Breast Fat Grafting
Many individuals come to Dr. Robert Cohen’s Beverly Hills plastic surgery office to request a fat transfer to the breasts, either to enhance the tissue they already have or to camouflage issues with prior breast surgery. This is an innovative technique that is revolutionizing the approach to certain problems in aesthetic breast surgery.
For individuals who are good candidates, breast fat grafting in Beverly Hills can improve very difficult problems that might otherwise be almost impossible to fix.
If you’ve been hearing about fat grafting (also called fat transfer) and are interested in this treatment, Dr. Cohen will be very happy to speak with you about how he can help you achieve your aesthetic goals. Request a consultation online, or call to schedule an appointment.
Natural Breast Augmentation Patient Photos
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About this patient
This patient is a 52-year-old female who presented to my Los Angeles office with complaints of breast size smaller than desired as well as ptosis (drooping), laxity of the abdomen, and extra fat of the flanks and outer thighs. She preferred to avoid implants.I recommended a "Mommy Makeover...
About this patient
This patient is a female in her late 40's who presented to my office with complaints of back, neck and shoulder pain due to large pendulous breasts. The patient was also noted to have severe asymmetry as well as significant ptosis. I felt a bilateral breast reduction would give the pati...
About this patient
This patient is a 39 year old female who was seen for breast augmentation, a breast lift and abdominoplasty. I recommended fat grafting to the breasts instead of implants as she had a fair amount of breast tissue already, and fat grafting to the upper breasts would be a low maintenance way t...
About this patient
This patient is a 39-year-old female who presented to my office with complaints of breasts which were larger than desired, particularly in the lower pole, which also demonstrated significant ptosis (drooping). The patient also had extra fat in the flanks, back, and lateral chest regions...
About this patient
This patient is a 58 year old female who presented to my office with widely spaced, unnatural appearing breasts. She also had hardening of the breasts consistent with capsular contractures. I felt this patient would need a complex breast revision with complete capsulectomies...
What is Fat Grafting?
Dr. Cohen’s Beverly Hills breast fat grafting is a technique in which fat is removed from locations where it’s not wanted (for example, the love handles and thighs) and then re-inserted into areas where more fat is needed, such as the breasts.
The key to successful fat grafting is related to the harvesting, processing, and re-insertion of the fat. Dr. Cohen uses power-assisted liposuction to take fat from areas where it is not needed, but instead of discarding the fat, he suctions it into a device called the Puregraft™ system.
The science of the Puregraft™ System
The Puregraft™ system is a closed unit that the fat enters after being suctioned. The fat enters via the liposuction tube without ever being exposed to the outside environment, and is collected in a mesh filter container that holds the fat cells, but allows fluids to pass through.
The fat is washed multiple times with a fluid called lactated ringers solution (similar to saline solution), and a filter inside the container is used to remove any fibrous tissue strands and other impurities.
Fat Grafting Details
Once the fat has been cleaned and purified, it can be drawn up into syringes for re-injection without ever being exposed to the outside environment.
Once the fat is ready to be injected, it is done so in multiple thin streams into the tissues of the areas where padding and volume is needed. The reason that thin streams (or “threads”) of fat are used is because it maximizes blood supply to the fat grafts and improves the amount of the graft that “takes” (survives).
What are the Benefits of a Natural Breast Augmentation?
- Natural Appearance: Results in breasts that look and feel natural.
- Dual Benefit: Provides body contouring in areas of fat harvest.
- Minimally Invasive: Small incisions mean less scarring and quicker recovery.
- No Foreign Implants: Uses the patient's fat, reducing implant-related risks.
- Reduced Complications: Lower risk of implant-related issues.
- Customizable: Dr. Cohen can sculpt breasts for desired size and shape.
- Long-Lasting: Offers lasting results, though some fat may be reabsorbed.
- Scar Concealment: Incisions hidden within natural creases.
- Lower Allergic Risks: No risk of allergic reactions as it uses the patient's tissue.
- Natural Cleavage: Enhances cleavage without implant separation.
- Enhanced Comfort: Provides a more natural breast sensation.
- Combined Procedures: Mastopexy fat grafting in Beverly Hills can be combined with other body contouring surgeries.
- Potential for Touch-Up: Allows for refinements or adjustments if needed.
The Progress of Fat Grafting
Traditionally, fat grafting was associated with a relatively high resorption rate, but Dr. Cohen has found a good survival due to the quality and purity of the fat that is harvested with the Puregraft™ system. Generally a 60-70% graft take is expected, although this can vary patient to patient.
Additionally, the short amount time it takes to process and re-inject the fat limits the time the fat cells are outside the body, which further improves their survival rate.
Fat grafting risks can include resorption, oil cysts, and firm nodules, which can occur if the fat doesn’t heal properly where it was injected. Fortunately, these risks have not been an issue for Dr. Cohen’s patients due to the quality of the Puregraft™ system and the precision of Dr. Cohen’s technique.
When is Fat Grafting used?
Fat is great material. It’s soft and natural, and it doesn’t require maintenance once it heals.
Dr. Cohen uses fat grafting mostly for natural breast augmentation in Beverly Hills. He uses fat grafting for two main reasons: to add volume, and to cover irregularities.
Who is the best candidate for Breast Fat Grafting?
With regard to volume, the ideal patients are those who
- need a breast lift
- want to have more fullness in the upper breasts
- do not need or want implants.
In these cases, Dr. Cohen improves the breast shape and position with a traditional breast lift, and then layers the fat in the upper breasts to create a fuller, more youthful appearance.
Without the fat, patients with naturally smaller breasts could potentially have a slightly “scooped out” appearance to the upper breast, which traditionally needed to be corrected with breast implants.
Implants are great when they are necessary, but they do carry risks and maintenance, so when smaller volumes are needed (approximately 100- to 250-cc implants), fat is often a better option.
Gallery
ExploreFat Grafting and Breast Implants
Dr. Cohen frequently uses breast fat grafting in Beverly Hills to correct implant visibility. Some patients can see or feel implants through their skin due to a thinning of the tissues.
In the past, Dr. Cohen would exchange their implants to a more favorable size and material during a breast revision procedure using products such as Strattice™ to add internal support.
While he still uses these techniques, he now has the option of layering in fat above the areas of implant palpability or visibility to add padding. This adds thickness and smoothness to the breast, creating a more natural look and feel.
Why you may not be a good candidate for fat grafting?
Almost anyone who has fat to use is a candidate for fat grafting. Sometimes patients are so thin that they don't have enough fat to harvest, but most patients do have a few pockets of fat available for donation to other areas of the body.
If you’re interested in natural breast augmentation in Beverly Hills, Dr. Cohen will evaluate you in person to make sure you are a proper candidate for the technique.