Cosmetic surgery to enhance breast volume and shape is one of the most frequently performed plastic surgery procedures. Women looking for breast augmentation surgery, often called a boob job, can choose between breast implants and a fat grafting procedure called fat transfer to achieve their desired results.
However, each type of procedure has its benefits and drawbacks. Factors to consider include the final breast size you would like, recovery time, potential risks and complications, skin elasticity and the availability of excess fat for fat grafting.
Your plastic surgeon will discuss the most appropriate method with you during your breast augmentation consultation, but for now, you can read on to discover more about fat transfer vs breast implants.
Breast enhancement with breast implants
Breast implants have been used in millions of procedures worldwide since the introduction of silicone implants in the 1960s.
Surgical techniques have improved enormously since then, with breast enhancement now offering a safe and effective way for women to achieve their aesthetic goals.
Breast implants comprise a silicone outer shell containing either silicone gel or sterile salt water. We prefer to use silicone implants as we find that they last longer and feel more natural than saline implants.
During implant surgery, your surgeon will make an incision under the breast, then insert the prosthesis either above or below the chest muscle, depending on your anatomy and the desired result.
The Benefits of Breast Augmentation with Implants
Breast implants can give women the breast volume and shape they desire, boosting self-confidence. They have numerous benefits and are the most popular method of breast enhancement procedure.
Wide choice of breast size and shape
Silicone implants are available in a wide range of sizes from 100cc to 800cc, and you can choose to have a subtle enhancement or a dramatic change in the size of your breasts.
Breast implants also come in different shapes. The most popular breast implants are round-shaped, giving a more pronounced breast profile with a high degree of upper pole fullness and significant cleavage.
Tear-drop or anatomical-shaped implants have a more natural shape with a fullness at the bottom of the breast.
Your choice of breast implant size and shape will reflect your aesthetic goals, and your plastic surgeon will be able to advise you on implants that will complement the proportions of your body.
Longevity of results
Breast implants are not designed to last forever, but high-quality implants can last for 10 to 15 years before requiring replacement.
Straightforward procedure
Breast implant surgery is a straightforward procedure with the initial recovery period lasting a couple of weeks.
Factors to consider before choosing traditional implants
Like all surgeries, breast augmentation carries the risks of infections and bruising, but breast implant surgery also involves some longer-term issues that your surgeon will discuss with you.
Potential complications
Implants, particularly saline implants, carry the risk of implant rupture, wrinkling or deflation.
Both types of implant carry the risk of capsular contracture, which occurs when scar tissue develops around the implant, causing it to harden and become distorted.
Capsular contracture and implant rupture require replacement implant surgery.
Scarring
The breast implant procedure typically involves an incision under the breast, around the nipple or under the arm and may leave discreet scarring.
Breast enhancement with the fat transfer breast augmentation method
A breast enhancement with fat grafting procedure typically involves removing excess fat from donor sites like the hips, upper thighs or abdomen with liposuction. The fat is filtered, and then the processed fat is re-injected into the breast area and carefully sculpted to create a pleasing breast shape.
Benefits of fat transfer breast augmentation surgery
Aesthetic benefits
As this procedure uses your own tissue the finished results feels, moves and looks like natural breast tissue
Opportunity for further tweaks
Unlike breast implants, which are not adaptable, this method allows for top-ups and adjustments.
Fewer potential complications
The fat grafting procedure uses your own tissue, avoiding the risk of adverse reactions that can occur with silicone breast implants.
Improved shape elsewhere on the body
Women who choose the fat transfer breast augmentation method enjoy the added benefit of body sculpting as excess fat is removed from the donor sites with liposuction.
Factors to consider before choosing the transferred fat technique
Limited cup size increase
Unlike implants, which can provide various breast sizes, fat transfer breast augmentation can only provide subtle enhancement with a maximum increase of around one and a half cup sizes. If you are looking for a more significant increase in volume, you may prefer breast implants,
Fat survival
While breast implants give predictable volume and shape, patients who have had breast augmentation with fat transfer may find that a proportion of the harvested fat is reabsorbed over time, requiring further procedures to maintain the desired effect.
Sufficient donor fat
You will need to have enough fat in the donor sites, usually the buttocks, thighs or hips, for this procedure.
In conclusion
Both traditional implants and fat transfer procedures give aesthetically pleasing and natural-looking results when performed by the expert team at Coppergate Clinic. We will advise you on the best method to achieve your aesthetic goals.
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