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Quatela Center for Plastic Surgery
973 East Avenue
Rochester, NY 14607
Phone: (585) 244-1000
Fax: (585) 271-4786
Monday–Friday: 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
Quatela Center for Plastic Surgery
973 East Avenue
Rochester, NY 14607
Phone: (585) 244-1000
Fax: (585) 271-4786
Monday–Friday: 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
Breast Augmentation With Fat Transfer
Breast implants aren’t the only way to achieve fuller, more voluminous breasts. Through breast augmentation with fat transfer (also called “natural breast augmentation”) at our Rochester, NY, cosmetic surgery practice, women from Buffalo, Syracuse, and across New York can enjoy confidence in their bodies without implants.
What Is Breast Augmentation With Fat Transfer?
Breast augmentation with fat transfer offers a natural, implant-free method of improving breast volume and shape. This procedure uses liposuction to obtain fat from your own body, usually from your thighs, buttocks, stomach, or other donor sites. These fat cells or adipose tissue is then re-injected into the desired areas of the breast to improve shape and contour. The technique uses very small incisions that are typically not visible after healing is complete. Fat transfer offers a natural alternative to traditional implants and can be a great way to enhance breast tissue for those who prefer to use their own tissue. Fat grafting is not a replacement for a breast implant, but can give a more subtle increase in volume and improvement in the shape of the upper breast and cleavage that is very rewarding for some patients.
Breast Augmentation with Fat Transfer
Before & After Photos
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Ashley N. Amalfi, M.D.
Specializes in Breast & Body Procedures
Recognizing the unique goals and desires of each of her patients, Dr. Amalfi uses her attention to detail and experience to create personalized surgical outcomes for her patients. A board-certified plastic surgeon, she specializes in cosmetic breast and body procedures.
Read OnYour Consultation for Breast Augmentation With Fat Transfer
Dr. Amalfi meets with you in a private consultation and reviews your medical history, including past medical conditions, current allergies and medications as well as your personal and family history of breast cancer and any other breast issues. Dr. Amalfi performs a brief examination and discusses your current breast size and listens to your desired changes and cosmetic goals.
She additionally discusses any limitations for the breast augmentation with fat transfer procedure including risks and potential complications. If breast augmentation with fat transfer is right for you, Dr. Amalfi creates a customized surgical plan. Before the consultation is finished, a Patient Consultant meets with you to discuss cost, payment options, and scheduling the procedure.
Ideal Breast Augmentation With Fat Transfer Candidates
Any woman who is looking for a natural, minimally invasive breast augmentation may be a good candidate for this procedure. Breast augmentation with fat transfer can also help restore breast volume that is lost during pregnancy and breastfeeding or due to aging. An ideal breast augmentation with fat transfer patient is:
- In good overall health
- Wants fuller breasts
- Has realistic goals and expectations about the results
Dr. Amalfi can help determine if breast augmentation with fat transfer is the right procedure to meet your desired cosmetic goals.
What to Do Before Your Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation Procedure
Once your breast augmentation has been scheduled, there are a few things that you can do to prepare for the surgery and recovery period. By preparing several days in advance of your surgery, you can be assured of the best results and a smooth recovery.
- Your breast augmentation with fat transfer will be performed as an outpatient procedure. You must arrange a ride home from the surgery center following your procedure, or if you plan to stay at our Carriage House, you must have a ride home the next morning.
- Fill all prescriptions prior to surgery.
- Plan to take one week off from work or school following the procedure to heal and rest at home.
- Arrange for assistance during the first few days after your breast augmentation with fat transfer.
- Carefully review the post-operative instructions. If you have any questions, contact our office immediately.
- Keep important phone numbers and all emergency contact information in an easily-accessible location.
- Put all follow-up appointments on your calendar — these are very important to attend, even if you don’t have any questions or concerns.
- Stop aspirin and any specified herbal supplements two weeks before your breast augmentation with fat transfer procedure.
If you are a smoker, it’s also important that you commit to stop smoking at least eight weeks prior to your breast augmentation with fat transfer procedure.
How Is Breast Augmentation With Fat Transfer Performed?
Breast augmentation with fat transfer involves gentle liposuction of areas with available fat stores — such as the buttocks, thighs, flanks or stomach. Small, less than ¼ inch incisions are made to introduce the fat into the breast area. Fat is carefully injected into the breast in small tunnels to ensure the grafts survive and you have continued fullness from your fat transfer. Great care is taken in the operating room and during the postoperative period so that the best aesthetic result is achieved and to ensure that most of the fat cells survive.
How Long Is Recovery After Breast Augmentation With Fat Transfer?
Patients should expect recovery from breast augmentation with fat transfer to take about two to three weeks. By that point, most patients are feeling well with minimal pain and are back at work. Breast swelling after fat grafting to the breast may persist for many months; your final result and the amount of fat that has survived the fat transfer will be obvious at six months.
A Reputation Built on Results
Absolutely can’t say enough positive things about my experience with Dr. Montague. My mom went to him...
Dr. Amalfi and her team were amazing to work with! They made the whole process seemly, and I couldn't...
Dr. Amalfi is an absolute artist. I’m two weeks out from a mommy makeover with breast lift and upper...
Doctor Lee was extremely knowledgeable and took her time explaining every step of my surgery
I am extremely...
Where Is Fat Harvested From via Liposuction?
Bruising and swelling at the liposuction sites may occur at first and typically resolves in the next two to three weeks. Dr. Amalfi recommends wearing compression garments over the liposuction sites for the first six weeks to minimize swelling. Discomfort in the treatment site can persist for many months, especially with exercise and physical activity.
Light exercise and walking can be resumed after a day. More strenuous exercise and heavy lifting should be avoided for three weeks following the procedure. By six weeks the patient has no restrictions.
Where Is Fat Injected for a Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation?
Little to no discomfort is expected at the injection sites on the breast tissue. A sports bra can be worn in the weeks following the procedure. Any tight garments or activities causing pressure to be applied to the chest area should be avoided for several weeks following the procedure.
Choosing the Right Breast Augmentation Surgeon
The key to a successful breast augmentation with fat transfer procedure is choosing the right surgeon. Dr. Amalfi specializes in cosmetic breast surgery. With her experience and innate attention to detail, she achieves personalized surgical outcomes that help patients look and feel their best.
To learn more about natural breast augmentation with fat transfer, please request a consultation using our online form or call (585) 244-1000.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I return to work following my breast augmentation with fat transfer?
You should be able to return to work two to five days after your breast augmentation with fat transfer procedure. If your job requires heavy lifting you should plan to take additional time to rest before returning to work.
What are the risks involved with breast augmentation with fat transfer?
There are few risks for breast augmentation with fat transfer. Some infrequent complications include loss of some of the transferred fat causing small, firm lumps in the breasts, termed fat necrosis. These areas usually resolve with gentle massage over a period of 6 months to a year. Other complications include infection and cyst formation.
What should I expect in terms of recovery after breast augmentation with fat transfer?
The recovery time for breast augmentation with fat transfer is usually shorter than for breast augmentation with implants and is largely dependent on the liposuction aspect of the procedure. Patients can expect to be back at work about one to three weeks after the procedure.
When can I exercise after breast augmentation with fat transfer and are there any limits to what I can do?
Light exercise such as walking is encouraged after the procedure as it helps with circulation. You should abstain from more strenuous exercise for three weeks.
What are the benefits of breast augmentation with fat transfer vs. breast augmentation with implants?
The benefits of breast augmentation with fat transfer include:
- Minimally invasive
- No need for implant exchange or removal
- Benefit of liposuction
- Faster recovery time
How will breast augmentation with fat transfer affect breastfeeding?
Breast augmentation with natural fat should not affect the ability to breastfeed.
Should thin patients gain weight prior to having breast augmentation with fat transfer?
Some patients just don’t have enough fat to transfer into their breasts for an augmentation. Gaining weight is not helpful because patients generally go back to their preoperative weight after the procedure, and the transferred fat cells shrink in size with the weight loss. This decreases the size of the augmented breasts. Before any aesthetic procedure, patients should be at an ideal, maintainable weight.
Does breast augmentation with fat transfer include both the liposuction and the augmentation on the same day?
Yes, the breast augmentation with fat transfer will occur after the liposuction procedure to harvest the fat on the same day.
How much is a breast augmentation with fat transfer?
The cost of a breast augmentation with fat transfer varies, depending on your specific needs and goals. All prices quoted from the Quatela Center are all-inclusive and include pre and postoperative appointments, surgeon’s fees, surgery center fees, and anesthesia costs. For more information, see our page on Plastic Surgery Costs.
Quatela Center
for Plastic Surgery
The Quatela Center's reputation as one of New York's finest cosmetic plastic surgery practices attracts patients to Rochester from throughout the state. Choose one of the locations below for driving directions to our practice.