Are you interested in having breast augmentation? It’s important to speak with a reputable board-certified plastic surgeon; they’ll provide you with the necessary information you need to make an informed decision. When weighing your options, consider what your ultimate goal is, the size of enlargement you’d like to achieve, daily lifestyle, health history, and the need for possible “touch-up” surgeries down the road. This will help you determine which method of surgery is most appropriate.
If you Thought Implants Were the Only Option – Think Again!
Fat transfer breast augmentation is a type of grafting process in which fat is harvested from one area of the body through liposuction, before ultimately being deposited into the breasts. Today, this procedure is gaining traction as a way to “rework” previously augmented breasts, and to reconstruct the breast tissue for women who have lost mass due to cancer. It really comes down to body preference, where a slight increase might be what you want from a fat transfer procedure; and if you choose to increase breast size down the road, you could go with a breast implant.
Using one’s own fat cells has its benefits. Implantation places foreign objects into the body, increasing the potential for capsule formation and rippling. Fat transfer, on the other hand, is relatively seamless and safe – and the need for re-operations following this procedure are quite rare. Your plastic surgeon will also be able to achieve a much more natural shape and feel using grafting.
Bigger isn’t always better; so, consider your ideal breast size. Your physician may recommend you steer toward another method if you’re hoping for a significant increase in cup size. Grafting, unlike augmentation, can only enlarge the breast tissue so much. In the months leading up to a fat transfer operation, your surgeon will prepare the tissue with what is known as the BRAVA system. This method utilizes suction cups as a mode of external expansion to make space for the fat cells that will later be injected. If you go with grafting over traditional augmentation, be prepared to wear the necessary expander devices for up to 12 hours a day for 3 to 5 weeks prior to your surgery.
The hands of time take a toll on the body. In some cases, fat cells from the grafting process will migrate to other parts of the body; this is called reabsorption. Also, consider your tendency for weight fluctuations. With grafting, extreme weight loss can cause your breast size to diminish; whereas with implants – whether saline or silicone – they’ll remain consistent in size. We can’t avoid gravity altogether, but traditional breast implantation does provide the appearance of perkier, more upright breast tissue. Also, grafting doesn’t do much in the way of improving sagging or drooping breasts.
Downtime makes a difference, so ruminate about your schedule and what your recuperation period will entail. Breast implant surgery is typically a swift, 90-minute procedure, and requires a one-night hospital stay at most. However, grafting is an intensive process that can last upwards of six hours and could require 3 days of hospital rest.
If you’re considering autologous tissue reconstruction, be sure to select a surgeon who is specifically trained in performing these intricate operations. Board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, the expert surgeons at the Atlantic Center of Aesthetic & Reconstructive Surgery will help you achieve your cosmetic and reconstructive surgery goals – whether it means using implants, your own body tissue, or a combination procedure. For more information, or to schedule a consultation, call (954) 983-1899.
1Plasticsurgery.org
2breastcancer.org
3Verywellhealth.com
4Yourplasticsurgeryguide.com
5Clevelandclinic.org
