Fat Transfer Natural Breast Augmentation

Dr. Young now performs the Natural Breast Enhancement procedure that offers women the option of enlarging their breasts using their own fat without the need for unnatural implants. The end result is breast enhancement with a more natural appearance and feel than with implants.

This procedure will not interfere with future mammograms and offers women the option of enlarging their breasts with their own fat using safe and proven techniques that are virtually pain-free and with less than 48 hours of downtime. This procedure is effective on breasts that have lost their shape and volume over time from weight loss and breast feeding.

In addition, Dr. Young is one of the few physicians in the United States to be trained on Stem Cell Enhanced Breast Augmentation and will be performing this procedure in the near future.

1. Who is the best candidate for Natural Breast Enhancement?
2. Will I have to be anesthetized for this procedure?
3. How is the procedure performed?
4. What if I really don't need liposuction but still want a Natural Breast Augmentation?
5. I have heard that this procedure is controversial?

Who is the best candidate for Natural Breast Enhancement?
Anyone who desires an increase in breast size that is natural in appearance. The Natural Breast Augmentation is ideal for the person who has lost fullness in her breast due to age, weight fluctuations, and breast feeding. A 1 to 2 cup size increase and more fullness are expected from this procedure. However, the person who would not be happy with anything less that a 2 cup size increase should consider breast implants.
Will I have to be anesthetized for this procedure?
The standard breast augmentation procedure usually takes about 4 to 5 hours which included the fat harvesting portion of the procedure and is performed under local anesthesia in our office. You will need to take a few days away from work or strenuous obligations. Following the procedure, you may feel a little groggy for the first 2 days and weak for about a week. However, no overnight stay is required and you will be able to go home a few hours after the procedure.
How is the procedure performed?
Dr. Young will use the Body-Jet^®  Water-Assisted Liposuction device which utilizes pulses of water to gently harvest fat from the donor areas, usually the abdomen. The fat is kept in a sterile environment and is transferred to syringes which is then injected into the breast. Unlike laser lipolysis, the Body-Jet^® keeps the fat cells alive so they can take their new place within the breast tissue. While there is a minor depletion in volume after the procedure due to any fat cells which may have been destroyed during harvesting, the fat injections result in a 150 cc to 250cc overall breast size increase which would allow for a 1 or 2 bra cup size increase. A pressure splint is sometimes used after the procedure to ensure the fat remains in place as it settles.
What if I don’t really need liposuction but still want a Natural Breast Augmentation?
Dr. Young is dedicated to not only giving you natural looking breasts but also great liposuction results. Dr. Young trained with the foremost expert in this procedure, Dr. Todd Malan as well as Dr. Jeffrey Caruth. Dr. Young can remove just enough fat that is needed without leaving your body with lumps, skin sagging, or irregularities, even in women with very little body fat.
I have heard that this procedure is controversial?
For 20 years the major U.S. Plastic Surgery Society denounced Fat Transfer to the Breast as a dangerous procedure. This decision was based on technology and techniques used 20 years ago. Recent developments and results from Dr. Malan's patients prompted the recent lift on this ban in March 2009. Many Plastic Surgeons are unaware of the new and improved techniques or of the recent lifting of this ban and still advise patients against this procedure. The common myths you will hear from doctors who have not followed these recent changes are:
1. Myth: Most of the fat doesn’t survive, so more than one surgery is needed.
Truth: New techniques have proven an 85-90% fat survival. Stem cell techniques have shown fat survival to be even higher. The alternative breast implants sometimes have to be replaced every 10 years and problems such as scarring and rupture are common.
2. Myth: Calcifications caused by the surgery can interfere with mammograms.
Truth: Studies have proven that newer digital mammograms can easily evaluate superficial calcifications in the breast, whereas, the alternative procedures (breast implants) block more than ½ of the breast from the view of mammograms if implanted in front of the muscle wall.