Natural Breast Augmentation From Consultation to Recuperation

By Hiba Bittar, MS, COO

Moki Media

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Natural Breast Augmentation From Consultation to Recuperation

Natural breast augmentation refers to breast augmentation using patient's own fat to restore deflated breast or small breast. It is the “au naturel” approach, more or less organic technique in breast augmentation that is gaining in popularity as a more natural alternative to breast augmentation with breast implants.

Having covered buttocks augmentation with fat transfer or Brazilian butt lift in our May issue of Your Health, let's explore fat transfer into the breast. Fat transfers; with or without stem cell have been performed for over a century with a long history of restoring fat to bodies affected by illness or injury or in breast reconstruction needs. Fat transfer into the breast, breast lipoaugmentation, autologous breast fat injections, and breast augmentation with fat grafting are all terms used for the same techniques of breast augmentation employing fat. 2009 marked the year the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) endorsed fat grafting for breast augmentation as an alternative for breast enhancement. The ASPS found no evidence strongly suggesting that fat grafting to the breast could interfere with breast cancer detection. Other studies report that radiologists have had no difficulties identifying breast cancer in women with fat injections to the breast. The macrocalcifications that can occur from fat transfer into the breast are easily differentiated from those early cancerous changes of the breast.

Patient education, as is the case with any procedure, is crucial when choosing natural breast augmentation. Below are a few points to keep in mind when considering this procedure

Choose your surgeon Breast augmentation with fat transfer is a technique dependent procedure. Choose a surgeon who has expertise in the procedure and a proven fat transfer technique.

Breast cancer detection There is no evidence that breast augmentation with fat transfer interferes with cancer detection. A radiologist with a sophisticated degree of competency should be able to read and interpret your images.

Breast size Natural breast augmentation is for someone wanting a slightly larger breast. Until your physician goes through his learning curve; the procedure is not for a patient looking for the kind of results that require a large implant such a saline or cohesive gel implant. Natural breast augmentation can augment your breast by one and a half to one cup size. Patients desiring more volume should have their procedure staged or opt for implants.

Breast shape Breast augmentation with fat transfer has the advantage of allowing the surgeon more control of the shape of the breast. By concentrating on the exact placement of the harvested fat, your surgeon can better create optimum cosmetic results such as placing fat in the upper portion of the breast when more cleavage is desired or on the sides to bring in the nipple.

Fat survival Recent studies report fat survival of up to 75-80%. This is directly dependent on proper harvesting and injection techniques but most importantly on the surgeon's expertise.

As is the case with fat transfer to the buttocks, regional liposuction is performed for harvesting the fat for fat transfer. This gives the patient the advantage of having liposuction as well as breast enhancement with long lasting results. The liposuction portion technique can vary from one surgeon to another, with most surgeons using standard liposuction techniques and their own harvesting and fat processing technique. The goal is one to ensure the viability of the harvested fat. The extent of liposuction and amount of fat placement varies from surgeon to surgeon. A combination of optimal viable harvested adipose tissue placed in multiple planes of the breast gives great results.

Consultation Meet your doctor. You and your plastic surgeon will be able to determine whether natural breast augmentation is right for you. Patients often have a preferred area for their planned liposuction and have a particular, ideal breast shape in mind. While in a standing position, you and your doctor will be able to look in the mirror. At that point you may decide what areas of liposuction you want and where you want fat to be placed for a fully satisfying outcome. You are not considered a candidate for a breast augmentation with fat transfer if you have unrealistic expectations or a medical history that does not permit you to have elective surgery.

Surgery On the morning of your surgery, you will be asked to refrain from eating or drinking as part of anesthesia requirements. Your surgeon will address any questions you might have and mark your operative site for the planned surgical procedure while you are in standing position. Your anesthesiologist will describe the anesthesia process and address any question you might have. Your surgery may take 2-3 hours under anesthesia. Different surgeons and surgical facilities use different anesthesia methods, yet a natural breast augmentation can be performed under local anesthesia with intravenous sedation, in which case the patient can breathe independently during the entire operation.Once the surgery is completed, the patient is transferred to a short stay in the recovery room. Patients usually go home within an hour of recovery.

Recuperation You will be discharged to a family member or a caregiver with all your proper medication to begin your recuperation process. Your surgeon will give your caregiver your discharge instructions. Other instructions include absolutely no cigarette smoking. Smoking will prevent your healing and beautiful transformation. You are encouraged to walk to the bathroom and around your house, and a follow up postoperative visit will be scheduled for the next day. An ideal recuperation period for a natural breast augmentation is five days to a week or an average of seven working days.

Your board-certified plastic surgeon can give you the natural breast augmentation you desire, using your own fat in a safe and effective procedure.