Breast Lipotransfer FAQ

A new article in the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Journal covers a relatively new option for women who have grown tired of their breast implants: removing and replacing them with their own fat! Simultaneous implant exchange with fat (SIEF) is an excellent choice for: Women who do not wish to keep their implants but [...]

Although fat transfer breast augmentation is gaining popularity, most surgeons performing the procedure agree that stem cells enriched fat is not a good idea. The fat tissue transferred to the breast during Lipomodeling (another name for Lipotransfer or fat transfer to the breasts) contains a large amount of stem cells that are embedded in the [...]

Freezing fat cells is now possible to safely store it and use it later according to.  Fat that has been removed with liposuction can be used for cosmetic and reconstructive procedures long after the original procedure. Fat as well as many other kinds of human tissues can be preserved in a “frozen” state (the technical [...]

The issue arises because some of the fat tissue may not survive the transfer to the breast, and in those small areas a scar may develop. These areas may develop small specs of calcium deposit called calcifications. These calcifications are visible on mammogram. The question as to whether these scars or calcifications could be confused [...]

The fat transferred to the breast will act the same way as any other fat in the body, shrinking if you lose weight and growing if you gain weight.  In general, we tend to use for fat transfer tissue from areas where the fat is particularly stubborn, so it will tend to resist weight loss.  [...]

The breast fat tissue will respond to exercise very well.  In general,  a reduction in size of the breast fat graft will be seen only with a significant weight loss.

The BRAVA system is very effective in preparing the breast for fat grafting and it can dramatically increase the amount of fat that will survive and thrive in the new location after the transfer. It is a process that require patient participation and it is very effective but it is not mandatory for lipotransfer breast [...]

Yes.  One of the most common uses of fat grafting to the breast is the correction of  breast size difference when the patient prefers to not use breast implants.  This problem may also present  in the case of breast size difference after breast implants placement due to breast tissue thinning around the implant.

Fat transfer technique is very important for the final outcome. During breast lipotransfer or fat transfer to the breast the fat tissue is transferred in : The area just below the breast skin On the surface of the breast gland Behind the breast gland Within the pectoralis muscles Placing the fat tissue in multiple planes [...]

A family history of breast cancer is not a contraindication to fat grafting to the breast.  In fact, neither  is personal history of breast cancer, as lipotransfer is recommended for breast reconstruction after partial or total mastectomy.

We do not know of any disease or problem caused by fat transfer to the breast.  However, the transferred fat may be partially reabsorbed, causing small cysts called “oil cysts”, small areas of scar, or small areas of hardening. These issues are readily noted on breast exam and mammogram/ultrasound and do not in general represent [...]

Multiple publications and research throughout the world has defined that fat transfer is a safe procedure, recommended for the treatment of breast asymmetry, size discrepancy, breast reconstruction and augmentation.   The long term (greater than 10 years) results  are limited but according to multiple sources in the literature the tissue is stable and can be clearly [...]

Fat transfer to the breast is a very precise procedure.  We use a very delicate technique of multiple micro passes in multiple levels and depths with tiny tubes called cannulae.  These tubes are inserted via small “pokes” that heal with tiny and often invisible marks.

The method to obtain the fat used in fat transfer to the breast or  lipotransfer is simple.  The fat tissue is removed with small tubes using  a fluid wash very similarly to liposuction.  The most important difference is that the fat  is removed very gently to preserve its integrity and ability to be moved to [...]

Once transferred to the new location, fat tissue will live in its new location permanently.  There is no time-stamp indicating when the tissue will go away because it will not. Women who have breast lipotransfer experience an increase in breast size with weight gain since the fat tissue is more prone to increase in volume, [...]

The fat tissue used in the breast lipotransfer procedure  may be obtained from any area of the patient’s own body.  In general, the best fat comes from areas of the body that are difficult to shape down with weight loss, the “stubborn areas”, since this fat will be less likely to decrease in size for [...]

Breast LipoTransfer is also known as LipoModeling, fat grafts, fat transfer, and many other names.  Fat grafts have been performed since the last century, but with variable results.  We have performed facial fat transfer and buttocks fat transfer for more than 12 years with very good outcomes.  Breast fat transfer has been performed in small [...]

General anesthesia is not required for breast LipoTransfer, although most patients prefer to be “under” for comfort. Most patients who prefer to be awake for this treatment do very well and feel some tugging and pinching during the numbing phase of the procedure.  However, if you do not want to feel anything, we recommend a [...]

Any area of the body can be treated with LipoTransfer.  The most common areas are the breast, buttocks (also called “Brazilian Butt Lift”) and face (to plump up cheeks, improve the hollow under eyes, correct folds around the mouth) but also areas of previous liposuction that have indentation or irregular shape. Fat transfer to the [...]

More procedures of  Lipotransfer  / Fat Transfers can be performed, as long as the fat moved in the previous procedure has had time to “take residence”, usually about 3 months. Some women prefer to obtain a larger augmentation with two or three lipotransfer procedures, each gaining approximately one cup size.