Great Expectations

By: Ms Angelica Kavouni
Created on 09th November 2009

Recycling your own fat to get an increased cleavage sounds like a dream come true. As fat grafting to breasts hits the news we ask London's leading female cosmetic plastic surgeon Ms Angelica Kavouni to fill us in

Fat grafting to breasts is not a new procedure; some surgeons have been performing it for years however until now the results have been somewhat unpredictable with uneven fat breakdown and the development of lumps.

Perfected in New York, the current method used to graft fat into breasts produces great, natural results with very few problems which is an exciting breakthrough. For years we have known that fat does not like to be handled so the key to a successful fat transfer procedure is to keep fat cell disturbance to a minimum.

This new fat removal process is much less aggressive than in conventional fat removal and the cannulae used to place the fat into the breasts are tiny.

This surgery though is not a quick fix as the fat cannot be inserted quickly and it can take up to six hours or longer to complete the transfer.

The breasts can be increased by one or two cup sizes so fat transfer is not the answer for glamour model wannabes but it is an effective solution for women seeking some cleavage; those with small underdeveloped breasts who dream of a modest increase and women with empty breasts post baby.

Will fat grafting affect breast screening?
Part of the reason for injecting the fat slowly through a tiny needle is to prevent the fat clumping and becoming lumpy. Even if lumps are felt during a manual breast examination, a mammogram will rule out any suspicious lumps.

Is the cup increase permanent?
It does seem that the results are long term - if not permanent, which is great news. Of course this procedure is relatively new so it will be interesting to see how much volume remains after 20 years.

Can this procedure be undertaken by women with breast implants?
Yes, absolutely as long as your surgeon is experienced. The fat is not injected into the implant pocket but can be placed around the implant to add bulk. Some very thin women can find that the edges of their implant become visible or complain of ‘rippling' - in these cases fat transfer has proven of great benefit.

How much does it cost?
Expect to pay above £8,000 for this procedure as it is very technical and takes a great deal of time and skill to achieve the very precise contouring.

What's best - fat transfer or breast implants?
This is simply a personal choice and you must do your research thoroughly prior to consultation with a surgeon.

CS&AM