The presence of unwanted fat in the hips and thighs is one of the common complaints voiced by many women. Ironically, many of these same women wish they had more curves in the chest. Thus, seems like a plastic surgery procedure that allows women to transfer fat from their hips and thighs to their breasts would be a dream come true.
The procedure does in fact exist and is performed by board certified plastic surgeons throughout the United States. The procedure involves suctioning fat grafts from fatty parts of the body, including the buttocks, thighs and hips using a liposuction type procedure. The fat is then used to enhance or augment existing breasts. This fatty tissue can be used alone or in conjunction with breast augmentation with traditional silicone or saline implants. The purpose is to enhance the look and feel of the breast, creating a more natural, softer curve than could be obtained with implants alone.
Dr. Sydney Coleman MD, a New York City Plastic surgeon who has long used fats from other parts of the body in facial rejuvenation procedures, is excited about the expansion of the use of fat grafting into breast augmentation. Coleman explains that "breast shaping and augmentation with fat grafting provides a more natural aesthetic result for aesthetic and reconstructive patients. The placement of the fat grafts allows for dramatic or subtle shaping of the breast in a manner previously not obtainable."
The major benefits of the procedure involve the combination of the liposuction and the implants, resulting in an overall improvement to appearance. Typically, women can gain one cup size from grafted fat alone without the use of an implant, although this is dependent upon the amount of fat a woman has on her body.
The technique and skill of the surgeon is a critical element of the success of the surgery, however. As Dr. Scott Smear, MD a Washington D.C. plastic surgeon stated, "It is clear that autologous fat transfer around the breast or to create a breast is effective. However, what still needs to be determined are the more intricate details- technique and placement of the fat tissue, who should receive this transfer, when it is appropriate, and whether it is safe to be done at all."
Dr. Smear's comments may temper the excitement many women feel at the idea of a breast that appears larger, without the telltale signs and feel of implants. While Dr. Roger Khouri and Dr. Jack Fisher MD suggest that long term results "appear very promising with four years of follow up," it is essential to remember that the use of fat grafts to augment breasts is relatively new. As such, long-term data on the safety of the procedure is not yet available. Potential problems could include an adverse impact on the ability to do mammograms to screen for breast cancer, low survival rates of cells transferred to the breasts, an increased risk of cysts developing, tissue scarring, and an increased risk of calcifications. Doctors are also unclear as to how much of the fat will survive in the long term and whether the procedure will have to be repeated.
Thus, the procedure - while appearing to be an answer to prayers - should be entered into with caution and with the guidance of a board certified plastic surgeon. The surgery may be the answer to the age-old wish to just move that fat from the thighs to the breasts, but there are risks that are not to be taken lightly.
