OUR BEFORE & AFTERS
The gallery contains before and after pictures of actual patients. View all cases for a complete listing of all our before and after photos of the patients treated.
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Larger, fuller breasts can be yours with a breast augmentation procedure. As one of the most popular procedures, there are always ongoing advances in breast augmentation techniques. In the past, some women considering a breast augmentation might have been uncomfortable with the thought of having implants, a foreign object in their body. If you are one of those women, then there is another much more natural option that perhaps you haven’t explored — a fat transfer breast augmentation.
Whether you have one breast larger than the other or want to increase your cup size without breast implants, then a fat transfer offers a natural alternative to the breast augmentation procedure. Board certified plastic surgeon, Daniel Brown, MD , serving the greater San Diego area from offices in La Jolla and Carmel Valley, is an expert at the natural breast enhancement process. Keep reading to find out more about the procedure and to see if you are a good candidate, then schedule a consultation today.
ABOUT FAT TRANSFERS
A fat transfer is a technique that involves removing fatty tissue from one part of the body using liposuction and moving it to another part of the body for enhancement. The buttocks augmentation, or Brazilian butt lift , is perhaps the most well-known fat transfer procedure, while the technique of using your own fat to augment and enhance your breasts is not as well known. Other fat transfer procedures to add volume to other parts of the body, such as the face or hands happen daily.
These “natural” procedures are growing in popularity because they don’t involve the use of artificial implants, and also because the liposuction removes fat from a part of the body where it us usually unwanted, and adds it to another, which allows for better overall body contour. Two results are achieved in a single procedure.
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BREAST AUGMENTATION WITH FAT TRANSFER
A breast augmentation with a fat transfer is perfect for patients who want to add a small amount of volume to their breasts (no more than a cup size or two), or a mild size differential between their breasts. In a fat transfer breast augmentation, fat will be liposuctioned from another part of the body where the patient has excess fat deposits. The fat will then be processed and carefully transferred into the breasts utilizing microdroplet injection technique.
Dr. Brown practices the most advanced, proven fat transfer techniques that provide natural-looking results that are long-lasting. However, you may require a repeat treatment in order to achieve the desired increase in volume.
FAT TRANSFER VS IMPLANTS
For breast augmentation, the fat transfer is an ideal option for women who desire smaller size increase and enhance their breast size and shape. Those who wish to go up several cup sizes may be better served with implants, or a combination of implants and fat transfer for the most natural result possible.
Implants also come in a variety of shapes and sizes, which makes your result much more customizable.
Both procedures are considered safe and FDA approved, but only a fat transfer uses no synthetic materials. Everything used in the fat transfer augmentation comes from the patient’s own body. For women looking to make noticeable enhancements in a natural way, a fat transfer breast augmentation provides the best option.
A concern for some when it comes to a traditional breast augmentation is that sometimes the body may reject the material in a synthetic implant and form a hard outer shell around the implant to protect the body from it. This is a process known as capsular contracture. Capsular contracture is a rare occurrence, and very difficult to predict. Capsular contracture does not occur with a natural fat transfer breast enhancement.
Beyond that concern, a fat transfer offers long-term results. Additional fat transfers may be performed if the patient wishes for additional enhancement, but by-and-large, fat transfers are a procedure that produces very long-lasting results.
Meanwhile, implants typically need to be replaced, on average at approximately 10 years. Sometimes, they may need to be replaced sooner, such as if capsular contracture occurs. Silicone implants, in particular, carry a recommendation for routine MRI testing to check for ruptures.
During your consultation, Dr. Brown will recommend the procedure that will best help you achieve your goals, but it helps to educate yourself ahead of time on all your available options.
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GOOD CANDIDATES FOR FAT TRANSFER AUGMENTATION
A fat transfer may not be appropriate for all cases and during your personalized consultation, Dr. Brown will help you determine whether you are a good candidate for a fat transfer breast augmentation. Your consultation with Dr. Brown will be a one-on-one conversation where you can privately and openly discuss your goals and concerns.
Patients must be in good mental and physical health to be considered for surgery. This means they are at a healthy, stable body weight, as weight fluctuations can negatively impact results. Those who are very thin or overweight may not make good candidates. Patients should be nonsmokers as well and have realistic expectations for the outcome of their procedure.
PROCEDURE STEPS
LIPOSUCTION
The fat transfer breast augmentation procedure begins with liposuction to harvest fatty tissue from a donor site where the patient has excess of these deposits. The fat may come from multiple donor areas in a single procedure. Most often, donor fatty tissue will come from the abdomen, hips, thighs, flanks, arms, and/or back.
Adipose Tissue Purification and Processing Once Dr. Brown removes the fat from the selected donor area(s), the fat is transferred into a sterile purification system to ensure a high rate of fat tissue survival. Other cellular debris and waste materials will be separated from the fat for a high-quality, purified fat transfer.
AUGMENTATION
After the fat is purified, Dr. Brown will then transfer the fat into the patient’s breasts using a specialized micro-droplet technique. He will place the fat evenly across the breasts to help ensure that most of the fat survives the transfer and to make sure the results are evenly balanced.
RECOVERY
Once the procedure has been completed, the patient will be given a specialized bra and a compression garment that will support your new form. Dr. Brown and his staff will provide you with detailed instructions on your recovery. Patients are encouraged to walk around in the first 24 hours to ensure adequate circulation and to avoid placing direct pressure on any treated areas.
At home, the patient should keep dressing and compression garments on the liposuction sites to help the body adjust to its new shape. This period will last for a few weeks. Patients should only experience some bruising, swelling, and minor discomfort during this time, but will be treated with a multi-modal medication to provide relief and maximal comfort.
Patients typically should take a 5-7 days off from work, but you will set up an individual plan during your consultation with Dr. Brown. If your job requires any kind of heavy lifting, you can expect to be on light duty for longer and will need to hold off on strenuous exercise for three to four weeks.
RESULTS
Patients will notice an immediate difference in the size of their breasts after treatment, but the final results of the fat transfer breast augmentation won’t be fully complete until swelling and bruising have completely resolved in 4-6 months. The majority of transferred fat will take well to the transfer, but a percentage will not survive and be naturally eliminated by the body. Additional fat transfers can be performed as needed if the patient wants to increase their enhancement result.
CONSULTATION
During the consultation you will meet one-on-one with Dr. Brown and go over every step of the procedure.
If you want more information on the procedure, schedule a consultation with Dr. Brown. He will also determine whether you are a good candidate for a fat transfer breast augmentation depending on your individual goals. There may possibly be other augmentation treatments available that will better serve your goals.
Dr. Brown will conduct a thorough physical examination, perform imaging to develop a 3-D volumetric scan of your breasts, and develop a detailed and individualized treatment plan tailored to your body. This is your opportunity to discuss any of your questions and expectations. Dr. Brown goes to great lengths to ensure your experience is the best fit for you and to ensure you will be happy with your results.
At the conclusion of your consultation, Dr. Brown will walk you through all the steps of the procedure from preparation to recovery, and discuss the customized aspects of your plan.
COST
The cost of a fat transfer breast augmentation will largely depend on the patient’s individual circumstances. Generally, the more a patient wants to increase their bust, the longer the surgery will take, which may increase the cost. Schedule a consultation today at our La Jolla or Carmel Valley offices today to get started!
Telephone No.619-461-1500