Breast augmentation with own fat and figure shaping
- About the operation
- Surgeon & physician in charge
- Who could be a candidate for breast augmentation with your own fat?
- How is breast augmentation with your own fat performed?
- Fat absorption and long-lasting results
- Complications
- When breast augmentation with your own fat tissue is not recommended
- Does breast augmentation with your own fat tissue cause breast cancer?
- Pick-up and accommodation
- Before the operation
- On the day of surgery
- At the operation itself
- After the operation
- FAQ - Frequently asked questions
- Contact form
Since 2008, Oslo Plastikkirurgi has performed breast augmentation with its own fat tissue, and we have operated on over 250 women. We created this service as an alternative to breast augmentation with implants. Oslo Plastic Surgery therefore has a long follow-up time for these surgery patients, who have proved to be very satisfied with their procedure and that the volume of fat in their breasts has remained stable.
Body fat grafting is a well-established clinical method that has been around for many years. Although small fat injections for minor breast irregularities have been performed in the past, it is only relatively recently that people have begun to use their own fat to recreate a completely new breast either after illness or for cosmetic reasons. Breast treatment with fat of various types and causes is the clinic's main area of focus.
Dr. Kalaaji has also published several articles on this in the medical magazine "Kirurgen" and in "Body Language journal", and in his upcoming book on fat grafting and regenerative surgery:
Plastic and Aesthetic Regenerative Surgery and Fat Grafting Clinical Application and Operative Techniques, published by Springer Nature by the chief editor of our clinic, Dr. Amin Kalaaji, MD, MD, PhD.
A lot has happened technically, and developments have led to a more gentle method so that more of the fat survives after transplantation in the body. In addition, the indication to use fat in the breast has expanded to include small Breast, asymmetrical Breast, tuberous Breast, the Hybrid method (fat & implant) and Conversion (replacing the implant with fat). These indications have come about in part due to ALCL uptake and BII in addition to more and more people wanting more natural shapes and textures on their breasts (see Hybrid and ACL BII info).
We are proud to announce that we have presented our results at lectures and guest lectures from 2010 to now worldwide as invited faculty in Oslo, Linköping, Karlstad, Helsinki, Berlin, Rome, London, Paris, Qatar, Las Vegas, Tunisia, Gothenburg, Marseilles, Paris, Cairo, Lebanon, Dubai, Manchester (UK), Italy and Copenhagen, EASAPS, ISAPS, IMCAS, SOFCEP and the prestigious Botti Beaitufull Breast Meeting, to name a few.
Among our patients, the most common reason for choosing this procedure is to enlarge the breasts due to lack of volume, shape and to correct asymmetry (inequality).
It can also be women who have small and empty breasts after undergoing pregnancy and breastfeeding or women who have poorly developed breasts.
Many people don't want to put in foreign objects like silicone implants, but want something that feels natural. Some women already have implants, but want to get more fullness in their breasts without having to change to larger implants. Some women, especially those who are slim and have little fat under the skin, can form small folds in the prostheses that can be seen and felt (so-called rippling). An alternative may then be to transplant fat.
Some choose to undergo a so-called hybrid treatment for breasts with both fat and implants.
This may involve adding fat to the breasts at the same time as inserting implants or inserting fat at a later date for those who already have implants to increase volume, correct asymmetry or correct rippling caused by the implant in thin patients or for patients who have prostheses just below the mammary gland. Other women have inserted breast implants that they now want to remove completely and instead insert fat to replace the missing volume (Conversion treatment = exchanging prostheses for fat grafting). Patients who experience capsule formation - and who initially want to remove the prostheses - can also benefit from this operation.
In addition, most people who want breast augmentation with their own fat tissue have an unfortunate fat distribution where they want to correct the amount of fat on, for example, the stomach, the outside or inside of the thighs, buttocks or waist/sides so that it becomes a win-win situation. Another benefit these patients seek is to avoid the scars left by implant surgery.
Breast augmentation with own fat tissue can be done as a combined procedure as in the so-called 'Mommy Makeover' with e.g. tummy tuck or buttock augmentation with own fat. The procedure leaves only a few millimeters of small scars, and these are barely visible afterwards.
Who could be a candidate for breast augmentation with your own fat?
Among our patients, the most common reason for choosing this procedure is to enlarge the breasts due to lack of volume, shape and to correct asymmetry (unevenness).
It can also be women who after going through pregnancy and breastfeeding or women experiencing loss of volume or those who have little developed bust in the first place but want more volume.
Many people don't want to insert foreign objects like silicone implants, but want something that feels natural.
Some people already have implants but want to get more fullness in their breasts without having to change to larger implants.
Some women, especially those who are slim and have little subcutaneous fat, can form small folds in the prostheses that can be seen and felt (so-called rippling). An alternative may then be to transplant fat. Some people choose to undergo a so-called Hybrid treatment at Breast with both fat and implants.
This could be adding fat to the breasts at the same time as inserting implants or adding fat at a later date to those who already have implants to increase volume, correct asymmetry or correct rippling caused by the implant in thin patients or to those patients who have prostheses just below the mammary gland.
Other women have inserted breast implants that they now want to remove completely and instead insert fat to replace the missing volume (Conversion treatment = exchanging prostheses for fat grafting). Patients who experience capsule formation and who initially want to remove their prostheses can also benefit from this operation.
In addition, most people who want breast augmentation with their own fatty tissue have an unfortunate fat distribution where they want to correct the amount of fat on, for example, the stomach, outside or inside of the thighs, seat or waist/sides so that it becomes a win-win situation. Another benefit these patients are looking for is to avoid the scars that an surgery implant leaves behind.
Breast augmentation with your own fatty tissue can be done as a combined procedure like the Mommy Makeover with, for example, a tummy tuck or buttock augmentation with your own fat.
The procedure leaves only a couple of millimetres of scars, which are barely visible afterwards.
Now you can see the results of breast augmentation with your own fat tissue via a simulation program already during your consultation at Oslo Plastic Surgery.
Our experience shows that not all patients who attend a consultation at Oslo Plastic Surgery are recommended breast augmentation with their own fat tissue. First of all, the aforementioned attitude and motivation must be present, and you must also have enough fat to take off. Here it is worth noting that figure shaping (liposuction) performed at surgery should not only be about "harvesting fat from one or more places", but must be seen in the context of creating symmetry and figure adaptation to both affected areas and to the body as a whole.
Another requirement is that you must have realistic expectations of getting medium-sized Breast. Based on current experience, this technique is limited by the fact that it is not possible to create excessively large Breast, as can be achieved with silicone breast implants. Implants will therefore be used for breast augmentation in those who are not candidates for this operation.
During the consultation, your wishes and needs are thoroughly assessed with regard to the overall situation and the area from which the fat is to be removed, so that, as mentioned, two surgeries are combined at the same time, namely figure shaping (liposuction) and breast augmentation.
How is breast augmentation with your own fat performed?
For breast augmentation using your own fat tissue, small tunnels are prepared under the mammary gland, or alternatively in the pectoral muscle, where the fat is built up in layers without pressure. The fat is removed and treated in a special way before it is injected with a special cannula into the breast area, known as Coleman's technique or, as we have recently begun using, a vibration technique with the MicroAire machine that creates more space for fat in the breast and stimulates healing, which leads to better retention of the fat and thus better results. The amount of fat needed for the procedure depends on the desired volume of the breasts. A standard fat injection leaves small scars of approximately 3 mm where the needles are inserted.
Fat absorption and long-lasting results
The outcome of this type of surgical technique depends on the resorption of the injected fat, i.e. the extent to which the body itself absorbs the fat. Usually, the fat is well incorporated (grows) in the receiving area. The body is expected to absorb up to 40% of the fat in the first few months, so you fill up a little more than you need (overcorrect) to compensate for this loss. There is also no guarantee that more than 40% will be absorbed in some cases.
Handling the fat is crucial for it to become firm. There are several contradictory techniques for treating the removed fat so that only pure fat is injected. The fat must be treated gently without causing major damage to the fat cells. A centrifugation process where a simple machine separates the fat is considered to meet these requirements. But this is not the last word. We use a low degree of centrifugation to separate the fat, but retain the intimate fat fluid that supplies the fat cells with, among other things, the natural growth factors and stem cells that we think give the best possible result.
It is not uncommon for there to be a need for a new injection, and in the event of resorption of more than 40%, a new fat injection is offered within the warranty period; this is on the condition that there is sufficient fat for injection for some increase in volume or in cases where asymmetry occurs. If the fatty tissue is not sucked away from the body, so that the volume does not become satisfactory, this remains a natural and long-lasting result.
Complications
In terms of complications, bleeding and infection are uncommon and in very few cases require reoperation and/or treatment with antibiotics. Asymmetry, fatty cysts and small calcifications may occur, and these may be removed as required. Anesthetic complications, such as allergic reactions to anesthetics, are extremely rare.
Suspicions have been raised that the injected fat may have a role in causing breast cancer. However, it has not been proven that the injected fat has a contributory role in the increase in breast cancer, or whether it could make new cases of cancer more difficult to detect with regard to both regular examination and mammography/ultrasound. see the report from the USA and the report from France.
Fat injection in the breasts should not prevent the detection of cancer during subsequent MRI or ultrasound of the breasts. We recommend that you have an MRI or ultrasound/mammography of your breasts before breast augmentation and at your one-year check-up to rule out cancer. You will receive a referral from us at your consultation. Furthermore, normal follow-up routines apply.
When breast augmentation with your own fat tissue is not recommended
Women with a family history of breast cancer are advised against this type surgery. Women who are expecting a large breast volume and who lack areas on the body with excess fat, which should be corrected, will also not be recommended this surgery.
It should not be difficult to detect cancer after fat grafting as we always refer to ultrasound before the operation to confirm the starting point so it is easier to detect cancer.
Does breast augmentation with your own fat tissue cause breast cancer? Is it difficult to detect cancer after fat grafting to the breasts?
There is no documented evidence that fat injections for Breast are harmful in any way, nor that they cause breast cancer. This method has even been used on patients who have undergone breast cancer surgery to build up their breasts with good results. *
* Kaoutzanis C1, Xin M, Ballard TN, Welch KB, Momoh AO, Kozlow JH, Brown DL, Cederna PS, Wilkins EG. Autologous Fat Grafting After Breast Reconstruction in Postmastectomy Patients: Complications, Biopsy Rates, and Locoregional Cancer Recurrence Rates. Ann Plast Surg. 2016 Mar;76(3):270-5. doi: 10.1097/SAP.0000000000000561.
It should not be difficult to detect cancer after fat grafting as we always refer to ultrasound before the operation to confirm the starting point so it is easier to detect cancer.
Pick-up and accommodation
You must arrange in advance for someone to pick you up at the clinic about 1 hour after the operation, as you cannot drive, take public transport or a taxi on your own. You must also have someone with you the same day and the first night.
If you live far from the clinic, we recommend that you stay overnight in Oslo, either with family/friends or at a hotel with a relative.
Hotels near Oslo Plastic Surgery;
Hotel Gabels Hus in Gabelsgate 16.
Frogner House Apartments, Bygdøy Allé 53.
(We have an agreement with Frogner House Apartments, please inform us when booking a room)
Before the operation
You must be healthy on the day of the operation. If you are in any doubt about whether you have a cold or similar, please contact us. The operation is not performed if you have flu with fever, cough or other infection in the body. Before the operation, you will receive a prescription for antibiotics, painkillers if necessary and Hibiscrub solution 40 mg/ml, which you can buy at the pharmacy.
The day before surgery and on the day of the operation, wash your entire body with Hibiscrub solution in the shower. This is a disinfectant soap that should be rinsed off with water and the skin dried with a clean towel. Put on clean clothes when you leave home. Do not use perfume and lotion. All jewelry, piercings and nail polish/fake nails must be removed no later than the day before the operation and replaced 7 to 10 days after the operation.
To get the best possible result and to avoid complications, it is recommended that you have a normal weight and not an excessively high BMI. If you smoke, or use nicotine such as snuff or electronic cigarettes, you must quit at least 2 weeks before surgery and 2 weeks after surgery.
You should come to the surgery fasting. This means that you should not eat any food including fruit or drink juice with pulp or dairy products 6 hours before the operation. You can drink water, juice, juice without pulp or coffee/tea without dairy products or chew gum/drops/throat lozenges up to 4 hours before the operation. Medication that you may need to take on the day of surgery can be swallowed with 1 glass of water max. 100 ml up to 1 hour before the start of anesthesia.
You must arrange in advance with a person to pick you up at the clinic about 1 hour after the end of the operation, as you cannot drive yourself, take public transport or taxi alone.
It is important that you stop taking blood-thinning medication about 14 days before the operation, preferably in consultation with your GP or us. For other medications, consult the clinic before the operation. You should also avoid eating a lot of garlic and health food preparations.
On the day of surgery
You will be received by our staff who will prepare you for the operation before the surgeon sees you. Before the actual procedure, the surgeon will go through the procedure, draw up the plan and answer any questions you may have. Anesthesia staff will also come and greet you and answer your questions.
When the operation is about to begin, the surgical nurse will pick you up and wash the operating area while anesthesia personnel give you a sedative in your arm so you sleep under surgery. In addition, the surgeon will administer a local anesthetic in the operating area for a long-lasting analgesic effect in the operating area after the operation, which also reduces bleeding. After the operation, you will be moved to the recovery room where you will have your own bed. You will then rest for 1-2 hours and be served food and plenty of drink in the form of sandwiches, yogurt and juice (remember to inform about allergies). Painkillers may be given if necessary.
The surgeon will check on you before your return home/hotel stay and you will be cleared by anesthesia staff before you go home with an adult companion. The PVK attached to your hand will be removed before you leave.
You must use a car or taxi as a means of transportation according to surgery, we do not recommend public transport or walking. You will also need a companion to pick you up.
At the operation itself
The procedure itself takes approximately 1-1 ½ hours, under deep sedation. The incision is usually made where the old scar is, to avoid creating new scars. After removing the old prosthesis, the same cavity is used to fill with the patient's own fat. Drains are often placed in the pocket, which are usually removed 1-2 days after surgery.
Breastfeeding ability is not normally affected by the operation or the opportunity for a mammogram. Nor does breast augmentation increase the incidence of breast cancer (see more under FAQ).
After the operation
All patients come for a postoperative check-up the day after surgery. We recommend that you do not travel by air for the first 48 hours after surgery. During this time, a follow-up appointment will be arranged at the clinic and you should come to the clinic the day after the surgery.
In the first few hours after the operation, you may feel a little tired and sometimes a little nauseous. It's important that you take painkillers as prescribed and as needed, and make sure you drink plenty of fluids during the first 24 hours. You may feel dizzy, so it's a good idea to take your time getting up and make sure you have something to lean on.
For the first two days, you should rest and lie as still as possible, with your upper body elevated. For the next five days, you can move gently. If you have an active job, it's a good idea to stay at home. After the operation, you will be given a special bandage that will be removed after 3 days, the tape will remain on for 2 weeks. You should wear a loose bra for 6 weeks after the bandage is removed. After the tape is removed (after 2 weeks), you can shower the area and apply new tape. It is recommended that you tape the scars with skin-friendly tape for at least 2 months.
Skin-friendly surgical tape such as Micropore or Steri-Strips can be purchased at the pharmacy, alternatively silicone tape should you react to regular surgical tape.
We close the wound with stitches that dissolve on their own. We do not usually insert drains (tubes), only in very few cases are they inserted to remove blood and fluid from the wound area under the breast. These are usually removed at the clinic 1-2 days after the operation.
The final result can only be assessed after 3-6 months. Follow-up checks are arranged with the clinic; the day after surgery, after 1-2 weeks and 3-6 months, and a final check after a year. You must call to arrange the check-ups yourself, or alternatively make an appointment with the clinic on the day of the operation.
Bleeding and infection are uncommon and in very few cases require reoperation and/or antibiotic treatment. Anesthetic complications, such as allergic reaction to anesthetics, are extremely rare.
In principle, prosthesis replacement does not provide a basis for sick leave, but if you have a physical job, we recommend that you take this into account in the first few days after surgery.
Physical exercise and hard physical work should be postponed for about 2 weeks.
If correction is necessary due to complications or unsatisfactory results, this will be done free of charge within one year, provided there is a medical indication and a clear potential for improvement. This is our guarantee period.
On this page you will find:
- About the operation
- Surgeon & physician in charge
- Who could be a candidate for breast augmentation with your own fat?
- How is breast augmentation with your own fat performed?
- Fat absorption and long-lasting results
- Complications
- When breast augmentation with your own fat tissue is not recommended
- Does breast augmentation with your own fat tissue cause breast cancer?
- Pick-up and accommodation
- Before the operation
- On the day of surgery
- At the operation itself
- After the operation
- FAQ - Frequently asked questions
- Contact form
Ask for guidance and advice
We can give you the best advice face to face. We will guide you to the best solution for you.
The doctor in charge is Dr. Amin Kalaaji, senior consultant dr.med, specialist in plastic surgery and head of the clinic at Oslo Plastikkirurgi, and head of the Norwegian Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (NFEP) 2018-2020.
Dr. Kalaaji holds many positions and gives lectures and training around the world. This benefits all our patients as he is always up to date on the latest and most advanced treatments and surgical techniques.Â
Patient safety, high quality and individual treatment are always our top priorities at Oslo Plastikkirurgi.Â
FAQ - Frequently asked questions
Oslo Plastic Surgery answers frequently asked questions here, and we hope this provides you with good information. We want to be helpful in the process before a surgery. If you have any further questions, just write or call us.
Breast augmentation with own fat can be a good alternative to prostheses in selected patients to enlarge the breasts in addition to filling desired places where there is sagging, little filling or asymmetry and at the same time removing unwanted fat on the body.
There is no documented evidence that fat injections for Breast are harmful in any way, nor that they cause breast cancer. This method has even been used on breast cancer surgery patients to build up their breasts with good results. *
* Kaoutzanis C1, Xin M, Ballard TN, Welch KB, Momoh AO, Kozlow JH, Brown DL, Cederna PS, Wilkins EG. Autologous Fat Grafting After Breast Reconstruction in Postmastectomy Patients: Complications, Biopsy Rates, and Locoregional Cancer Recurrence Rates. Ann Plast Surg. 2016 Mar;76(3):270-5. doi: 10.1097/SAP.0000000000000561.
Detecting cancer after fat grafting should not be difficult as we always refer to ultrasound before surgery to confirm the baseline to make it easier to detect cancer.
We have a one-year guarantee on the operation and if, up to one year after the procedure, there is a medical indication for an unsatisfactory result, a new surgery/correction can be expected free of charge.
Attachments:
1 - IPRAS Journal, Issue 8, 2012
2 - Kirurgen journal 2016, (January 25, 2016)
3 - Video clip of our surgeon describing the treatment here