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While many women may not be happy with the size of their breasts, for general aesthetic reasons or due to the effects of aging or gravity, breast implants and traditional breast augmentation is not always the preferred choice. Women who are seeking a more natural way to enhance their breast size and give themselves a fuller, shapelier look while also reducing fat in problem areas have the perfect solution in breast fat transfer.
A breast fat transfer is two surgeries in one, combining liposuction with natural breast augmentation. In this procedure, the doctor first identifies areas on your body where you wish to remove excess fat. During the procedure, that fat is removed through liposuction and then injected into the breasts until the breasts have reached the desired size and shape. Because there are two procedures involved, the whole process usually takes between four to six hours. Once it is complete, you will enjoy larger, shapelier breasts that feel natural because they are augmented by your body’s own fatty tissue.
The entire three-step process is performed by Dr. Boudreault at our AAAASF surgery center in Palo Alto under general anesthesia. Generally, Dr. Boudrealt uses liposuction to collect fat from the back, abdomen, flanks, arms or thighs. The goal is to liposuction the areas where fat will be collected leaving an aesthetically pleasing result while making sure to get enough fat to make the desired changes in the buttocks. He often recommends targeting the fat in the midsection to create the most narrow waist achievable. The final stage is the fat transferred strategically into the breasts to create their desired shape. Dr. Boudreault fills in any hollow areas commonly found in the upper breast region (upper pole), to round up the breast, and then, he injects the fat into the surrounding tissues to increase the total projection as gradual and as natural-looking as possible.
Some soreness is typically felt in the breasts and fat harvesting sites for the first week but can be easily managed by over-the-counter pain medications if needed. Most patients return to work after this first week. You’ll be asked to wear a compression garment that can be hidden under the clothes, for up to 24 hours a day for at least the first week, to reduce swelling and retain your newly sculpted shape as you heal. Bruising subsides within one month, and swelling decreases over several months, to gradually settle and reveal the breasts’ final result. You may resume activity the day after surgery, but it is important to avoid strenuous exercise and heavy lifting for 4-6 weeks.
Patients elect to undergo a breast fat transfer for aesthetic reasons to moderately increase volume in the breasts, balance breast unevenness, or to sculpt a more aesthetically pleasing breast shape. For best results, it is good to start out with plenty of fat in other areas of the body to harvest for transfer. The added liposuction performed on other areas of the body is a bonus to this procedure. It is important to have realistic expectations about the amount of volume that can be achieved with a fat transfer, as this procedure does not have the volumizing capabilities that breast implants do. The fat transfer also does not lift the overall vertical droopiness of the breasts, so this procedure may be combined with a breast lift procedure.
The initial swelling from the procedure may cause your breasts to look larger and feel firmer, and will gradually settle into its final state over the course of several months. Ask Dr. Boudreault about lymphatic drainage massages that can help reduce the swelling quicker during recovery. After six months, the breast will appear much more settled and feel much softer to the touch. The overall amount of fat that you see at this 6-month point will remain permanently and should fluctuate proportionately with any future weight changes. Any minor, residual swelling may remain until the one-year mark.
The average cost of a breast fat transfer can be from $5,000 and $9,000, depending on the amount of fat that is harvested and transferred. This estimate includes anesthesia and facility fees. Although this procedure mainly focuses on creating volume in the breasts, it also includes the sculpting of other areas of the body with liposuction contouring. If you would like your breast fat transfer procedure soon but would like to spread out the payments into smaller monthly increments over time, we are happy to offer flexible payment plans through CareCredit and Alphaeon. Many of our patients will choose to apply for credit cards with longer terms at 0% interest, so you can enjoy your results soon without the immediate financial burden upfront.
“I had my Brazilian Butt Lift in 2017 with Dr. Boudreault and I couldn’t be any happier with my results. My butt and hips look SO natural – my only regret was not doing it sooner!”*
Brazilian Butt Lift Patient
“I fully trust Dr. B and will go to him for all my procedures. He really cares about his clients and their results.”*
Med Spa Patient
“The day after my surgery when the garment came off, I almost cried. Dr. B exceeded my expectations and gave me an even BETTER body than I had imagined.”*
Brazilian Butt Lift Patient
