Breast Augmentation With Fat Transfer

If you would like fuller breasts without implants, consider breast augmentation with fat transfer at our San Antonio, Texas, practice. This procedure uses your own fat to subtly enhance breast size while improving body contours through liposuction. Patients appreciate the reassurance of enhancing their breasts without implants and the soft, natural look and feel that fat transfer can achieve.

Board-certified, fellowship-trained plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Ablavsky offers breast augmentation with fat transfer for carefully selected patients who want a modest enhancement rather than a more noticeable increase in cup size. During your consultation, he will help you determine whether fat transfer, breast implants, or a combination of techniques is the best way to achieve your goals.

What Is Breast Augmentation With Fat Transfer?

Also called natural breast augmentation or fat transfer breast augmentation, this breast enhancement surgery makes the breasts about a cup size fuller using your own excess fat removed with liposuction. It can be performed as an individual procedure or combined with implants to refine areas such as the upper breasts and cleavage. Dr. Ablavsky also uses fat transfer to restore breast volume after implant removal.

Who Is a Good Candidate?

Breast augmentation with fat transfer is best suited for people who:

• Want a subtle increase in breast size (typically about one cup size)
• Want an alternative to breast implants
• Have enough excess fat for harvesting
• Are at or close to a healthy, stable weight
• Have good skin quality and minimal breast sagging
• Want to improve breast symmetry or restore volume after pregnancy or weight loss

Patients seeking a larger size increase are generally better candidates for breast augmentation with implants.

Meet
Dr. Ablavsky

Dr. Ablavsky is a board-certified, fellowship-trained plastic surgeon whose patients trust him for natural-looking results from face, breast, and body procedures. He listens closely to his patients' concerns and takes the time to answer their questions with honesty and compassion.

Meet Dr. Ablavsky Request Your Consultation

Benefits of Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation

Patients choose fat transfer for a variety of unique advantages, including:

• Enhancement with their own natural tissue
• No breast implants or implant maintenance
• Results that look and feel natural
• Simultaneous body contouring with liposuction
• Small liposuction incisions and injection sites
• No implant-related complications
• Long-lasting volume from the fat that survives

What Happens During Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation?

Dr. Ablavsky performs breast augmentation with fat transfer as an outpatient procedure using general anesthesia. The procedure involves the following steps:

1. Harvesting fat. He uses liposuction to remove fat from the abdomen, hips, thighs, and other areas where it accumulates. This step provides the additional benefit of reducing areas of unwanted fat.
2. Purifying fat. Healthy, viable fat cells are separated from damaged fat cells and other impurities.
3. Injecting fat. The purified fat is carefully injected into the breasts using specialized techniques to promote even distribution and to achieve the desired volume and shape.

Dr. Ablavsky minimizes complications and enhances fat graft survival by not overfilling the breasts.

Is Fat Transfer Better Than Breast Implants?

Neither procedure is better than the other; they simply accomplish different goals. Dr. Ablavsky discusses both procedures during the consultation, helping patients understand the advantages and limitations of each before making a recommendation based on their anatomy and cosmetic goals. Review our related blog post for a detailed comparison of fat transfer breast augmentation and implants.

Breast Augmentation With Fat Transfer vs. Implants

Recovery After Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation

You will return home on the day of surgery in the care of an adult. A soft support bra and compression garments will help control swelling and encourage smooth contours as you heal.

Recovery Timeline

While experiences vary, recovery generally progresses under the following timeline:

First 48 hours

• Expect swelling, bruising, and soreness in the breasts and liposuction areas.
• Rest and take gentle walks around the house periodically.
• Wear your compression garments as directed.

Week 1

• Most patients return to non-strenuous work and activities.
• Swelling begins to subside.

Weeks 2 to 4

• Bruising fades.
• Gradually resume exercise with Dr. Ablavsky’s approval.
• The breasts begin softening and settling into their new shape.

Months 3 to 6

• Most swelling has resolved.
• Slimming will become noticeable in areas treated with liposuction.
• The transferred fat that successfully establishes a blood supply is expected to remain long term.
• Your final results become increasingly apparent.

Why Do My Breasts Look Larger Right After Surgery?

Swelling will make your breasts firm and slightly fuller than your desired size for the first few months after surgery. When planning your procedure, Dr. Ablavsky also accounts for the fact that not all the fat he transfers will survive.

Can Fat Transfer Be Combined With Other Breast Procedures?

Yes. Depending on your goals, fat transfer may be combined with:

• Breast lift
• Breast implant removal
• Breast augmentation with implants for additional contour refinement

Fat grafting is also used to soften implant edges or improve breast symmetry when additional refinement is desired.

Breast Augmentation With Fat Transfer FAQ