Some women carry their weight in all the right places while others aren’t so lucky. This is especially true after menopause when many women find that their bodies begin to distribute their weight quite differently. Regardless of your age, it can be tempting to look in the mirror and just wish the extra weight on your hips or thighs was used to give you an extra cup size or two to get that full-figured appearance you want. Luckily, that wish is actually possible with a fat transfer breast augmentation. And the benefits of breast augmentation with fat transfer are fantastic.

At our center for plastic surgery in Houston, we have provided countless successful fat transfer procedures. Get started today with your first consultation!

What Is a Breast Augmentation from Fat Transfer?

A breast augmentation from fat transfer is a cosmetic procedure that combines breast augmentation and liposuction. Fat is removed from unwanted areas using liposuction. The abdomen, thighs, hips, and buttocks are common harvesting sites. During this part of the procedure, your surgeon will make small incisions at the harvest site(s). They will then insert a small tube, which will remove a safe amount of fat from the area. This fat is then processed in preparation for the transfer.

Once the harvested fat is ready, your surgeon will make a small incision in each breast. This is where the fat is injected. Luckily, the size of the incisions at both the harvesting and insertion sites means that they are very easy to hide. Your surgeon will inject as much fat as they safely can. But not all of it will form an adequate blood supply. Within a few days, most patients retain 50% to 70% of the injected fat.

The Benefits of Breast Augmentation from Fat Transfer

A breast augmentation from fat transfer has several clear benefits over traditional, implant-based augmentations. For one, the procedure is less invasive. The incision sites are much smaller, allowing for easy concealment. Patients who undergo breast augmentations from fat transfer are also less prone to complications and tend to face a shorter recovery time. As an added bonus, you literally get to re-arrange some of your weight to your tastes, and your breasts will retain their natural feel and shape.

Who Is Well-Suited to a Breast Augmentation from Fat Transfer?

This procedure is best suited to patients who want moderate augmentation and a more natural shape. Patients hoping to increase their cup size by more than two sizes or want a strongly defined upper cleavage are better suited to implant-based breast augmentation. The procedure is also limited to patients who have excess fat in larger areas of the body, such as:

• Hips
• Thighs
• Buttocks

Women with too little fat will not be eligible for this type of breast augmentation.

How to Get Started?

If you are interested in a breast augmentation from fat transfer, you should reach out to your local double board-certified plastic surgeon. Both liposuction and breast augmentation are considered safe procedures but only in the hands of a qualified professional. During your initial consultation, your surgeon will help you review the available options and decide what is best suited to your body type and your lifestyle. In some cases, you and your surgeon may decide that another form of breast augmentation is better for your specific needs.

However, you may feel on the fence and unsure of which approach you prefer. In this case, arrange some time to look through your plastic surgeon’s portfolio. Feel free to ask questions regarding long-term risks, recovery, and general feel to get a better idea of what it is like to live with each of these breast augmentation options. You may also consider reaching out to other women who have had similar procedures to help you make your final decision.