of the upper pole.4
Things to consider when opting for a hybrid procedure
Overall, fat grafting in breast aesthetics has proven to be a safe, increasingly popular procedure with high levels of patient and provider satisfaction in regard to the size, shape, and texture of the breast.4
It is important to note that with a hybrid fat grafting breast procedure, your body will need to recover not only in the breast area but also in the liposuction area. Some burning sensation in the liposuction area is to be expected, and depending on the amount of fat harvested, you may also experience some soreness, bruising, and swelling for a few weeks. Read more about possible complications here.
Depending on the liposuction area and capacity, your surgeon may apply a compression garment and bandages to the liposuction area, to help minimize swelling and provide support during the healing process and may also recommend a support garment for a period of time after returning home.7
Read more about recovery after liposuction here.
Read more about recovery after breast surgery here.
Always consult your surgeon
Your surgeon’s priority is your health and satisfaction with the results. If a hybrid procedure can benefit you, a surgeon with the right expertise will explain more about the procedure during consultation.
Not sure what how to find a surgeon? Read more about finding the right surgeon for you here.
POLYTECH is the global distributor of Lipografter®, a fat grafting apparatus.
Sources:
1 https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/blog/fat-grafting-for-breast-augmentation
2 https://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/surgery/reconstruction/types/autologous/fat-grafting
3 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30264274/
4 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7023973/
5 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6952123/
6 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28445355/
7 https://www.medstarhealth.org/services/fat-grafting-breast