Enhance your natural curves with fat transfer breast augmentation, a procedure that uses your body’s fat to improve breast shape and volume while achieving a more contoured silhouette. Dr. Stephen Lu at the Pennsylvania Institute for Plastic Surgery specializes in this technique, which is ideal for patients seeking subtle, natural-looking enhancement without implants.
Enhance your breasts using your own fat
Fat transfer breast augmentation is a natural way to enhance your breast shape and volume using your body’s own fat. During the procedure, fat is gently removed from areas like your abdomen, thighs, or flanks through liposuction, purified, and then carefully injected into your breasts. This innovative approach not only adds subtle fullness to your breasts but also sculpts and contours the donor areas, giving you a beautifully balanced look.
Fat transfer breast augmentation treats:
- Loss of breast volume after pregnancy, breastfeeding, or weight loss
- Natural asymmetry between breasts
- Need for reconstruction after breast surgery or trauma
- Lack of fullness or projection in the breasts
- Mild breast sagging or deflation
Candidacy for fat transfer breast augmentation
You may be a suitable candidate for fat transfer breast augmentation if you’re looking for a natural way to enhance your breast shape and have sufficient fat in donor areas like your abdomen, thighs, or flanks. During your consultation, Dr. Lu will listen to your goals, assess your overall health, and examine your body’s fat distribution and breast tissue. Using this information, he’ll determine if this procedure aligns with your expectations and anatomical needs. This ensures your treatment is safe, effective, and tailored specifically to you.
Advantages of fat transfer breast augmentation:
- Uses your body’s natural fat for enhancement
- Provides a more natural look and feel compared to implants
- Avoids the use of synthetic implants or foreign materials
- Enhances breast volume and shape subtly
- Reduces fat in areas like the abdomen, thighs, or flanks through liposuction
- Improves body contour in donor areas while augmenting the breasts
- Lower risk of allergic reactions or implant-related complications
- Minimal scarring compared to traditional implant procedures
- Shorter recovery time for many patients
- Ideal for individuals seeking a modest, proportionate enhancement
Your fat transfer breast augmentation procedure
Dr. Lu begins your procedure by identifying and marking donor areas, such as the abdomen, flanks, or thighs, where excess fat can be harvested. After you receive general or local anesthesia, he performs liposuction using a fine cannula to gently extract fat cells. This technique minimizes trauma to surrounding tissues and preserves fat cell viability. Once collected, the fat is processed through centrifugation or filtration to isolate viable fat cells and remove impurities like oils, fluids, and damaged cells.
Using a microinjection technique, Dr. Lu carefully transfers the purified fat into your breasts. He strategically layers small amounts of fat into different planes of tissue, sculpting and contouring your breasts to achieve natural, symmetrical results. This method ensures optimal fat retention and a smooth, uniform appearance. Once the procedure is complete, the incisions are closed, and you’ll receive post-operative care instructions.
Recovery from fat transfer breast augmentation
After your fat transfer breast augmentation, you may experience swelling, bruising, and mild discomfort in the donor and breast areas. Dr. Lu will provide detailed post-operative instructions, including wearing a compression garment over the donor areas to minimize swelling and a soft bra to support the breasts. Pain is typically manageable with prescribed medication, and most patients can resume light activities within 3-5 days. Strenuous activities and heavy lifting should be avoided for about 4-6 weeks to allow proper healing.
Dr. Lu will monitor your progress through follow-up visits, ensuring optimal fat retention and recovery. While initial results are noticeable immediately, swelling can take several weeks to subside. The final results typically appear 3-6 months post-surgery as the transferred fat cells integrate and stabilize. At this point, you can enjoy natural-looking, long-lasting enhancement and confidently return to your regular activities.
Fat transfer breast augmentation FAQs
How much volume can I achieve with fat transfer breast augmentation?
The volume depends on the fat available in your donor areas and your body’s ability to retain the transferred fat. Generally, you can expect an increase of about one cup size per session. For those seeking more significant changes, additional sessions may be recommended. Dr. Lu will discuss your goals during your consultation and help set realistic expectations.
What happens if I gain or lose weight after the procedure?
Because the transferred fat behaves like the fat in other areas of your body, significant weight changes can affect your results. Weight gain may increase breast size, while weight loss may reduce volume. Dr. Lu recommends maintaining a stable weight to preserve the results.
How long does the procedure take?
The procedure typically lasts 3-5 hours, depending on the amount of fat being harvested and transferred. Dr. Lu meticulously performs each step, from liposuction to purification and precise injection, to ensure the best possible results. You’ll be able to return home the same day after a short recovery period at the surgical center.
Is fat transfer breast augmentation safe?
Yes, fat transfer breast augmentation is considered safe when performed by a qualified plastic surgeon like Dr. Lu. Because the procedure uses your body’s own fat, there’s no risk of allergic reactions or implant-related complications. As with any surgery, there are some risks, including infection or uneven results, but Dr. Lu takes all possible measures to mitigate these risks.
Will the transferred fat last permanently?
A portion of the transferred fat will be reabsorbed by your body in the first few weeks, but the remaining fat cells typically establish a permanent blood supply, providing long-lasting results. Maintaining a stable weight and following Dr. Lu’s guidelines can help optimize fat retention.
Meet Dr. Stephen Lu
Dr. Stephen Lu is a board-certified plastic surgeon renowned for his expertise in aesthetic, reconstructive, and microsurgical procedures. With advanced training from top institutions, including a fellowship in craniofacial and microsurgery, Dr. Lu combines technical precision with artistic vision to deliver exceptional results. He is committed to patient-centered care, ensuring every procedure is tailored to your unique goals and anatomy. If you’re considering breast augmentation, Dr. Lu invites you to schedule a consultation to explore your options.
