Fat Transfer

Injecting fat into the subcutaneous fat layer of the buttocks and into the breast tissue has been shown to be a safe technique, when performed correctly. There has been much media attention (for GOOD REASON!!!) on several high profile deaths caused by poorly performed fat transfer to the butt! This is why it is important to select your surgeons carefully.

For injection into the breast, whether it is an unoperated breast, a previously augmented or lifted breast, or even a breast that has undergone previous breast cancer surgery, human studies have continued to show safety regarding risk of stimulating cancer growth.

More recently there has been concerns raised about fat transfer when the fat is dramatically altered either mechanically or by treating the fat chemically. This is still being researched and is one of the reasons Dr. Albright does not substantively process the fat. Dr. William Albright, one of the best surgeons for fat transfer surgery.

A unique issue with fat transfer is the variability of fat graft "take", meaning who much of the tissue injected will survive the transfer. Although this is a well documented phenomena, the volume of fat that survives is not easily predicted. As with any procedure a small touch-up may be desired.

Yes and no! It depends on the patients current breast shape/size and their desired outcome. Fat can provide additional volume and help 'fine-tune' the contours of the breast, such as smoothing out the edges around a breast implant. However, it is not as 'structural' as a breast implant. This is especially important in areas where the patient may want to maintain a full and rounded shape particularly when naked. These areas are typically the top of the breasts (superior pole fullness), and the cleavage area (medial pole of the breast, or intermammary space).

For my athletes... Fat grafting may be a consideration to avoid having an implant, which may migrate more over time with strenuous, competitive exercise. Fat transfer to buttocks surgery will assist you to look better. However, the patient must have enough fat somewhere else on the body to donate to the breasts! If you are particularly fit with a very low % body fat, you may not be a good candidate for this reason. Additionally, if you plan to cut weight in the future (I'm looking at you my bodybuilding friends!), the transferred fat will behave just like your normal fat. Meaning the fat volume will disappear and will not be doing its job. If you have questions on whether you could benefit from fat transfer, come visit with Dr. Albright!

Fat grafting is very similar to liposuction itself, as fat grafting necessitates liposuction for fat harvesting. This is typically the area that hurts the most, not necessarily the area where the fat is being injected. As we say, liposuction is still the most commonly performed cosmetic procedure in the United States, and therefore seems to be well tolerated by most people. If you have concerns about this, Dr. Albright will be able to answer your questions.

Just like the pain from the procedure, the recovery is very similar to liposuction itself. One exception however is with buttock augmentation which requires different body positioning after surgery (don't sit on the grafted area!). Patients will be wearing compression to donor sites for a minimum of 4 weeks continuous compression, followed by 2 weeks of daytime only (off at night), and finally (after 6 weeks) may attempt no compression.

Two points worth discussing here. First, Fat transfer surgery causes inflammation from the 'injury' and creates surgical 'space' which signals to your body to fill the new surgical space with fluid from your circulation. This fluid is what causes most of the swelling after at transfer buttock augmentation. This fluid will ultimately be reabsorbed by your body, except in the case of a seroma or significant lymphatic damage. After an initial 3-5 day worsening of swelling after surgery, there will be a gradual decrease for several months. This process occurs at different rates for different people and for different anatomic areas, and is further affected by one's postoperative activities. So this period of swelling is variable. However, for breast augmentation, most of the swelling has resolved after about 2 months.

But this is still not your final result! Secondly, the injected fat does not have 100% graft survival. Some of those cells will not survive the transfer and will be broken down over time. This volume, as stated elsewhere, is not predictable. However, in Dr. Albright's hands and supported by the literature, about 1/2 to 2/3rds of the transfer fat will have survived by 1 year postoperatively. Most of this volume will be seen by about 3-4 months after surgery.

So typical postoperative results will be seen around 4 months after surgery. The shape of the breasts out of clothes and the scars, however will still be maturing at this time. Dr. Albright, one of the best fat transfer surgeons, will help you plan the timing of your surgery, to best fit with your schedule!