Dr. Afifi's Journey into Breast Fat Transfer: GOT FAT?

Fat transfer to the breast is an exciting and still relatively new procedure that Dr. Ghada Afifi has specialized in for years. Years ago, there were concerns in the plastic surgery community that fat transfer to the breast would be mistaken for cancer on mammograms and cause unnecessary biopsies. This concern has now been shown overwhelmingly by the radiology community NOT to be true. Radiologists can and do tell the difference between suspicious areas and scar tissue from surgery or fat transfer.

If you are interested in a more natural, less invasive breast enlargement, consult with our plastic surgeon!

Years before it became popular, Dr. Afifi started to transfer fat from undesirable areas such as the flanks (so-called "love handles") to the buttocks to give a more curvy, shapely appearance to her patients. She is now specialized in this procedure and countless patients have been transformed by this procedure, now popularly known as the "Brazilian Butt Lift."

Dr. Afifi then encountered an originally small group of patients that either wanted:

1) To remove breast implants due to recurrent problems such as hardening of the scar tissue around the implants, otherwise known as "capsule contracture," but still wished to have volume in their breasts.

2) To have increased fullness of their breasts, but didn't want to have any breast implants placed at all.

Her initial patients had liposuction of areas done and had excess fat, and wished to have their breast implants removed, so she devised a modified technique in which small volumes of fat were carefully transferred in an artistic manner to the breast, almost "sculpting" a prettier breast shape after scar tissue was removed. This proved to be quite successful.

Dr. Afifi then had other patients that wished to have breast enlargement but without implants. They also wished liposuction, so it was a natural step - after confirming that fat transfer did not cause any development of cancer and was safe - to then transfer fat to the breast - a "natural breast enlargement."

Thus she started asking her patient's "Got fat?" - a humorous take on the "got milk?" that she heard from her young son.

Now fat transfer to the breasts is a common option that is presented to all her patients who both had excess fat in areas that they didn't want and asked for breast enlargement. She has touched base with her fat transfer patients for years and her fat transfer "take" or fat survival averages at 75 to 85%, more than the average.

So, if patients desire increased fullness in her breasts and ask for implants, she is happy to discuss all that breast implants have to offer, but she will also add to her consultations, "Got fat?"

GENERAL INFORMATION FROM AMERICAN SOCIETY OF PLASTIC SURGEONS:

Fat transfer to breasts also known as auto augmentation uses liposuction to take fat from other parts of your body and transfers it into your breasts. This is a natural breast augmentation option for women who desire increases in their breast volume but prefer natural results, without use of breast implants.

Fat transfer to breast augmentation includes some risks:

Cysts
Infection
Microcalcification
Necrosis (death) of fat cells
The possibility that some of the transferred fat cells will leave the breast area

These risks are generally low. Patients also need to realize that stable weight is preferred in order to have stable results overall, as notable weight fluctuations may affect results.

Significant research on fat transfer breast augmentation has been done:

Breast augmentation involves many choices. The first and most important is selecting a board-certified plastic surgeon you can trust who is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

ASPS member surgeons meet rigorous standards:

Board certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery® (ABPS) or in Canada by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada®
Complete at least six years of surgical training following medical school with a minimum of three years of plastic surgery residency training
Pass comprehensive oral and written exams
Graduate from an accredited medical school
Complete continuing medical education, including patient safety, each year
Perform surgery in accredited, state-licensed, or Medicare-certified surgical facilities

Do not be confused by other official-sounding boards and certifications. The ABPS is recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), which has approved medical specialty boards since 1934. There is no ABMS recognized certifying board with "cosmetic surgery" in its name. By choosing a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, you can be assured that you are choosing a qualified, highly-trained plastic surgeon who is board-certified by the ABPS.

Dr. Afifi is an ASPS member. Between this certification and her expertise in breast fat transfer, she can expertly assist you in achieving your natural breast enlargement goals. To schedule a consultation and see how fat transfer can best serve you, call her today!

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