A natural looking, larger and shapely breast is the wish of many patients. Breast augmentation is still one of the most frequently performed aesthetic operations. Both young women who have only a very small breast after completion of breast growth, or women who have less breast volume after pregnancy or breastfeeding and suffer from sagging breasts, desire a natural breast augmentation. This is possible with implants and/or autologous fat (lipofilling). Depending on the initial situation, in addition to breast augmentation, a tightening of the skin mantle and repositioning of the nipple may be necessary.
Autologous fat for breast augmentation requires that sufficient fat buttresses are available.
The consultation
As a plastic surgeon, Dr. Lüdi specializes in breast surgery and will be happy to advise you personally from woman to woman in her clinic in Basel on the subject of breast augmentation with autologous fat (lipofilling).
Before a breast augmentation with autologous fat, there are usually two detailed consultations. It is very important to us that you are well informed about the procedure, that all open questions are answered and that your wishes are taken into account. Dr. Lüdi will discuss the surgical technique, possible risks and complications as well as the aftercare with you. Dr. Lüdi will also be happy to show you before and after photos of a breast augmentation with autologous fat.
On the day of surgery
On the day of the operation, Dr. Lüdi prepares a photo documentation before the procedure and draws in the relevant areas on your body. You will then be prepared for the upcoming operation and accompanied to the operating room.
The operation - how does lipofilling of the breast proceed?
Breast augmentation with autologous fat can be performed on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia in our clinic's own operating room in Basel. Fat is removed from another part of the body such as the abdomen, flanks or thighs by liposuction, prepared and then inserted into the breast through small incisions using a cannula (lipofilling). This can achieve very natural and beautiful results.
Immediately after surgery
After the operation, you can recover from the procedure in our beautiful patient rooms with a view of the Rhine and will be looked after by our team. After another visit by Dr. Lüdi, you can be picked up by an accompanying person and return home the same day.
The aftercare
- After about a week, the first follow-up inspection takes place.
- Showering is possible from the 2nd day after surgery
- In order to promote healing of the transplanted fat cells, pressure on the breast should be avoided during the first 3 weeks after surgery and therefore no bra should be worn.
- For 6 weeks, you should consistently wear the fitted compression girdle in the area of the fat extraction site.
- We recommend a grace period of 4 to 6 weeks. During this time, you should refrain from sports, carrying and lifting loads, and sleeping in the prone position.
- Pain intensity after surgery is generally moderate and well controlled with common analgesics.
- Scar care can be started from 3 weeks postoperatively.
- Part of the inserted fat (up to 50%) is reabsorbed by the body. The definitive result is visible after about 3 months, when the healing of the fat cells is complete. Therefore, to achieve the desired breast size, sometimes several procedures (2 to 3 sessions) are necessary at intervals of about 3 to 6 months.
Risks and complications
In principle, every operation involves certain risks, but in general breast correction with autologous fat is a low-risk procedure and complications rarely occur. There are the general surgical risks (e.g. bruising, wound healing disorders, infection).
After surgery, bruising and local swelling are usually expected. These heal within the first few days to weeks. A slight feeling of numbness also disappears in the first few weeks. Rarely, dents may appear, which can be smoothed out in a minor corrective surgery. The small scars are usually barely noticeable after scar maturation. Part of the fat introduced (up to 50%) is reabsorbed by the body. The definitive result is visible after 3 months, when the healing of the fat cells is complete. Therefore, to achieve the desired breast size, sometimes several procedures (2 to 3 sessions) are necessary at intervals of about 3 to 6 months. It can take 6 to 12 months until the tissue in the liposuction area has completely healed and the final result is visible. Only then is the final result available and can be assessed
Alternative treatment methods
Breast augmentation with implants
Costs
The costs for breast augmentation with autologous fat depend on your wishes, the type and extent of the operation and the type of anesthesia. During a consultation, Dr. Lüdi will put together a treatment tailored to you personally and provide you with an individual cost estimate.
As a rule, health insurance does not cover the costs of breast augmentation, as it is an aesthetic procedure.
Frequently asked questions
Breast augmentation with autologous fat is suitable for women who want a small to moderate increase in breast size but do not want implants. Using autologous fat treatment (lipofilling), a volume increase of about one cup size is realistic.
Furthermore, autologous fat treatment may also be indicated for volume augmentation after implant removal, provided that a new implant placement is not desired.
A prerequisite for breast augmentation with autologous fat is that there is sufficient fat in other parts of the body. However, this is usually the case even with slim patients.
A great advantage is that the removal of disturbing fat buttresses and breast augmentation are possible at the same time. The fat is removed from this place, where it may interfere anyway, and after reprocessing it is used to increase the volume of the breast.
Furthermore, lipofilling is very tolerable, since it is the body's own tissue and an implant as a foreign body can be dispensed with. The breast feels absolutely natural after autologous fat treatment.
In the liposuction area, pain may occur that feels similar to bruising. However, these can be well controlled with common painkillers. The breast itself is usually not very painful. There may be a slight feeling of tension.
The liposuction as well as the insertion of the fat into the breast is performed through several very small incisions, about 3-4 mm long. Smallest scars will therefore remain, but these are usually hardly visible after full healing and scar maturation. Dr. Lüdi will instruct you in detail after the operation regarding scar care in order to support beautiful scar healing.
Depending on the occupational activity and physical strain, you must expect to be unable to work for about 1 week.
After 4-6 weeks, healing has progressed to the point where you can slowly resume sports activities. However, regular exercise and walks are recommended immediately after surgery and are necessary for thrombosis prophylaxis.
In the first weeks after surgery, the volume of the inserted autologous fat decreases because not all transplanted fat cells survive and heal (up to 50%). The definitive result is visible after 3 months, when the healing of the fat cells is complete. The fat harvesting site can sometimes remain swollen significantly longer, so that an approximate result is visible here after 3 months, but the definitive result is only visible after 6 to 12 months.
Yes, once the healing of the fat cells is complete after about 3 months, the tissue is as durable as fat tissue in other parts of the body.
In the case of strong weight fluctuations, it can be assumed that a volume increase or decrease also takes place in the area of the transplanted fatty tissue in the breast.
The price for breast augmentation with autologous fat depends on the type and extent of the operation and the type of anesthesia. After the consultation, Dr. Lüdi will provide you with an individual offer.
Simona Lüdi, MD, will be happy to welcome you for a personal consultation for breast augmentation with autologous fat at our clinic in Basel. We look forward to seeing you.