Consultation with plastic surgeons with over 20 years of experience is free! Make an appointment by phone. Waiting for you! An alternative method to augmentation mammoplasty with implants is injection methods, in particular lipofilling.
Lipotransfer or breast lipofilling is an increase in breast volume by introducing into the mammary gland area the patient’s own adipose tissue taken from other areas of the body
Technically, lipofilling (breast augmentation with fat) is similar to the introduction of any non-encapsulated gels and fillers, which are widely used in contouring. Fat injection is performed using a needle, usually under the fascia of the mammary gland above the muscle. After lipofilling of the breast (enlargement with fat), shrinkage naturally occurs, the breast loses a little in volume, but its shape is retained.
The method of choosing one or another breast augmentation technique depends on the specialist and the wishes of the patient. One of the surgeons, having extensive experience in injection mammary gland enlargement, may offer this method. Another doctor did a good job of breast augmentation with implants. The patient himself must set the priority, based on his preferences and desires.
Indications for breast lipofilling
- Insufficient breast volume;
- Asymmetry of the mammary glands;
- Creation of a base for further installation of implants (if there is a lack of native gland tissue).
Benefits of lipofilling (breast augmentation with fat):
- From a physiological point of view, the main advantage of breast lipofilling with fat is complete biological compatibility with the surrounding tissues in the transplant area. The body immediately recognizes fat cells as “its own”, which eliminates any allergic reactions;
- From an aesthetic point of view, breast correction with lipofilling is attractive because... gives instant results. There is no long rehabilitation period, no scars remain on the skin;
- The ability to instantly enlarge your breasts and remove excess fat from problem areas;
- For those who do not yet want to install implants, but want to enlarge their breasts, lipofilling is a convenient way to fulfill their desires. If the woman is satisfied with the new forms, then after 1-2 years, when the implanted mass has resolved, the installation of implants can be planned.
The role of the donor zone is usually performed by “problem” areas: the stomach, sides, buttocks. Adipose tissue is extracted using liposuction, then it is specially prepared and injected into the mammary gland area.
Technique for injecting fat into the breast area during lipofilling
To inject fat, punctures are made in the chest area so that fat can be injected in at least two planes. Typically, punctures in the skin are performed in the submammary fold (3-5 punctures), at the border of the areola and skin (2-3 punctures), and in the axillary region (1-2 punctures). After the operation, barely noticeable scars remain on the skin at the puncture sites.
Breast lipofilling. Fat injection
Breast fat grafting is performed in such a way as to ensure maximum survival of fat cells. The transplanted fat cells must be provided with a blood supply. Fat is injected under the muscles, into the muscle area and into the subcutaneous fat of the breast. Fat cannot be injected into the mammary gland itself.
Intramuscular injection of fat
Injection of fat into subcutaneous fat
Fat is injected with 5, 10 or 50 ml syringes. On average, 100 to 250 ml of fat is usually required per breast. The duration of the breast lipofilling operation is from 2 to 4 hours, depending on the volume of the operation.
At the end of the operation, a special Microform tape is applied to the breast skin, which serves as a protective barrier and is removed 5-7 days after the operation. The tape creates a slight compression of the fat, which eliminates the movement of fat under the skin and improves its healing.
From the history of lipofilling
Having made a short excursion into the history of the procedure, it is worth noting that implantation of one’s own fat did not immediately become such a harmless procedure. The first operations performed at the beginning of the 20th century by the founder of lipofilling, the French surgeon Julien Bourget, gave positive results. But the technique of liposuction developed rapidly, and with the invention of the vacuum method, doctors actively began to use it to remove fat. Unfortunately, after lipofilling with such material, patients experienced severe consequences and the entire transplanted volume was absorbed.
It turned out that the vacuum aspiration apparatus, when collecting material, destroyed a large number of fat cells (adipocytes). After they were transplanted to another area, a powerful reaction of macrophages - cells that digest the remains of dead cells and other particles foreign to the body - was activated. As a result, all transplanted material was excreted from the body without leading to an increase in volume.
After this, doctors came to the conclusion that liposuction for further lipofilling must be carried out in a certain way, excluding oxidation (contact of the removed fat with air) and maintaining equal pressure between the extracellular and intracellular environment to prevent rupture of cell membranes.
Often breast lipofilling is combined with liposuction, allowing you to improve several areas on a woman’s body at once
The lipofilling operation takes place in three stages
1st stage:
manipulation of the collection of donor fat cells - liposuction with preservation of adipose tissue, which is taken from areas of the body where it is in excess (for example, thighs, abdomen); Fat material is taken in a special way to avoid damage to fat cells;
2nd stage:
cleaning fat cells. The adipose tissue is washed and centrifuged to separate it from blood, dead cells and other impurities;
3rd stage:
fat grafting. The doctor injects fat cells with a syringe in small portions into the required areas, evenly distributing them, avoiding the formation of unevenness and disruption of breast symmetry.
Lipofilling and liposuction
Donor adipose tissue for lipofilling is usually taken using liposuction. You can use lipofilling as a concomitant operation if you are planning liposuction. This combination of procedures has its advantages. Liposuction is a fairly traumatic procedure. After removing some fat from the abdomen and thighs, a long rehabilitation period is required - 1 month. The swelling lasts for several days, physical activity, sauna, bathhouse, etc. are excluded for several weeks.
Compared to liposuction, lipofilling is a much easier procedure. It does not require surgery and is performed using injections. Therefore, for those who have decided to undergo liposuction and are thinking about breast augmentation, it is worth considering the option of breast augmentation using their own fat.
If the patient does not need liposuction for aesthetic reasons, then adipose tissue is collected from the areas richest in fat cells, but invisible to the contours of the body: from the subumbilical area and the inner thigh.
If there is no need for liposuction, adipose tissue is collected from the subumbilical area and the inner thigh
The cost of breast lipofilling surgery at the Dr. Grishkyan clinic in Moscow.
Breasts after fat augmentation not only look natural, they actually feel natural, including to the touch. In addition, breast lipofilling is a low-traumatic procedure, because during its implementation it is not necessary to cut the skin, the fat emulsion is injected through punctures using miniature cannulas, and there are no scars left after it.
The cost of lipofilling at the Doctor Grishkyan clinic in Moscow may differ significantly from the prices for this operation in other clinics. This is not surprising. The operation is performed by a plastic surgeon, Doctor of Medical Sciences David Rubenovich Grishkyan, who is a recognized authority in this field, not only in our country, but also in the world. The surgeon is the author of unique techniques that ensure maximum survival of fat and the absence of complications.
The price of lipofilling depends on many factors and may differ in different areas of the face. This is due to both the volume of the operation and its complexity.
Fat grafting is essentially a contouring method that is performed using the patient’s own fat cells. This is a completely safe and effective technique, the results of which last for a long time. Typically, for lipofilling, adipose tissue is taken from those parts of the body where there is excess fat, for example, from the abdominal wall or buttock area.
The author's method of David Rubenovich Grishkyan allows not only to increase the survival rate of fat. Due to special processing and technical introduction to different levels of tissues of the face and body, it allows for the fastest possible regeneration and accelerates healing after surgery, for example, if lipofilling was performed in conjunction with facial or eyelid plastic surgery.
Our prices for lipofilling in Moscow are the most affordable in terms of price-quality ratio. They are determined both by the high skill of the surgeon and the cost of consumables and the volume of surgical intervention. The final cost of the operation is determined individually, after consultation with a specialist.
will be as natural as possible both in appearance and to the touch. At the same time, one of the advantages of lipofilling is that it is not foreign tissue that is injected into your skin, but your own, your own, forever.
- Ensure maximum tissue regeneration;
- Accelerate healing and formation of new tissue after surgery;
- Significantly reduce postoperative discomfort: pain, swelling, hematomas;
- Significantly reduce rehabilitation time.
Breast lipofilling (enlargement of the mammary glands with the patient’s own fat) cost of the operation
| Operation name | Cost in rubles |
| Breast lipofilling (including 4 liposuction zones) | 250000 |
Disadvantages of lipofilling
- Like all absorbable materials, implanted fatty tissue loses its volume over time. A sustainable result lasts only for the first 1.5 – 2 years. To maintain the volume, it is recommended to repeat the procedure. However, there are no alternative methods without loss of volume in injection plastic surgery. All non-absorbable, non-encapsulated gels and fillers are prohibited for use in Europe and Russia, because the consequences of such injections were very severe - the gels migrated and caused inflammation.
- You can enlarge your breasts using fat by no more than 1-1.5 sizes. Since this is a non-encapsulated material, introducing it in large quantities will not allow it to be fixed in strictly regulated areas.
For small volumes, the operation can be performed under local anesthesia. If fat tissue is harvested as a result of extensive liposuction, general anesthesia is usually used. Accordingly, before the operation, the patient must undergo a general examination and undergo tests that are standard for any surgical intervention.
Implants: for those who want more
From the point of view of a radical increase, when the patient wants to “jump” from size 2 to 4, it makes more sense to choose implants. Then you will get a more predictable and predictable result. The implants are modeled specifically for you, to suit your physiology, and as a result, you get the breasts you want for many, many years.
To be fair, it should be said that in this case you can try lipofilling. But this will not be one, but at least 3-4 consecutive operations with delicate enlargement.
In the case where “size matters,” of course, lipofilling is significantly inferior to implantation, because with the help of implants you can achieve almost any desired result (at least size 5) at once, with a guarantee of no loss of volume or any other unforeseen situations in the future. With lipofilling, even the most venerable and experienced surgeon will not be able to accurately predict the degree of shrinkage of new fat, and therefore the future size of the breast. Something will resolve, something will take root...
Rehabilitation after breast lipofilling
Strict adherence to all the surgeon’s instructions for the rehabilitation period will help to avoid complications after breast lipofilling. Lipofilling is not a procedure, an operation after which two areas are slightly injured: the breast and the donor area. During rehabilitation after breast fat grafting, you must wear a compression bra. Compression underwear reduces the risk of complications and helps fat cells take root faster. During the first days, the patient must avoid contact with water. The puncture sites are treated with antiseptic agents. For the first few weeks, it is important to avoid physical activity and driving. Drugs containing ibuprofen are prohibited. After the operation, the surgeon will recommend that you exclude from your diet some foods that affect the rate of fat resorption. The restrictions must be adhered to for the first month.
Rehabilitation and result
The results of breast lipofilling are visible immediately and remain forever. The breasts look natural and feel no different from natural ones. The risk of complications after the procedure is minimized, since the body’s own adipose tissue takes root almost 100% and is not rejected by the body.
However, it is important to understand that breast lipofilling allows you to increase your bust by no more than one and a half sizes. At the same time, it is always possible to achieve a completely natural shape of the mammary glands, making them not only more voluminous, but also more elastic and toned. Fat tissue is distributed in the breast without any problems, this happens evenly, that is, there is practically no risk of asymmetry occurring after surgery.
Breast lipofilling: how to enlarge breasts with your own fat
Many girls and women dream of adding at least one size to their bust, but not everyone is happy with the prospect of undergoing a serious operation under general anesthesia, and then wearing artificial endoprostheses inside. Fortunately, there is also a way out of such a difficult situation.
Breast lipofilling is an increase in the volume of the mammary glands using the transplantation of the patient’s own fat cells. The graft is taken from other areas of the body (thighs, abdomen) and inserted into the desired area where it should take root.
Can this method be called a full-fledged alternative to “traditional” breast implants? What are its advantages and disadvantages? How long does the result last and how much does it all cost? TecRussia.ru looks into the details:
↑ Who is breast lipofilling indicated for?
Plastic surgeons recommend fat grafting for breast enlargement in several cases:
- as an independent method of breast enlargement by 0.5-1.5 sizes. An ideal option for those who do not accept the installation of implants or have direct contraindications to such an operation;
- as a way to remove slight breast asymmetry without increasing size;
- as an auxiliary procedure to improve the appearance of the patient’s bust after other surgical interventions.
The last group includes diverse options. In particular, lipofilling can be used:
- for correction of shape and size during complex surgery on the tubular breast;
- as part of an operation to reconstruct the mammary gland after its complete removal, as well as to smooth out sunken scars and areas after sectoral resection and other manipulations performed in the treatment of oncological diseases;
- to disguise a previously installed breast implant when contouring it.
You can learn more about the possibilities and nuances of fat transplantation in working with other parts of the body in a large review on TecRussia.ru.
↑ Pros and cons of breast correction using your own fat
The main advantages of this technique in comparison with other popular methods of volumetric bust correction:
| Procedure | Benefits of lipofilling |
| Installation of implants |
|
| Use of other fillers (hyalurnic acid, etc.) |
|
| “Folk” and other non-surgical methods of breast enlargement |
|
However, lipofilling has several serious disadvantages that significantly limit its scope of application:
- The amount of fat tissue that can be obtained and transplanted in one operation. The maximum volume is considered to be 250-300 ml, which ideally gives an increase of about 1.5 breast sizes. Transplanting more cells can lead to rapid damage and death due to excessive pressure from overstretched skin, as well as loss of breast shape, drooping and spreading.
- To transfer fat to the breast area, it must first be pumped out from another area of the body. If the patient has a slender or thin build, sometimes there is simply nowhere to gain the required volume, or such a fence will lead to visible deformation of the figure. In this case, the only option is “traditional” surgery with the installation of implants or contouring with fillers.
- High demands on the technical equipment of the clinic and the professionalism of the surgeon. When collecting and further processing fat cells, they are easily damaged (therefore, for example, standard pumping with a high-pressure vacuum aspirator, which is used during liposuction, is not suitable for lipofilling). As a result, some of the graft may die before transplantation, and some may die within a few weeks after.
| Photo 1,2 – breast augmentation with fat with asymmetry correction (after 2 sessions): | |
- Not all transplanted cells take root—for many surgeons, the rate barely reaches 50%. Only those who specialize in breast lipofilling, constantly improve their techniques and have modern equipment, can achieve a 90-95 percent survival rate (but even they are not able to produce such indicators on an ongoing basis, since much depends on the individual characteristics of the patient’s body). In most cases, to achieve the desired result, you need at least one, and sometimes 2-3 additional corrective procedures (and they cost the same as the main one).
- The transplanted cells behave exactly the same as other fat “deposits” in our body. This means that when you lose weight, the volume of previously enlarged mammary glands will also decrease. It is worth noting that after conventional augmentation mammoplasty, it is also undesirable to lose weight - in this case, there is a high probability that the endoprostheses will begin to contour through the skin.
- Fat grafting does not correct serious aesthetic problems. For example, fat cannot be used to correct the shape of a tubular breast when it is necessary to simultaneously expand its base, lower the submammary skin fold and increase the volume by more than 1 size.
↑ How lipofilling is performed
First, the patient needs to communicate with her surgeon and come to full agreement on the general goals of the intervention and technical nuances. Next, you need to undergo a standard set of laboratory and functional tests to identify possible contraindications to lipofiing:
- general and biochemical blood tests, general urine analysis;
- tests for HIV infection, syphilis and viral hepatitis;
- chest x-ray, ECG;
- additional studies prescribed individually by a therapist, surgeon and/or anesthesiologist.
If we are talking about transplanting a significant (more than 100 ml) volume of fat, the patient must wear a special tissue expander for several weeks before surgery. It stretches the skin and thereby creates a cavity underneath for further filling (see information about the BRAVA system). The procedure for breast augmentation with your own fat consists of three stages:
- Adipose tissue sampling is carried out using special small-diameter cannulas. They do not leave noticeable puncture scars. It is believed that the ideal donor area is the outer surface of the thigh. Here are the “cleanest” adipocytes, without a large number of fibrous adhesions. Depending on the situation, you can use other areas: for example, the stomach or buttocks. This is the most critical stage; the surgeon’s task is to obtain the required volume of graft without allowing oxidation and other cell damage.
- Preparation of material for transplantation. The resulting fat is processed: cleared of blood particles and other impurities, brought to a completely homogeneous consistency without compactions or lumps, sometimes additionally enriched with the patient’s blood plasma, stem cells, etc.;
- Transplantation is performed using injections, usually under local anesthesia. Small portions of prepared adipocytes are injected into the tissue at various depths and gently distributed to obtain the desired volume and contour of the mammary glands. This is a rather painstaking and lengthy process, so you should be patient: how carefully and evenly the cells are introduced determines how the future breast will look.
| Breast reconstruction after mastectomy using lipofilling: | |
| Using fat to improve breast shape and eliminate implant contouring: | |
The operation takes from 2 to 4 hours, depending on the amount of fat transplanted, the technology of its processing and the injection technique. If general anesthesia was not used at the first stage, the patient can go home immediately.
Breast lipofilling does not cause cancer: it does not increase the likelihood of oncological tumors and does not interfere with ultrasound examination of this area of the body.
Since no major incisions are made, rehabilitation after correction of the mammary glands with your own fat is also relatively easy. The breast and donor area heal quickly, although minor bruising and swelling at the puncture sites may persist for up to 1-2 weeks. As in the case of augmentation mammoplasty, you need to wear compression garments for about a month, and also protect your bust from mechanical stress. In addition, in the first 10-14 days it is recommended:
- avoid significant physical activity and high temperatures to prevent bleeding and swelling;
- avoid direct sunlight, refuse to visit a solarium to eliminate the risk of hyperpigmentation;
- take medications recommended by your doctor and treat skin puncture sites with antiseptic solutions to prevent purulent-inflammatory complications.
The preliminary result of the operation can be assessed immediately after its completion, but the final result is summed up only after 4-6 months, when it becomes clear how many of the transplanted cells remained in the new place. In general, fat does not take root very well in the breast area, this is due to the peculiarities of the blood supply. Therefore, quite often, even if the transplantation was carried out perfectly, at least one corrective procedure may be needed, which is carried out according to the same algorithm as the initial one, but in a slightly smaller volume.
↑ How long does the result of breast lipofilling last?
Those cells that take root after transplantation and grow into blood vessels form full-fledged adipose tissue, which remains forever. You can “lose” breasts made in this way only:
- with significant (more than 10% of body weight) weight loss;
- as a result of surgery (for example, if, due to hormonal changes, the breasts have grown so much that they need to be reduced).
↑ Contraindications, complications, possible side effects of breast correction with fat
The main factors excluding the possibility of this operation:
- diabetes;
- blood clotting disorder;
- acute infectious diseases, including seasonal ARVI;
- increased body temperature, regardless of the cause;
- serious disturbances in the functioning of the kidneys and liver;
- diseases of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems;
- intolerance to a number of medications, etc.
Identification of contraindications does not always mean that “all is lost.” After a course of treatment aimed at eliminating pathologies or transferring them into a state of stable remission, the operation can be performed without any risk to health.
| Photos before and after lipofilling of small breasts (1 session): | |
Some of the most common problems that patients face after breast augmentation with their own fat include:
- Hematomas, sometimes multiple and diffuse, both at the site of collection of cells for transplantation and at the site of injection. In theory, there should be no large bruises; they appear as a result of careless work of the surgeon, who unnecessarily traumatized the tissues and blood vessels.
- Swelling, which may progress in the first few days after surgery and go away within a few months. Considered a variant of the norm, the degree of swelling largely depends on the individual characteristics of the patient.
- The development of purulent inflammation in the wound as a result of its infection. This is possible in case of gross violations of antiseptics, as well as the rules for processing and transplanting the material. Also, if cells are not cleared of lumps and compactions, they can further contour under the skin.
- Complete or significant resorption of the transplanted fatty tissue and, as a consequence, an insufficient degree of increase in breast volume. Most often it is the result of imperfect sampling techniques (the viability of cells is significantly reduced when they are oxidized, come into contact with certain types of anesthetics, etc.).
- As a result of transplanting an excessively large amount of fat, breast deformation is possible, as well as the formation of cysts from cells compressed by the skin.
Most of these complications can be avoided if you do not strive for the largest possible size and choose an experienced surgeon. Additionally, to prevent adverse consequences, you should stop smoking for 2 weeks before surgery and for another month after it is performed, since substances contained in tobacco smoke, firstly, increase the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular complications, and secondly, they disrupt the process normal tissue healing.
↑ How much does breast lipofilling cost? Current prices
The cost of the operation is determined by a number of factors. The most significant: the technical equipment of the clinic and the professional experience of the surgeon. In addition, the patient's overall costs may increase significantly if corrective procedures are later required.
The average price for breast augmentation using your own fat in Moscow ranges from 100 to 250 thousand rubles . This is comparable to installing implants, but it should be remembered that to achieve the desired result, sometimes not one, but 2-4 lipofilling sessions are needed. On the other hand, the final result remains forever, and in the case of endoprostheses, they will need to be replaced after ~10 years.
It should also be taken into account that the figure announced in a particular clinic may or may not include additional services, such as anesthesia, the cost of hospital stay, compression garments, and observation by the attending physician in the postoperative period. These nuances must be discussed during the consultation.
↑ Reviews and opinions of experts:
| Penaev Arslan Agayevich plastic surgeon, doctor of medical sciences, head of the “Clinic of Doctor Penaev”: Breast lipofilling today does not cause any fears or doubts among either specialists or patients. Its technology is so well known, it is so skillfully used by plastic surgeons that there is no longer any speculation about safety and effectiveness. This operation has become a real alternative to endoprosthetics and has gained a strong position in breast reconstruction. Of course, we do not deny that there must be certain indications for lipofilling and that the augmentation capabilities of the technique are limited to 1-2 sizes, but this is the best solution for those who want to correct the shape of the breast and slightly enlarge it. Another undeniable advantage is that there is no need for incisions. We transplant fat tissue through punctures, which heal very well and leave no marks on the body. The only difficulty that a plastic surgeon may encounter is the presence of insufficient fat, because lipofilling is often performed on thin patients. But we also learned to solve this problem. No matter how thin a woman is, we will always get the required volume for transplantation in the donor areas. For a successful operation, it is important to have modern equipment with which you can pump out “living fat” and process it, as well as micro-instruments that allow you to carefully, without damaging the tissue, introduce our “building material” into the chest area. Adipose tissue takes root well - up to 80-85%. And if desired, the whole process can be repeated after 7-8 months, in which case we can talk about breast enlargement by 2-3 sizes. |
| Tvauri Anna Rostomovna plastic surgeon, candidate of medical sciences, head of the Triumph Palace clinic: We are seeing incredible demand for breast lipofilling in our clinic. This is primarily due to the fact that large busts have gone out of fashion - patients prefer a medium size and a natural appearance. Of course, you can get an implant for such a case, but this:
And lipofilling is carried out using the patient’s own fat – many people have this “good” in abundance. As a result, a woman can not only improve the shape and increase the volume of her breasts, but also correct problem areas of the body (abdomen, hips, buttocks). And all these benefits - without scars, only through micro-punctures, of which after some time there will be no trace left. Rehabilitation is also much easier than in the case of implants; there is no characteristic pain, feeling of extreme tension and pressure. The transplanted fat will not go anywhere - it will not dissolve, will not resolve. Thanks to new technologies, we have increased its survival rate to 85%. And so far, not one of our patients for whom we performed breast lipofilling has come with a complaint that the fat has resolved! |
FAQ:
How does adipose tissue implantation occur?
During breast augmentation with lipofilling, the surgeon inserts fatty tissue into the submammary space and under the skin of the mammary glands, which distributes the fat evenly and forms beautiful breasts. The lipofilling procedure does not cause the formation of scars and cicatrices; after it only small traces of punctures remain, which disappear after a few days.
Is it possible to have surgery if a woman has naturally healthy and beautiful breasts?
Typically, lipofilling of the mammary glands is indicated if a woman has a bust deformation, for example, after surgery for breast cancer, or if her breasts are asymmetrical or small. The procedure of breast augmentation with fat is necessary to correct the shape of the breast; implants are used to increase the size of healthy, non-deformed mammary glands.
What is not recommended to do the day before surgery?
The procedure for lipofilling of the mammary glands requires preparation: on the eve of the operation, you should not smoke, drink alcohol, sunbathe, or take drugs that reduce blood clotting, for example, aspirin. On the day of surgery, when there are 3-4 hours left before the procedure, heavy drinking and eating are prohibited, as this affects the safety of anesthesia. You should also avoid applying creams to your face and body.
Is one operation enough to achieve long-lasting aesthetic results?
One operation is usually not enough. The procedure often needs to be repeated 2-3 times, the interval between surgical interventions is at least 4 months. The desired result cannot be achieved immediately, since up to 30% of the fat does not survive.
Lipofilling of the mammary glands is performed under local anesthesia, or not?
Since the lipofilling procedure is performed simultaneously with liposuction, the patient is under general anesthesia. The correction procedure, adding fat cells to the mammary glands, is carried out under local anesthesia, the patient can leave the hospital an hour after the operation.
