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Understanding Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation Costs

Published by Dr. Brandon Richland, MD

A Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation procedure costs between $4,000 to $17,000 for a more extensive procedure. The final cost depends on the surgeon’s geographical area and experience level. Despite the cost, this procedure has several advantages. It results in less scarring, eliminates the risk of rejection, and provides a more natural-looking outcome.

Key Takeaways of Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation Cost

  • Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation is a cosmetic surgical procedure that uses the patient’s fat to naturally increase the size or shape of the breasts, producing subtle and natural looking results at lower risk than traditional breast augmentation techniques.
  • Good candidates for this procedure are in good overall health, have realistic outcomes expectations, and have enough donor fat reserves to be harvested via liposuction.

What is Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation?

Fat transfer breast augmentation is a cosmetic surgery that involves the enlargement of the breasts by transferring fat from other body areas. During the procedure, the surgeon extracts fat cells from specific regions of the patient’s body and injects them into the breasts.

With this technique, the breast volume is increased and the fat-deficient areas are reduced. This surgery is an effective and natural alternative to traditional breast augmentation methods, as it makes use of the patient’s body fat to achieve the desired outcome.

Benefits of Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation

Patients can enjoy natural looking results using their body fat from other zones, avoiding the risk of implant complications, and allowing the potential for body contouring through liposuction.

Natural looking Results

Fat transfer breast augmentation uses the fat from the patient’s body to create a more natural looking and subtle breast enhancement. Unlike traditional implants, where an artificial silicone or saline implant is inserted in the chest, fat transfer involves transferring a harvested amount of fat cells and injecting them into breast tissue sections.

This procedure provides intricate detail and precision when shaping a woman’s breasts into their desired appearance while still being very gentle on their bodies.

Because they are using their fatty tissues for injections, patients can achieve natural results that match the real softness of normal breasts rather than unnatural hard shapes associated with synthetic implants.

Image Credit: Ponomarencko / 123RF.com (Licensed).

No Risk of Implant Complications

Fat transfer breast augmentation offers an important benefit over traditional augmentation with implants, which is the elimination of implant related risks. There is no chance of rupture, leakage, or capsular contracture with fat transfer because nothing other than your natural fatty tissues are being transferred into your body.

This greatly reduces the potential for complications during and after plastic surgery while still providing beautiful results with a naturally soft feel and look similar to your existing breasts.

The absence of foreign objects in the body means you don’t need to monitor their condition or risk having them change shape over time. Fat transfer also enables additional body contouring using liposuction for further aesthetic improvements throughout your body.

Considerations for Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation Eligibility

When considering fat transfer breast augmentation, the surgeon may consider important factors, such as a patient’s overall health, existing breast size and shape, desired outcome, and the amount of available donor fat reserves.

Good candidates for this procedure are healthy women who want to add volume to their breasts or contour them without undergoing major surgery. They should have enough fat in other parts of the body to safely harvest unwanted fat via liposuction.

Age is also important. Older patients with lax skin may not achieve satisfactory results from this technique. Candidates should have realistic expectations about potential outcomes before proceeding with the treatment.

How Is Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation Performed?

During fat transfer breast augmentation, liposuction removes excess fat from one body area before it’s purified and injected into the breasts.

Overview of the Surgical Process

The fat transfer breast augmentation is performed under general anesthesia and takes approximately two to three hours, depending on the area of liposuction and the amount of fat being transferred.

The experienced plastic surgeon will extract a certain fat volume through liposuction from pre-defined donor areas like the abdomen, thighs, or buttocks during the procedure. The harvested fat is then processed to remove impurities, which are injected into different parts of each breast with special cannulas to achieve symmetry, adding natural breast shape and fullness.

Various imaging techniques are used during surgery to ensure precise results of transferred fat cells, ensuring that all areas have been injected with an equal amount of purified fat cells for ideal outcomes before closing up any incisions.

Recovery from Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation

Patients generally return home the same day following fat transfer breast augmentation and usually take about a week to resume light daily activities.

Image Credit: LightFieldStudios / 123RF.com (Licensed).

Typical Recovery Timeline

Fat transfer breast augmentation requires minimal downtime. Acute recovery from a breast lift usually takes about three week, but there may be swelling, bruising, and tenderness for several weeks or months afterward.

Swelling should subside over 6 months as the fat grafting results become visible. It is normal for the nipples to become temporarily sensitive or numb due to damage caused by the liposuction procedure used in fat transfer natural breast augmentation. Any nerve damage should heal over time with no long term side effects.

Managing Discomfort and Swelling

Fat transfer breast augmentation requires several weeks of recovery, during which the patient may experience discomfort, swelling, and bruising in both the donor site areas and breast tissue.

Discomfort in these affected areas is to be expected during this period but can usually be managed with over the counter pain medications or prescriptions as recommended by your surgeon.

Swelling of breasts can take a few months to resolve fully, so wearing a supportive compression garment, such as sports bras and bandages, around the clock for up to 3 weeks post surgery might help reduce overall swelling.

Applying ice packs intermittently throughout recovery may also offer additional relief from symptoms such as tenderness and tightness in breasts because it helps constrict blood vessels under the skin’s surface, leading to an overall decrease in inflammation.

Restrictions and Activity Limitations

Following fat transfer breast augmentation, patients should expect some restrictions on their activity and lifestyle. Most can return to work and low impact activities within seven to ten days, but heavy lifting, sports, and other strenuous activities must be avoided during the initial recovery period.

It is important for patients who undergo this procedure to understand that there will be an adjustment period as they heal from surgery. This can add up in terms of time commitment, which may impact the overall cost of the procedure.

While discomfort sits at a mild level in the days after surgery, swelling may persist around the breasts for several weeks or longer, depending on how well one manages postoperative care instructions such as avoiding overactivity levels as it can disturb the fatty tissue settling process, leading to unsatisfactory results and potential risks thereof down the line.

Scarring Expectations and Visibility After a Fat Transfer Augmentation

After undergoing fat transfer breast augmentation, scarring is to be expected. The visibility of any potential scars can vary due to several factors, such as incision placement and the healing process.

The good news is that there are no scars on the visible portions of the breasts, and any scarring comes from the incisions needed for fat removal. Adequate postoperative care also plays a major role in minimizing scarring visibility. This includes following your doctor’s instructions, avoiding direct sunlight exposure during recovery, keeping skin moisturized with petroleum jelly or aloe vera gel several times daily, and waiting until your doctor advises before applying makeup or removing bandages.

By abiding by these steps, you will ensure optimal results outside fat transfer breast augmentation surgery.

Cost of Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation

The cost of a fat transfer breast augmentation procedure may vary depending on each patient’s needs and factors, so be sure to ask your doctor about all the associated costs.

Average Cost Range

Fat transfer breast augmentation ranges anywhere between $4,000 to $17,000 when a more extensive procedure is done. The cost of the procedure can vary based on several factors, including the location of the clinic or surgeon’s office, anesthesia fees, and any additional supplements that may be required for successful fat transfer breast augmentation.

Women should also expect to add costs associated with preoperative testing and post procedure follow up visits during their overall financial planning for the surgery.

On average, fat grafting breast augmentations average cost is around $9200, according to recent RealSelf reviews. While traditional silicone implants only slightly differ at just over $6,000 on average.

Factors Affecting the Cost

Fat transfer breast augmentation requires a highly skilled plastic surgeon and multiple steps during the procedure, making it a costlier alternative to traditional breast augmentation.

Body type can be important in determining overall cost, as liposuction techniques are often necessary for fat harvesting. The technique performed also affects price, as complicated procedures or additional techniques such as stem cell augmented fat transfer will result in higher costs.

The patient’s geographical location may contribute to cost differences due to regional market variations. Other contributing factors include the timing of surgery, the type of anesthesia used, and time spent in the operating room by specialists conducting the procedure.

Financing Options and Insurance Coverage

Women seeking fat transfer breast augmentation have to bear the cost of the procedure since most health insurance plans do not offer coverage due to it being cosmetic surgery.

Financing options, such as special care credit cards and personal loans, are available, which provide women with added flexibility in paying back the costs associated with their cosmetic procedures.

This makes fat transfer breast augmentation more accessible for those who pay all at once. When exploring these payment options, women must research and understand the financial requirements before deciding.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation Cost

1. What is Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation?

Fat transfer breast augmentation is a procedure to help improve the size and shape of breasts using fatty tissue harvested from other parts of the patient’s body. The injection of these fat cells into the breasts can provide more natural, fuller-looking results that last for several years over traditional breast implants.

2. How Much Does a Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation Cost?

Most fat transfer breast augmentation procedures cost between $4,000 and $17,000. Still, the final price may vary depending on the patient’s specific goals and other factors, such as the amount of time needed for the procedure, the size or area where breast fat transfer will be taken from, and the regional geographic locations and experience level of your surgeon.

3. Are There Any Risks Associated With Undergoing This Type of Treatment?

Yes, there are risks, but it is generally considered safe. Like any medical intervention, potential health complications can arise if not performed correctly or if an infection occurs afterward due to negligent hygiene measures during operation or post surgical care procedures. It’s recommended that individuals do ample research before selecting a provider who performs surgeries within stipulated criteria so one feels comfortable proceeding further after learning all danger associated likely incurred when going through the fat transfer procedure.

Image Credit: Sidelnikov / 123RF.com (Licensed).

Conclusion and Summary of Understanding Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation Costs

Fat transfer breast augmentation can provide natural-looking results without the risk of implant complications and potential body contouring via liposuction. Eligibility for the procedure is based on breast size and shape goals, sufficient fat reserves in specific areas of the body, and patient understanding of any associated risks or considerations.

The fat transfer breast augmentation costs from $4,000 to $17,000 depending on individual candidacy for the procedure, geographic location, and surgeon experience level. Potential financing options are available, but insurance usually does not cover this type of cosmetic surgery.

Patients should schedule a consultation to determine a more accurate price quote specific to their situation and discuss their expectations before committing to a fat transfer breast augmentation procedure.

Please note that this article is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Before making any changes to your treatments, please consult with your healthcare provider to discuss the appropriateness and safety of such changes.

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About the Author

Dr. Brandon Richland, MD is a respected Board Certified Licensed Plastic Surgeon in Orange County / Southern California specializing in cosmetic and reconstructive surgeries.

Driven by his passion for medicine, Dr. Richland obtained his Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree from the prestigious program at Saint Louis University (SLU) School of Medicine in 2013. His exceptional skills were recognized when he received the McGraw Hill / Lange Medical Student Academic Achievement Award, and graduated top of his class with Honors. For his undergraduate degree, he attended University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and graduated with Honors in 2009.

To further enhance his surgical expertise, Dr. Richland completed his Residency in Plastic Surgery at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) from 2013 to 2019 earning the Academic Achievement Award twice during this period. A total of 14 years in dedicated schooling and medical residency.

Dr. Richland is actively involved with healthcare and medical societies, as a Diplomate of the American Board of Plastic Surgery, a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, and the California Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Contact Dr. Richland today by visiting RichlandMD.com, scheduling a cosmetic consultation, or by calling 949-867-4496 directly.