Implant-Free Augmentation

In a four to six hour procedure, the refined fat is carefully injected into the breast. This is done in a series of small injections to allow the surgeon to sculpt each breast. The fat is injected into the layers of the breast by way of six to eight incisions in each breast that are roughly two-millimeters in size (slightly larger than a pen mark). The fat is injected into the space between the skin and the breast capsule and/or into the space between the breast and chest wall. The injections are layered from the pectoralis major muscle up through the top of the breast. Blunt syringes and cannulas (small tubes that can be inserted into the body) are used to administer the fat into the breasts. These are used to avoid damage to blood vessels and nerves. In order to survive in their new location, the transplanted fat cells need to be able to establish a blood supply.

 

Implant-free breast augmentation is a less invasive augmentation technique that has a recovery time of approximately 48 hours. Implant-free breast augmentation is less likely to interfere with future mammograms than implant-based breast augmentation. Since the fat cells come from the patients own body there are fewer risks of rejection or allergic reaction. However, if a substantially larger breast size is desired a saline or silicone implant should be considered. The Implant-Free Breast Augmentation is not recommended for increasing the breasts by more than two cup sizes.During the procedure fat cells will be over-injected to compensate for the possibility that necrosis (cell death) may occur, resulting in a decrease of fatty tissue. In an Implant-Free Breast Augmentation, the fat cells that are injected into the breasts are living, so unlike saline or silicone implants, the size of the breasts will fluctuate in accordance to weight loss and gain.