Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation FAQs

For silicone implants, an MRI is the only way to detect a leak or rupture.

Yes, an alternative way to enlarge the breasts is through liposuction and fat transfer. This is a great option for patients wanting a more natural breast appearance.

There are many different areas that can serve as donor sites for fat transfer. Donor sites are areas where liposuction is performed to harvest the fat used for fat grafting. Good donor sites are areas that typically do not change much with weight fluctuations. Common donor sites can include upper and lower abdomen, flanks, and upper back. Fat from these areas can be used for fat transfer to the breasts.

Yes, some patients are candidate for breast augmentation with autologous fat transfer. This is a great option for patients who wish to add subtle volume to their breasts. Depending on your aesthetic goals, our double-board certified plastic surgeon may recommend utilizing a breast implant or fat grafting. Oftentimes, fat transfer can achieve a more natural aesthetic and may be a suitable option for patients seeking minimal volume increase.

When using a patient’s own fat for a breast augmentation, the results are permanent if there are no major lifestyle changes, such as pregnancy, weight fluctuations, and/or hormonal shifts. If you experience major weight gains or losses after fat transfer, it is possible that the cosmetic appearance of your overall results may be affected.

Dr. Coan is an expert in fat transfer, performing more of these procedures than many other surgeons in the surrounding area. Fat transfer combines liposuction with fat grafting to utilize one’s own fat to increase volume in a particular area, such as the butt or breasts. After performing liposuction to one or more areas, the fat undergoes a thorough centrifugation process to be purified prior to transfer. Once the fat has been thoroughly washed and purified to remove all other components, such as blood, Dr. Coan re-injects the fat into areas of volume loss. He works to carefully sculpt and provide the best aesthetic outcome. Depending on the amount of fat grafting to be performed, fat can be gently injected with either a power-generated system or manually with syringes and cannulas.

With any surgical procedure at CARE Plastic Surgery, we recommend no exercise for 6 weeks following your surgery. During this time, patients also wear a compression garment for 6 weeks to help minimize swelling and other complications throughout recovery. While we clear our patients to resume all activities at 6 weeks post-op, it can take up to 3 months after surgery for all swelling and/or irregularities to completely settle. We judge a patient’s final results at 3 months after surgery.

Common and uncommon complications include seroma, swelling, bruising, necrosis, infection, asymmetry, and/or contour irregularities. Perhaps one of the most common possible complications is under correction, largely due to the unpredictability of outcome. The success of fat transfer depends on several factors, including the surgeon, the patient, and the patient’s own fat and anatomy. We recommend selecting a board-certified plastic surgeon who is an expert in fat transfer procedures.

Natural breast augmentation may come with fewer risks than breast implant surgery, but still carries risks like any other surgery. The best way to determine the risks and rewards is by consulting an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon.