Lipofilling, or fat transfer, is a procedure where fat is removed from an area where it is not desired and then injected into the desired area (breasts, buttocks, hips). The most popular procedure is breast augmentation with your own fat.
Your naturally enhanced beauty
For natural breast augmentation, you usually need between 150 and 300 mL of fat per breast, depending on the initial breast size. The result is permanent, though significant weight loss will also reduce the fat in the areas where it was transferred.
Natural breast augmentation refers to a procedure where the breast volume is increased without implants, using the patient’s own fat instead. This method not only enhances breast shape without artificial structures but also offers several advantages over breast implants.
Why choose Health Clinic for a fat transfer?
The best specialists
The surgeries are performed only by widely recognised experts who have decades of experience and are unquestionably the best in their field.
Individual approach
We aim to provide an understanding and supportive environment, so we pay special attention to each woman’s unique aesthetic goals, desires and needs.
High customer satisfaction
Numerous success stories and positive feedback from our patients reflect not only our surgeons’ professionalism but also the empathetic and friendly interaction they experience.
Safety and quality first
We prioritise safety and quality, strictly adhering to all standards and safety requirements to ensure that every surgery is carried out with the utmost care and precision.
State-of-the-art transplant techniques
Our surgeons use the latest surgical techniques for breast lipofilling to ensure long-lasting, beautiful and natural results.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Procedure overview
| Fat transfer to breasts | |
|---|---|
| Surgeon | Dr Siim Simmo / dr Martin Adamson |
| Anesthesia | General |
| Surgery duration | 1,5-2,5 hours |
| Nights at hospital | 1 |
| Sick leave | 1-2 weeks |
| Price | From €3890 * price includes liposuction of six areas; additional areas according to the price list |
| Medical loan | Starting from €105 per month. Apply here. |
WHAT SHOULD YOU KNOW?
Additional information on the procedure
Who is suitable for breast augmentation using the fat transfer method?
Clients with the following characteristics are ideal for this highly specific procedure:
- Skin with good elasticity and tone. Breast augmentation surgery performed using the fat grafting method allows you to increase the size of the breasts only, but it does not correct sagging or loose skin.
- The presence of unfavourable breast tissue does not mean that the patient cannot have the procedure. If necessary, it is possible to lift the breasts to restore their sufficiently good shape.
- Sufficient adipose tissue in other areas of the body to acquire fat cells to be transplanted during fat grafting. Fat grafting to the breast area requires more fat than other techniques (such as fat grafting to the face). To achieve the desired result, it may be necessary to obtain fat cells from several areas.
- The desire to increase the size of the breasts delicately. With fat grafting, it is possible to increase the size of the breasts by one to one and a half cup sizes.
How long does the result last?
It is expected that some of the transplanted fat cells will be reabsorbed back into the body. However, this percentage is quite low. Typically, 60–80% of the fat remains in place. The fat cells that integrate into the breasts remain there permanently. Like all fat cells, the transplanted cells can grow or shrink with overall weight changes. If you lose a significant amount of weight after a fat transfer, your breasts may also decrease in size. It is also possible that if you gain weight, your breasts will also get bigger. Age and gravity also have a significant effect on breasts, which can cause them to sag in the future. This is a problem that can be corrected with a breast lift, if necessary.
Advantages over breast implants:
- small and hidden incisions are made in the fat transfer area
- shorter recovery time from surgery than traditional breast augmentation
- fewer risks and a very low complication rate (for both cosmetic and reconstructive surgery)
- our modern technique allows us to preserve the largest amount of fat cells
- it is possible to increase the size of the breasts by one to one and a half cup sizes in one surgery
- it is possible to address problem areas and undergo a ‘total’ change
- if you have a breast implant, fat transfer helps to improve the shape of the breast
Is fat transfer to the breasts safe?
Fat transfer for breast augmentation is a clinically very safe process. There are fewer complications associated with this procedure than breast augmentation with implants. Similarly, higher satisfaction with their enlarged breasts has been observed among patients who have used the fat transfer method.
Recovery after the procedure
Patients often express surprise at how easy recovery from fat transfer breast augmentation is compared to what they expected. It is often possible to return to your normal activities within a day or two after surgery. However, patients should be prepared for some swelling and soreness in the breast and liposuction areas. Bruising is also common.
It is very important to avoid compressing the fat transfer area for the first three weeks. Therefore, a tight bra should not be worn.
Initial discomfort (if any) can be reduced with over-the-counter medications. If necessary, prescription medications can be used as directed for a few days. Patients can return to work and engage in light physical activity within a week. More strenuous exercise, including yoga and weight training, can be resumed within a few weeks. Patients will be given detailed post-operative instructions to help them recover from the fat transfer.
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Breast fat transfer and important questions
Am I a suitable candidate for breast augmentation with fat transfer?
If you want to moderately increase your breasts while maintaining their completely natural look and feel, breast fat transfer is the best solution for you. If your goal is to have very large breasts with a fuller upper part, this is a result that can only be achieved with breast implants.
How much will my breasts increase in size?
Typically, fat transfer increases breast size by at least one cup size. Sometimes a greater change can be achieved, but this depends on the amount of fat used and the natural size of the breasts.
How much of the transferred fat will remain permanently?
This depends on the technique used by the surgeon. The transferred fat is maintained by liposuction under low pressure (when using a Water-Jet system instead of the usual high pressure). The removed fat must then be purified. Excess fluid and other substances are removed, then the fat is allowed to ‘settle’ for a short time or is centrifuged. In order to ensure that the fat remains, it is preferable to inject fat into the breast area with small syringes, in which case, thanks to several injection sites, it is possible to distribute the fat evenly in the breast. In this way, the fat cells are able to form the best possible bond with the vascular tissue and thus survive.
When using such techniques, it is common for 60–80% of the injected fat to remain permanently.
What can I do to support the survival and growth of the transferred fat cells?
Fat cells are sensitive to insulin. Insulin levels in the blood are increased by a high-carbohydrate diet, which helps support the survival and growth of fat cells for a few weeks after surgery.
Does the size of my breasts depend on my weight fluctuation?
Yes, fat in the breasts behaves like fat in other parts of your body. If you gain weight, you should be prepared for your cup size to increase. On the other hand, if you lose weight, the size of your breasts will also decrease.
How many times can this procedure be performed?
Most women are satisfied with the results after a single breast augmentation procedure. It is of course possible to have a second procedure, in which case the fat is often better retained in the body because the necessary foundational structure has already been created in the breast area.
What is the recovery process like?
The client can go home the day after the surgery. The breasts are swollen but not excessively engorged or painful. The swelling of the breasts will continue for the next two to three days; you can expect it to subside within the first two to three weeks, after which the size of the breasts will also remain stable. A high-carbohydrate diet will increase the amount of insulin in your blood. Following such a diet during this time will ensure that your new breast fat remains and grows.
The liposuction areas may initially feel slightly bruised, and wearing a support garment for the next six weeks can significantly improve comfort.
You can usually drive two to three days after surgery, but you should avoid strenuous exercise for a month after surgery.
Are stem cells used in the procedure?
Yes, a large number of stem cells are transferred along with the fat cells. These stem cells are significantly smaller than fat cells and have an even higher rate of retention in the body. These stem cells have the ability to differentiate into fat cells in the future.
Is fat transfer to the breasts safe?
Yes, it is. For many years, surgeons have been concerned that fat transfer to the breasts could cause the formation of subcutaneous lumps, but studies have shown that this situation does not occur or, if it does, is very rare. If a subcutaneous mass develops in the breast area, a mammogram is needed to enable the radiologist to distinguish the fat mass from possible breast cancer. There have never been any cases of breast cancer associated with fat transfer. This is not surprising, as breast cancer in its various forms develops from the tissues of the breast ducts and not from breast fat. If the client is over 40, it is useful to have a mammogram done before the surgery, which can be used as a reference later.
Can I replace my old breast implants with my own fat?
Yes, this is an increasingly popular option. It is also possible to smooth out the visible edges of the breast implant, making the result more natural.
What if I do not have much fat to transplant and want to increase my breast by at least 2 sizes?
In this situation, the best option is to use breast implants for breast augmentation. In this case, the implants are placed behind the pectoral muscle, which significantly reduces the risk of capsular contracture. Combining fat transfer and implants is also possible.
What kind of anaesthesia is used?
Most of the procedures are performed by certified anaesthesiologists under general anaesthesia.
Will the fat move in the breast after the transfer?
Your body accepts the transferred fat as part of your own body (unlike silicone or other implants). In fat transfer, fat immediately anchors to the surrounding tissues. Once a blood supply is established, the fat also remains very stable.
Are there a lot of bruises and haematomas after liposuction?
Transferring small portions of fat requires multiple passes with a cannula. This tends to result in quite a lot of bruising and swelling. The swelling usually subsides within two to three weeks. Swelling in the area of the fat transfer is usually acceptable for two to three weeks, but it takes a few months for full recovery. In the areas involved in the procedure, it can take three to six months for full recovery.
How much of the transferred fat will remain on average?
Fat is a fragile tissue that is easily damaged. The technique used in fat transfer is extremely important, as is how non-viable fat cells are removed and how the remaining fat is reinjected to restore blood circulation quickly. In addition, patients themselves can influence the retention of fat (health, weight, access to donor tissue, hormonal status, scarring in the transplant area, etc.). Studies have shown that up to 85% of fat tissue is retained.
When can I return to work?
Most patients feel quite well a week after surgery and can return to work when they feel ready. However, most patients still feel sore and tired after two weeks.
When can I start exercising again after fat transfer?
Most patients can start light exercise after 10 days to two weeks. However, we do not recommend that patients do anything that could negatively affect the results of their fat transfer. By three weeks after surgery, patients can gradually resume their normal routine.
Is massage good for recovery?
We recommend lymphatic massage to speed up recovery from surgery. This is a gentle massage that helps reduce unwanted swelling in the body and should be performed by a massage therapist or physiotherapist trained in this technique. We do not recommend deep massage for the first two months after surgery. The blood vessels in the transferred fat usually develop within two weeks, but deep massage can reopen the transferred fat. Gentle touching of the skin for washing and applying creams etc. is not a problem.
How large are the incisions?
The incisions for fat transfer are quite small and therefore do not require stitches to close them.
How can I prepare for breast augmentation surgery?
In most cases, a mammogram will be performed first. You will be instructed to stop taking most medications and supplements (including aspirin, which can affect blood clotting) for two weeks before surgery. You should also consult your doctor about any other medications you are taking. If you smoke, it is recommended that you quit smoking at least two to four weeks before surgery to reduce the potential risks associated with surgery.