Replace implants with fat: the “reverse Liposuction” or SIEF
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 do not want to lose their breast fullness Patients who have experienced repeated complications from breast implants SIEF is performed by removing an existing breast implant and replacing the volume with fat obtained from another part of the patient's own body. Often this fat is removed from areas that are "fuller" than desired, with a "side effect" that is desirable: reducing the size of problem areas. SIEF may be performed with or without "pre-treatment" with the BRAVA system, an external tissue expansion system that allows for an increased breast volume. Replacing breast implants with fat transfer may be an excellent choice for some women but it is not for everyone! Fat transfer has many limitations, including the smaller amount of volume increase possible as compared to breast implants. … [Read more...]
I heard of stem cells in fat. Are stem cells used for breast augmentation?
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 tissues. These cells may contribute to the volume growth over time, but they are not the primary source of augmentation. There is evidence that stem cells that have been "selected" outside of the native tissue may have unpredictable behavior, according to which may affect the tissue and alter mammograms. Therefore, both the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and most surgeons advocating fat transfer for breast augmentation and reconstruction are in agreement that stem cells artificially enriched fat is not a good idea in breast tissue. Although stem cells are present in the fat tissue transferred during lipotransfer fat grafting, we do not rely on stem cells for volume augmentation and we do not employ any techniques to enrich the fat with additional stem cells or increase their number. Stem cell enrichment or stem cell expansion by growing them outside the body or tissue is not approved or regulated by the FDA and it is considered an experimental procedure. Many medical centers around the world are currently offering procedures based on stem cells, and high profile patients like Gov. Perry of Texas have contributed to the … [Read more...]
Freezing Fat Cells: Can you freeze the fat and then use it later?
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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 term is "cryopreserved"). Actually, fat tissue that has been frozen this way has been used successfully for various purposes, including cosmetic treatments, since the late 90's. The most common uses of cryo-preserved fat include: Facial rejuvenation: fat can be used to improve the appearance of aging faces, in particular those with thin skin, and hollowing of the cheeks and under eyes. Fat transfer for facial rejuvenation has become very popular with the advent of micro-grafting technique Breast augmentation with fat transfer: Natural Breast augmentation with fat transfer (also known as Lipotransfer of Lipomodeling) is a safe and effective technique to increase breast size, correct size and shape asymmetry between two breasts, and improve on the results of breast augmentation with implants Breast reconstruction with fat transfer: a new option for partial or complete breast reconstruction after surgery, the Miami Reconstruction can be performed either completely with fat transfer or fat tissue can be used as an adjuvant to implants to improve on the final shape and feel of the reconstructed breast. The Brazilian Butt Lift: gaining … [Read more...]
Does fat transfer to the breast affect mammograms?
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 with breast cancer or hide it has been debated extensively, and in the past year multiple radiologists have published data that settle the issue in favor of fat transfer. Eva Rubin, Chief of Radiology breast imaging at the University of Alabama at Birmingham has repeatedly demonstrated that the type of mammographic changes attributed to fat grafting are completely different from those that may raise suspicion of breast cancer. The fat tissue moved to the breast during fat transfer will look like any other fat on mammogram or MRI. In fact, breasts that have been reconstructed with fat grafts usually look on mammmogram as "fatty breast tissue". There are multiple radiology reports/studies indicating that these calcifications are very different from the kind of calcifications seen in breast disease like breast cancer and are easily distinguishable from the latter. It is important to carefully follow up patients who have undergone fat transfer to the breast to avoid that minor alterations in mammogram are treated appropriately, with careful imaging to avoid unnecessary biopsies. … [Read more...]
What happens to the fat transfer to the breast if I lose weight? Will my breasts shrink?
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. However, breasts that have been increased in size by fat transfer will become smaller with weight loss and larger with weight gain, naturally. … [Read more...]
What happens to the fat transfer to the breast if I exercise?
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. … [Read more...]
I heard that I have to use the BRAVA for the fat transfer to the breast to work. Is that true?
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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 fat transfer to work well. We have shown very good outcomes with fat transfer to the breast without the BRAVA enhancement. … [Read more...]
Can fat transfer be used for correcting size difference between the breasts?
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. … [Read more...]
Is fat transfer technique important? Where is the fat placed in the breast during fat transfer?
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 with multiple thin channels allows the tissue to take residence in the breast with maximum survival and without interfering with the breast tissue. … [Read more...]
I have a family history of breast cancer. Can I have fat transfer to the breast?
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. … [Read more...]
Can fat transfer cause problems in the breast?
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 a problem in detecting other possible diseases of the breast. … [Read more...]
I heard that fat transfer to the breast is dangerous. Is that true?
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 differentiated from other breast tissue or disease via mammogram or MRI. Recently a study has been published in the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Journal indicating the safety and efficacy of fat transfer to the breast for cosmetic breast augmentation. see that study here … [Read more...]
How is the fat injected in the breast?
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. … [Read more...]
How is the fat for fat transfer taken out of the body?
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 the new location. … [Read more...]
How big can I go with fat transfer to the breast?
The amount of fat transfer that will be successful is a function of the starting breast size, pliability of the breast tissue (stretch), and the amount of fat tissue available for transfer. In some cases, the breast can be prepared to the graft by techniques like the BRAVA system, which allow for an increased blood supply and tissue stretch to ensure the maximum volume increase from the breast lipotransfer procedure. . In general, for women who do not use the BRAVA before the procedure, a cup size increase for each transfer is a “rule of thumb”. If the BRAVA system is used, the increase can be up to two cup sizes per transfer. … [Read more...]
How long will the results of breast augmentation with fat transfer last?
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, and a volume loss with weight loss, much in a similar way to the normal breast behavior with weight fluctuations. … [Read more...]
Where does the fat used in breast lipotransfer come from?
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 a given weight. … [Read more...]
Is breast lipotransfer performed under local or general anesthesia?
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 light anesthesia provided by our Board Certified Anesthesiologists. … [Read more...]
Does Lipotransfer work only for breast? What areas can be increased in size with lipotransfer?
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 breast has been debated for years, but since 2009 the American Society of Plastic Surgeons has indicated that: "Fat grafting can be considered as safe method for augmentation and correction of defects associated with various medical conditions." … [Read more...]