Breast fat transfer scars tend to fade really well over time and are often barely noticeable once healed. That’s one of the reasons many patients lean toward this approach, specially those looking to avoid breast implants. With DMR Aesthetics in Chicago, incisions are kept small incisions and placed in areas that don’t draw attention.
Below, we’ll explain what type of incisions are required for the two stages of fat transfer breast augmentation. We’ll also talk about what you can expect in terms of scar appearance after surgery. And finally, if you do have slightly visible scars, we’ll recommend some tips for minimizing their appearance so that you end up with a virtually scarless procedure.
Before we dive in, however, let’s review how fat transfer breast augmentation is performed.
What Is Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation?
Fat transfer breast augmentation is a surgical procedure that increases the size of the breasts by taking fat from other places on the patient’s body and transferring that fat to the breasts. This approach is often considered a form of natural breast augmentation because it uses your own fat instead of breast implants. This is basically the same concept that is used in Brazilian butt lift (BBL) procedures and is also called fat grafting in the field of plastic surgery.
This technique relies on harvesting body fat from areas where it is more abundant, making it a dual-benefit procedure.
The first stage of any breast augmentation fat transfer procedure is liposuction. Your plastic surgeon will use liposuction to remove excess fat and even stubborn excess fat from the abdomen, inner thighs, hips, chin and neck area, upper arms, or elsewhere. This collected fat contains viable fat cells, and these fat cells will then be processed and purified so that they are ready for re-injection. This process is also effective for removing unwanted fat while preparing it for transfer.
The final stage of fat breast augmentation procedures is re-injection of the transferred fat to the breasts. Plastic surgeons will typically use three or four injection sites on the breasts, carefully placing the fat within the breast tissue to support natural integration with the natural breast tissue. The fat will be re-injected carefully for a natural look, helping improve breast shape and subtle breast volume.
The way the transferred fat is placed plays a key role in how natural the final result looks and feels.
Finally, once your surgeon is happy with the final results, they will close up any open incisions, and you will be ready to go to the recovery room and later return home on the same day as your surgery.
Before and After Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation Scars
Incision and Injection Site Locations
When thinking about scars after fat transfer breast augmentation, you must consider the two types of “wounds” that are used during this surgery. The first are the incisions required for liposuction, and the second are the injection sites where the harvested fat is injected into the breasts.
Liposuction incisions are notoriously small. They only need to be large enough for a cannula to fit through them. This means they are usually just a few millimeters wide, and they will heal very well after surgery.
Fat injection sites are even smaller. A slightly larger-than-average needle is used to inject fat into the breasts, and it leaves such a small mark on the skin that it is sometimes hard to see at all once it has healed.
Scar Appearance After Breast Fat Transfer
Again, both liposuction and fat injection scars are extremely small. They will appear as bright red or pink marks at first. Over the subsequent weeks of recovery, you will notice them fade in pigment and start to flatten out. After several months, it may be difficult to find these incision sites at all.
Minimizing Scar Appearance
If you do end up with marks on your skin that you would like to minimize even further, there are a few things you can do to lessen the appearance of scars after breast augmentation fat transfer surgery:
- First, make sure you stay out of the sun, especially directly after surgery
- UV rays from the sun can increase pigmentation in your scars and keep them from healing properly.
- Next, use silicone gel sheets. These work wonders at smoothing out scars, keeping them hydrated and helping them fade.
- Finally, during your breast augmentation fat transfer recovery, be sure to avoid straining your treatment areas. Do not stretch or overexert yourself. This is typically when scar widening or the exacerbation of scar appearance occurs.
What’s better: fat transfer breast augmentation or implants?
When it comes to fat transfer breast augmentation vs implants (traditional breast augmentation), it really depends on your goals. A breast fat transfer procedure is great for patients who only want a small breast size increase of up to around one cup size. Fat grafting procedures are also good if you’re particularly concerned about a natural look and gradual breast enhancement.
On the other hand, breast surgery with implants (breast implant surgery) is good for patients who want a more significant breast size increase. In some cases, breast implant surgery may be preferred for more noticeable changes. Of course, breast fat transfers can sometimes be combined with breast implants or breast lift surgery as well.
Traditional options like silicone implants and saline implants are still widely used, depending on patient preference and desired outcomes. These are often referred to as silicone or saline implants, and they provide more volume compared to fat transfer alone. On the other hand, patients with sagging breasts may sometimes require additional procedures, such as a breast lift, whether they choose implants or fat transfer.
FAQ: Breast Augmentation Fat Transfer Scars
Where are the scars located after fat transfer breast augmentation?
Scars are typically located in two areas: the liposuction sites and the injection points on the breasts. Liposuction incisions are placed in discreet areas like natural creases or less visible parts of the body, while fat injection sites on the breasts are extremely small and often hard to detect once healed. Most patients find that these marks are minimal and strategically placed to avoid attention.
Is the fat transfer process painful?
To harvest fat, liposuction is used, and during recovery, your liposuction areas may be slightly sore. However, other than this, most patients do not experience much pain following breast augmentation fat transfer procedure. During the procedure itself, anesthesia will be used, so you will be comfortable.
Does fat transfer breast augmentation leave scars?
Yes, but breast augmentation fat transfer scars are typically very small and tend to fade well over time. The procedure only requires tiny incisions for liposuction and fat injection, which are usually placed in discreet areas. Once healed, most patients find that these scars are barely noticeable.
How long do fat transfer breast augmentation scars take to heal?
Most scars from fat transfer breast augmentation go through an initial healing phase within the first 2 to 3 weeks, when they may look slightly red or raised. Over the next few months, they gradually fade, flatten, and blend more with your natural skin tone. In many cases, by 6 to 12 months, the scars become very difficult to notice unless you’re specifically looking for them.
Can fat transfer breast augmentation scars be completely invisible?
No surgical procedure is truly scar-free, but fat transfer breast augmentation comes very close. Because the incisions are so small, scars often fade to the point where they are barely noticeable. Factors like your skin type, healing process, and aftercare routine all play a role, but with proper care, many patients feel their results look essentially scarless in everyday situations.
Book a Breast Fat Transfer Consultation Appointment
A lipo fat transfer to breast procedure can be ideal for patients who want a natural-looking breast size increase. The procedure is virtually scarless, there’s very little downtime during breast fat grafting recovery, and when you choose from the best fat transfer breast augmentation surgeons, you’ll have a very natural looking outcome.
Results can vary depending on how much fat is available for transfer and the body’s response in terms of fat survival. Surgeons often focus on techniques aimed at maximizing fat survival to improve long-term outcomes.
If you would like to learn more about the breast fat grafting procedure, please contact us today and schedule a consultation appointment with board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Dahlia Rice. Fat transfer breast augmentations are becoming increasingly popular as a cosmetic surgery in Chicago. Maintaining a healthy diet after surgery can also support healing and help preserve results.
Book your appointment and find out if you’re a good candidate!
