Why consider fat graft breast augmentation surgery? | Consultation | Patient FAQ's
Women have undergone fat graft breast surgery at NorthEast Plastic Surgery Brisbane to achieve aesthetic breast enlargement without the use of implants.
Autologous fat graft breast augmentation or fat injection is a surgical technique which is undertaken as day case surgery and patients typically recover over one to two weeks. The procedure involves a number of scars which are approximately 3 to 5 mm in size.
At NorthEast Plastic Surgery Brisbane, patients have undergone fat injection breast surgery to:
At NorthEast Plastic Surgery Brisbane, autologous fat graft surgery has been performed for one to two cup breast augmentation. The result has been permanent enhancement of breast volume and shape and which is natural in appearance and feel.
Risks typically associated with breast implants such as visible rippling, edge palpability and visibility are avoided with fat graft augmentation. The risk of revisional surgery to address implant malposition, rupture or capsular contracture is also avoided. The risk of Breast Implant Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma, is zero when the breast enhancement is performed using fat graft as no implants are used.
When patients seek a more significant breast enlargement in excess of one to two cup sizes, fat graft surgery can be combined with breast implants where appropriate. Fat graft surgery is an adjunct to implant based breast augmentation to optimise the soft tissue cover of the upper pole of the breasts in very thin patients or to create cleavage in patients where an anatomically wide sternum can impact the appearance of the cleavage.
Breast augmentation using autologous fat grafting in combination with mastopexy surgery is also performed at NorthEast Plastic Surgery Brisbane. The technique addresses breast ptosis, augments upper pole fullness and defines the cleavage. Some patients have undergone this surgery after weight loss, pregnancy or breast feeding.
The operation can be performed in a single stage which can avoid the need for two operations which is sometimes required to minimise the risk of nipple necrosis in combined implant augmentation and mastopexy surgery. This is due to the fact that fat graft augmentation avoids the need for implant pocket creation.
The procedure involves repositioning of the breast volume and nipple areolar complexes which are the elements of the mastopexy surgery followed by autologous fat grafting to define cleavage and create upper pole fullness.
The result of combining the two techniques is breast aesthetic surgery using your own tissue and avoiding the use of foreign material such as implants.
Our patients have undergone implant removal without replacement implant, preferring autologous augmentation using their own tissue. They also seek to avoid implant related surgery in the future such as removal and/or replacement surgery. Some patients have experienced issues with their implants including pain or Systemic Symptoms associated with Breast Implants (SSBI), sometimes referred to as Breast Implant Illness (BII)
Whilst we advise patients that current scientific knowledge does not link silicone implants with systemic symptoms, at NorthEast Plastic Surgery Brisbane, we respect the patient’s choice to remove their implants.
Where appropriate complete capsulectomy or ‘en bloc’ capsulectomy techniques are undertaken and can be combined with breast fat graft surgery.
Our patients have had satisfactory outcomes from this combined technique where appropriately selected.
Autologous fat grafting techniques at NorthEast Plastic Surgery Brisbane has achieved outcomes in women who have undergone mastectomy surgery.
The techniques used include breast reconstruction using implants alone or in combination with fat grafting used to augment the breasts selectively where it is required. Unlike implants which are manufactured in standard sizes and shapes the fat graft can be injected selectively to achieve specific goals such as contour defects.
The Surgeons of NorthEast Plastic Surgery Brisbane have treated congenital breast asymmetry using autologous fat grafting alone or where appropriate combined with breast implants.
The Surgeons of NorthEast Plastic Surgery Brisbane are experienced at autologous fat injection breast augmentation surgery. They have achieved outcomes for patients by augmenting their breasts using their own fat.
Their expertise includes autologous augmentation surgery of faces, breasts and other contour defects.
The key to the success of fat graft surgery is the long term survival of the fat injection also known as fat graft cell ‘take’. Surgical technique, experience and expertise of the surgeon can impact this outcome. In addition, patient factors including a history of cigarette smoking, quality of fat graft “donor sites” and vascular supply of the recipient site where the fat is grafted which can be affected by scaring are also important considerations.
In essence, the greater the long term survival of the fat graft, the better the aesthetic outcome.
At NorthEast Plastic Surgery Brisbane, the fat injection treatment protocol includes bespoke patient assessment, pre and post-operative optimisation to achieve successful autologous breast augmentation.
Consultation:
The aim of the “three step treatment protocol” at NorthEast Plastic Surgery Brisbane is to achieve fat graft breast augmentation which is symmetric and long lasting.
In preparation for fat graft breast augmentation surgery, patients are counselled regarding NorthEast Plastic Surgery’s three step treatment protocol:
Is fat graft breast augmentation surgery safe?
Fat grafting is a surgical technique which utilises your own fat cells but like any surgical procedure involves risks which will be explained to you during your consultation and also in writing during the consent process.
What happens to the fat which fails to take as a graft?
The fat graft cells which fail to successfully acquire a blood supply will fail to survive and are usually removed by your body. In some circumstances, the fat cells can form an “oil cyst” or form “fat necrosis” which can appear as a “breast lump” and can be diagnosed with an ultrasound study combined with aspiration of material for examination in a relatively straight forward manner.
Will I be able to breast feed after fat graft surgery?
The ability to breast feed after fat graft breast augmentation should not be affected. When the fat graft cells are placed within the breast tissue the surgical technique does not disruption breast tissues necessary for lactation.
Will nipple sensation be affected after fat injection surgery?
Breast and nipple sensation should not be affected after fat injection surgery unlike breast implant surgery where nipple sensation can be affected.
Will I be able to “feel” the fat graft?
Fat grafted breasts can feel firm but unlike a breast augmented with an implant, should not feel hard and no implant edge palpability or visibility will occur.
Can I have mammograms and breast ultrasound studies after fat graft surgery?
Routine mammography and ultrasound studies can be performed after fat graft surgery with accurate imaging of the breasts in respect of the diagnosis of breast cancers. Having fat graft breast augmentation should not prevent the ability to detect breast cancers with imaging techniques.
When will I know if the fat graft surgery has been successful?
The fat graft, like all grafts are considered to have successfully taken once a blood supply has been established. Given a degree of breast swelling can be expected after any surgical procedure, the degree of fat graft take is best appreciated after three to four weeks after the surgery.
Significant weight loss should be avoided after this period to optimise the longevity of the aesthetic outcome.
Mr Patrick Tansley MD FRCS (Plast) and Dr Sugitha Seneviratne FRACS (Plast) provide second opinion to patients seeking to address problems following plastic surgery performed elsewhere and revisional or corrective surgery. If you would like a second opinion on previously undertaken surgery, book a consultation to discuss this with one or both of our surgeons.
As the privacy of our patients is of the utmost importance to us, we do not provide before and after photos on our website. You will be shown a number of before and after images during your private consultation to illustrate the potential outcomes of surgery. These images have been provided by previous patients who have consented to their private use.
E: brisbane@northeastplasticsurgery.com.au
T (07) 3180 3400
F (07) 3180 3401
P 0411865055
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NorthEast Plastic Surgery
Wickham House
Level 1 155 Wickham Terrace
Spring Hill
Brisbane
Queensland 4000