Which Is Better: Breast Implants or Fat Transfer?

Once you decide it is time to surgically enhance your breasts, choosing between breast implants or a fat transfer to increase your chest size is the next big decision. 

Dr. George Sanders in Los Angeles, CA, offers individualized procedures to enlarge and reshape the breasts. 

What Is a Traditional Breast Augmentation?

Breast augmentation surgery increases breast size and adds fullness through saline or silicone implants. Dr. Sanders will place the implants under the chest muscles or breast tissue to add size and volume to the breasts. 

Silicone and saline implants come in a range of options, with variations in:

• Size
• Shape
• Texture
• Profile

You can choose the implant that best enhances your chest and overall figure based on your aesthetic goals. 

What Is a Natural Breast Augmentation?

Breast augmentation using fat transfer enlarges the breasts without silicone or saline implants. It is also known as natural breast augmentation. 

In natural breast augmentation, the surgeon removes fat from another body area through liposuction, typically from the abdomen, buttocks, or thighs. After removing the fat, it is washed and concentrated; then, the surgeon injects it into the breast. 

An increasing number of patients are choosing breast augmentation with fat transfer to increase their breast size and restore breast symmetry.

Why Do Patients Choose Breast Augmentation with Implants?

Inserting silicone or saline implants to augment the breasts is one of the world’s most popular plastic surgery procedures. 

Both implants use a silicone outer shell. However, saline implants are filled once inserted into the breast pockets. 

Silicone implants contain silicone gel. They are typically more popular, as they look and feel more natural than saline. 

Customizable Size and Shape

Silicone and saline implants allow you to choose a size and shape that suits your body type and aesthetic goals. In addition, the style and structure of the implant will enable you to customize the outcome of your augmentation, including the breasts’ fullness, elevation, projection, and contour.

Safe, Established Procedure

Breast augmentation is a long-established procedure, with the first silicone implants developed in 1962. In the U.S. alone, surgeons perform over 300,000 breast augmentation procedures yearly. 

Both silicone and saline implants have a long history of use and are considered safe with reliable results.

Long-Lasting Results

While breast implants are not permanent, they typically last for 15 to 20 years. As long as you do not experience any trauma or complications, implants offer a long-lasting solution. 

Additionally, implant replacement procedures generally require a shorter recovery period than the initial procedure.

Expense

Fat transfer augmentation requires two procedures to achieve the final results. First, you will have a liposuction procedure to remove the fat for transfer. Then, your surgeon will inject the processed fat into the breast tissue. It is typical to perform both procedures in a single session.

Inclusivity

Some patients are not candidates for breast augmentation through fat transfer. The procedure is ideal for those with excess fat in another body area; slim patients may lack enough fat to harvest.

In addition, if your ultimate goal is to increase your chest size by over a cup, you will likely need saline or silicone implants to achieve that outcome.

Why Do Patients Choose Breast Augmentation with Fat Transfer?

While inserting breast implants offers unique advantages, so does breast augmentation with fat transfer. Many patients who prefer a less dramatic increase in size choose fat transfer to reshape and enhance their breasts. It’s also useful for patients who wish to add cleavage, camouflage implant rippling, or soften the appearance of an implant.   

A More Natural Option

If you hope to avoid adding foreign materials to your body, you may prefer fat transfer, as it serves as a more natural option. In addition, the procedure offers a lower risk of rejection by using the body’s own fat. Additionally, there is no risk of bursting an implant due to an incident that causes trauma to the breasts, such as a car crash. 

Complete Body Contouring

While breast augmentation with fat transfer does not offer the more dramatic results achievable with implants, the procedure does provide extensive body contouring. If you have excess fat in certain areas, such as the abdomens or flanks, you can shape your figure while adding volume and size to your breasts.

As surgeons typically perform both procedures in one session, you can sculpt your overall figure with just one surgery.

A Less Invasive Procedure

While breast augmentation with fat transfer is a surgical procedure, it is not as invasive as placing implants. In addition, you may not require general anesthesia or large incisions. 

Many patients report less discomfort as they recover from the fat transfer procedure and have minimal, if any, scarring.

An Ideal Solution for Asymmetrical Breasts

If you have asymmetrical breasts, have had a lumpectomy, or hope to restore the shape of your breasts after breast cancer, you may benefit from a fat transfer, either in combination with implants or as a stand-alone procedure.

Discover the Ideal Breast Augmentation Procedure for Your Needs

Choosing the proper breast augmentation technique to meet your aesthetic goals requires understanding the benefits and drawbacks of each procedure. Dr. George Sanders uses the latest advancements in technology and techniques to mold your breasts into your preferred shape and size, enhancing your overall appearance. 

Learn more about breast augmentation surgery and take the next step to look and feel your best.