Fat Injection Breast Augmentation

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am writing concerning liposuction and fat grafting into my breasts. (fat injection breast augmentation) I am curious as to if this surgery could be performed by mid April if I were to schedule immediately. I am 18 and my high school prom is April 30, so I was wanting this as soon as possible. Also, can liposuction incisions be made through previously existing laparoscopic scars? Thank you.

A: The first question about your potential procedure is whether you are a good candidate for breast augmentation by fat injections. The key question is whether you have enough fat to harvest to create enough of a breast size increase to justify the procedure. While the operation is understandably appealing, few women are actually good candidates for it…they either don’t have enough fat to harvest (it takes a lot more than most people think) or their breast size increase goals are not realistic with what fat grafting can achieve. (usually about a half cup size is the typical outcome) Thus it it important to understand that breast implants and fat grafting are not really interchangeable procedures in terms of their outcome.

There are a variety of secondary issues that are also relevant. If you have the procedure by mid-April you would be barely recovered to go to a prom by April 30th. Also more small incisions would be needed to harvest fat than just that from laparoscopic scars. That is because abdominal liposuction alone is unlikely to have enough fat in most people to do a worthwhile fat injection breast augmentation procedure.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana