Lipofilling or breast augmentation using autologous fat is a surgical procedure designed to improve the silhouette and increase the size of the breast. It can be done for several reasons such as:
- to correct breast irregularities post breast augmentation with breast implants
- to improve the silhouette of a woman who for personal reasons believes that her breasts are too small
- to correct a breast volume loss after pregnancy
- to eliminate the irregularities of the breast skin
- to harmonize breast size when there is a significant difference between the two
- to restore the breast shape after a partial or total loss of the breast for various reasons
Two interventions in cosmetic surgery, liposuction and fat injection, are strategically applied for breast lipofilling. The liposuction is performed from specific parts of the body where fat deposits are localised, using a hollow metal surgical instrument called a cannula. The fat can be obtained from different parts of the body such as the abdomen, hips, thighs, back and other places through small incisions.
Once the unwanted fat is extracted, it is concentrated. The adipose tissue is separated from other body tissues and then purified. The processed fat is then re-injected to the breasts by multiple injections at different depths to obtain the best results.
The best candidates for breast lipofilling are:
- in good health
- women who have realistic expectations about what this surgery can accomplish
- emotionally well-balanced
- women who are overweight or a sufficient amount of localized fat
- women who choose breast augmentation using their own fat
- women who don’t want foreign bodies or breast implants
Alternative treatments
Breast augmentation by fat injections is an elective surgery. One option would be not to undergo a breast lipofilling. An additional volume to the breasts can be obtained by silicone breast implants, implants filled with saline, or padded external supports to increase the size of the breasts.