What You Need to Know Beforehand
How much size can I gain with breast fat grafting?
Your age, skin quality and your anatomic proportions decide how much fat can be grafted within one session. Generally you can achieve an augmentation of max 1-2 cup sizes with only fat transfer, mostly achieved with minimum 2 treatment sessions. Should little fat be available in case of slim patients or in case of desire of more volume, we will explain if any additional implant based-technique would be advisable for the best aesthetic outcome.
Can lipotransfer and my skin be addressed at the same time?
If your breast skin shows signs of cellulite, generalized loss of collagen, striae etc additional treatments like a breast uplift maybe recommended by us and performed at the same time as your fat grafting surgery to minimize downtime.
Are there any scars after fat grafting?
This treatment is performed using very thin cannulas (needles) to harvest the fat and to re-inject it after washing and filtration. As there are no incisions, there will not be any visible scars.
How is fat transfer to the breasts performed?
Breast lipotransfer is mostly performed under deep iv sedation (twilight sleep) combined with local anesthesia. You will sleep throughout the procedure, but you will be able to move arms and legs like in normal sleep, which lowers the risk for thrombosis. The procedure is generally pain free and takes between 1-2 hours.
How long is the recovery of lipotransfer?
Lipotransfer recovery is 7- 10 days, with some swelling and bruising during the first 7 days. There may be some numbness of the skin and lumpiness of the subcutaneous skin layers during the first 6-8 weeks before recovery is complete. You should not put pressure on the areas treated with fat grafting for 3-4 weeks.
After Surgery and Beyond
Breast fat grafting aftercare
The Ocean Clinic Concept is to avoid any unnecessary pain and discomfort. Most of our breast fat transfer procedures are performed under local anesthesia with intravenous sedation. This concept allows for a complete pain –free procedure with our patients being sedated only for their comfort. Postoperative pain is rare, most of our patients only have a slight tenderness for 24h- 48 h treated with oral pain medication.
Patients generally can go home on the same day and come for a checkup after 2-3 days. During the first 4 weeks postoperative our patients will be referred to our unique physiotherapeutic aftercare for quicker recovery and less swelling. Do not lift any objects beyond 5kg and avoid sports involving weights during 14 days. Don’t sleep on your belly for 4 weeks.
Lipotransfer related risks
Breast augmentation by lipotransfer has very few complications if carried out by an experienced plastic surgeon in a accredited facility. It is a biological procedure transplanting living cells, so outcome depends on the individual survival of the transplanted cells.
Due to this biological factor more than 1 session of fat grafting may be necessary in some cases to achieve the desired rejuvenation effect, especially in the case of smokers.
Rare complications include infection, facial asymmetry requiring revision, and prolonged recovery due to swelling a/o hematoma.
Changes of sensibility of the skin are expected during the early postoperative period and disappear with time.
How long does a facial fat grafting last?
Most patients have a very satisfying result after 1- 2 treatments, which lasts for 3-5 years or more. Changes in the outcome are to be expected within the first 12 months until the body has eliminated all non-vital cells; afterwards the durability of results depends on lifestyle and maintenance of a stable body weight. However, skin ageing and soft tissues changes continue after any procedure, therefore many of our patients choose to have touch-up procedures or alternative treatments after a couple of years.
Alternative treatments to fat transfer
Breast augmentation with breast implants is a possible alternative technique if. It may be an option if you wish for more dramatic augmentation results and a less natural look.
Ocean Clinic’s experience with fat grafting
Our surgeons performed more than 1000 fat grafting procedures within the last 10 years. Our clinic group is a worldwide leader in advanced fat grafting techniques. Many of these techniques have been published in international peer-reviewed journals and are on the forefront of scientific research.