Natural Breast Augmentation

Natural Breast Augmentation: Achieving Larger Breasts without Implants

You're likely aware of breast augmentation procedures involving implants, such as silicone or saline. But did you know there's a non-implant breast augmentation method? Natural breast augmentation, also known as fat transfer breast augmentation, offers a way to enhance breast size and shape without the need for foreign body implants. At Athēnix, we specialize in breast augmentation with implants as well as the minimally invasive technique of natural breast augmentation using your own fat.

Overview FAQs for Natural Breast Augmentation

What exactly is natural breast augmentation?

Natural breast augmentation is a procedure where our surgeons increase your breast size without using any foreign implanted materials. Instead, we extract fat from another area of your body and use it to enhance your breast size. This procedure provides a dual benefit - it allows us to utilize liposuction to reduce fat in an area you want to slim down while simultaneously increasing breast volume.

What are the benefits of natural breast augmentation?

One benefit of natural breast augmentation is that you can have larger breasts without having a foreign body implanted. For some people, this is an important consideration. If you do not have any foreign object put inside your body, you have a smaller chance of infection and no chance of a ruptured implant. Another benefit of natural breast augmentation is that this augmentation is basically scarless, since the fat is placed by injection only. Additionally, since we do not need to make incisions to place the fat, we are often able to use a lighter form of anesthesia. This is a benefit because procedures that involve general anesthesia often mean it’s a longer time before the patient can return home. In most cases we do not need to use general anesthesia with natural breast augmentation, so patients can usually go home more quickly. You can also reasonably expect to return to your normal daily activities faster with natural breast augmentation, compared to with surgical implants.

What are the disadvantages of natural breast augmentation?

Natural breast augmentation is not suitable for individuals seeking a substantial increase in breast size. Typically, this method results in an approximate one-cup size increase. If you desire a more significant increase, saline or silicone implants may be a more appropriate option.

Where will you take the fat from, if I have natural breast augmentation?

We usually extract fat from the thighs, abdominal area, or buttocks. We'll work with you to determine the most suitable area for fat transfer breast augmentation.

What happens to the fat before you use it for natural breast augmentation?

After extracting fat from your chosen area using our liposuction techniques, we process the fat to transform it into a liquid suitable for breast injection. This process also ensures clean and well-prepped fat cells for the procedure. The liquid fat is then placed into your breasts in tiny drops.

Common Patient FAQs about Natural Breast Augmentation

Am I a good candidate for fat transfer breast augmentation?

The best way to determine if natural breast augmentation is suitable for you is to schedule a consultation. In general, good candidates for this procedure:

• Are in good overall health
• Are non-smokers
• Seek a small to moderate increase in breast size or have breast shape irregularities or asymmetry
• Have realistic expectations regarding the results of the procedure

What is the cost of natural breast augmentation vs. breast augmentation with implants?

Generally, natural breast augmentation may be somewhat more expensive than augmentation with implants. The higher cost is due to the inclusion of liposuction to remove fat as part of the natural breast augmentation procedure. However, the exact cost varies from case to case, so please contact us for more detailed pricing information.

I've heard that some of the transferred fat could be absorbed back into my body, reducing the size of my augmentation. Is this true?

Yes, it's true that some of the fat cells we place in your breasts may be absorbed by your body. Many patients experience the reabsorption of approximately 20-40% of the injected fat. We account for this during the planning phase to determine the amount of fat to inject. It's important not to expect your appearance immediately after surgery to be your final result. In addition to fat reabsorption, you will also experience a reduction in swelling as you heal. Your final breast appearance will become more apparent as you recover from natural breast augmentation.

What is the recovery like after fat transfer breast augmentation?

Most patients find the recovery after natural breast augmentation to be quite manageable. Those with sedentary jobs, like office workers, often return to work within 3 or 4 days. Individuals with more physically demanding jobs may require about a week before they can resume activities. While you may experience some swelling and discomfort following the procedure, recovery is generally easier compared to breast implant surgery.

In addition to breast healing, you will also experience recovery from the liposuction procedure used for fat transfer. Liposuction recovery may take longer than breast augmentation recovery. Depending on the area from which fat was extracted, you may be provided with a compression garment for support. However, we typically do not require a compression garment over your breasts as it may compress the newly augmented breast tissue.

Will my activities be restricted after natural breast augmentation?

After natural breast augmentation, we will ask you to limit some types of activity for a few weeks while you heal. You’ll be able to do most of your daily activities, but should avoid sleeping on your stomach and vigorous exercise like running or lifting. Any discomfort in your breasts should decrease within the first week after the procedure. However, the fat donation site (where we perform liposuction) may be sore for a few weeks. This can be the limiting factor in how quickly you return to more intense activities like sports or lifting your kids.

Natural breast augmentation using fat transfer can be a great option for people who want a moderate increase in breast size, or those looking to correct asymmetry or irregularities in their breast shape. We would be happy to answer any questions you have in person at our Los Angeles location, other locations, or online, so please contact us if you’d like to learn more about how this option may help you improve your body shape and self-confidence.