The List of Hospitals for Autologous Fat Breast Augmentation in New York City
Autologous fat breast augmentation is a popular cosmetic procedure that uses a patient's own fat cells to enhance breast size and shape. In New York City, there are several hospitals and clinics that offer this service. This article will explore the top facilities and important aspects of autologous fat breast augmentation.
What is Autologous Fat Breast Augmentation?
Autologous fat breast augmentation, also known as fat transfer breast augmentation, is a revolutionary cosmetic procedure. It involves using the patient's own fat cells to enhance the breast size and shape, providing a more youthful and natural appearance and feel compared to traditional breast implants.
The procedure typically consists of three main steps:
- Preparation (Optional): Some patients may use a tissue expansion system, like the brava system, for several weeks before the actual surgery. This device employs gentle suction to gradually expand the breast tissue, creating an optimal environment for the fat transfer by increasing blood supply and stimulating new tissue growth.
- Fat Harvesting: Excess fat is removed from donor sites on the patient's body, such as the abdomen, thighs, flanks, etc., using a gentle liposuction technique. This step not only provides the necessary fat for transfer but also offers the added benefit of body contouring.
- Breast Fat Transfer: The harvested fat undergoes a purification process to separate viable fat cells from excess fluids and debris. Then, the purified fat is carefully injected into various layers of the breast tissue using advanced techniques to achieve natural - looking, long - lasting results.
Benefits of Autologous Fat Breast Augmentation
- Natural Look and Feel: Since it uses the patient's own fat, the results look and feel completely natural.
- Minimally Invasive: The procedure involves only tiny incisions, resulting in minimal scarring.
- Customizable: Fat can be precisely injected to achieve the desired breast shape and size.
- Potential Stem Cell Benefits: Fat transfer may introduce stem cells that can improve skin quality.
- Safer Alternative: There is no risk of implant - related complications such as rupture or capsular contracture.
- Dual Contouring: It enhances the natural shape of the breasts while slimming down donor areas.
- Long - Lasting Results: With proper technique and aftercare, results can be long - lasting.
Top Hospitals and Clinics in New York City for Autologous Fat Breast Augmentation
Murray Hill Plastic Surgery & Vein Center
At Murray Hill Plastic Surgery & Vein Center, Dr. Sabry, a board - certified plastic surgeon, is at the forefront of autologous breast augmentation with fat transfer. He combines advanced fat transfer methods with cutting - edge tissue expansion technology to offer patients a truly natural alternative to traditional breast implants.
Procedure Details:
- Results: Fat transfer breast augmentation typically yields a gain of up to one cup size on average. With their innovative brava system, patients can achieve more significant results in a single surgery. However, the outcome can be somewhat unpredictable as not all transferred fat cells survive, and the body may reabsorb a portion of them. Multiple sessions may be required to reach the desired outcome.
- Anesthesia: The surgery can be performed using either local or general anesthesia, depending on the patient's preferences and medical history.
- Recovery: The healing process is generally quicker and more comfortable compared to traditional breast augmentation. Most patients can return to light activities within a few days. They need to wear a special bra and compression garment on the donor sites for several weeks. Discomfort is usually mild and can be managed with over - the - counter pain medication. Final results develop over several months as the transferred fat establishes a blood supply.
- Ideal Candidates: Women who desire a modest increase in breast size (up to one cup size), have adequate excess fat in donor areas, prefer a natural alternative to breast implants, are in good overall health, have realistic expectations, are willing to use the brava system before surgery, are not planning to become pregnant in the near future, and have good skin elasticity in the breast area.
- Cost: The average cost typically ranges from $8,000 to $15,000, but it can vary based on factors such as the complexity of the procedure, the amount of fat transfer required, facility fees, anesthesia costs, and pre - operative tests and post - operative care. The use of the brava system can add $2,000 to $3,000 to the overall cost.
Aristocrat Plastic Surgery
Dr. Kevin Tehrani at Aristocrat Plastic Surgery is an expert in breast fat injection, an autologous fat transfer procedure. This minimally invasive technique is a great option for women who want a moderate increase in breast size and also wish to reduce pockets of fat in other areas of the body.
Procedure Details:
- Candidates: Ideal candidates are women seeking a modest increase in breast volume with a natural appearance, having sufficient excess body fat (usually in the abdomen or thighs), being in good overall health, non - smokers, and having realistic expectations about the outcome. Women who want to increase their breast size beyond one cup size are recommended to consider breast augmentation with implants.
- Procedure Steps:
- Consultation: Dr. Tehrani discusses the patient's goals, assesses candidacy, explains risks and benefits, reviews medical history, and performs a physical examination.
- Pre - operative Preparations: Patients are given instructions on diet, exercise, and medications to avoid before surgery.
- Liposuction: Excess fat is harvested from donor areas under local or general anesthesia using a cannula and a vacuum machine.
- Fat Processing: The collected fat is processed to separate impurities, excess fluids, and damaged fat cells from healthy ones.
- Injection into the Breasts: The purified fat is injected into various areas of the breasts through small incisions to achieve the desired size and shape.
- Recovery: Patients may be fitted with a compression garment to reduce swelling. Most can return home the same day but should arrange for a driver. Post - operative care includes taking prescribed medications, wearing the compression garment, and avoiding strenuous activities. Swelling and bruising will subside over time, and the final results may not be immediately apparent as some injected fat may be absorbed. Multiple sessions may be required.
Mount Sinai - New York
Mount Sinai offers autologous breast reconstruction, which can also be related to breast enhancement using the patient's own tissue. Their surgeons have experience in advanced techniques like the deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap microvascular reconstruction.
Procedure Details:
- Autologous Breast Reconstruction: This approach takes a piece of skin and fat (a “flap”) from one site on the body (such as the abdomen or thighs) and transfers it to the chest to reconstruct the breast after mastectomy. It offers advantages such as being a single - procedure that lasts a lifetime (as it uses the patient's own natural tissue), having less chance of rejection or infection compared to implant reconstruction, looking more natural, and having a higher likelihood of regaining breast sensation.
- DIEP Flap Procedure: A newer and more advanced approach that completely avoids any muscle transfer and only involves the use of skin and fat. The surgeon removes a section of skin and fat from the lower abdominal roll and transfers it to the chest to rebuild the breast while preserving all abdominal muscles. It also results in a “tummy tuck” effect. However, it's not suitable for every patient. Candidates must want autologous reconstruction after mastectomy, have sufficient fat tissue in the lower abdomen, and not have had certain types of abdominal surgery previously.
New York City Liposuction Specialty Clinic
This clinic offers fat transfer breast augmentation, which can increase breast size by up to 2 cups. They have a surgeon with the skills to transfer the patient's own fat to reshape the waistline and enhance the breast region.
Procedure Details:
- Steps:
- Liposuction: The surgeon extracts fat deposits using tumescent liposuction. For more complex cases in multiple body areas, general anesthesia may be used; for minor volumes, mild sedation might be preferred.
- Fat Purification: The lipo aspirate is processed to isolate pure and intact fat cells from other fluids.
- Fat Injection: The fat is injected into the breasts using special devices and techniques to preserve the integrity of the fat cells.
- Candidates: Ideal candidates include women who have had children and experienced breast sagging, those having breast implant removal, patients who want to restore lost breast fullness or a moderate size increase, and those with good skin elasticity and sufficient fatty tissue in other areas of the body. Younger patients with small breasts and no additional skin to hold the transferred fat are not good candidates, but the clinic has used the brava system for some highly motivated clients.
- Advantages: Breast enlargement using natural filler, no need for implants, rapid return to usual activities, no incisions (only small needle entry), avoidance of direct surgery risks and scarring, and no decrease in nipple sensation or compromise to future breastfeeding.
- Recovery: After surgery, there may be bruising and swelling that should subside within 1 to 3 weeks. Strenuous exercise should be avoided during this time. The recovery time depends on the extent of the procedure.
Dr. Kolker's Practice
Dr. Kolker offers fat transfer breast augmentation as an alternative to traditional breast implants for select individuals. His approach focuses on achieving small increases in breast size for patients who also have areas of fat excess.
Procedure Details:
- Candidates: Women who desire an increase in breast volume of approximately one - quarter of a cup size, have sufficient fat elsewhere for harvesting, a body mass index (BMI) below 25 kg/m², a normal mammogram, and no personal or family history of breast disease are ideal candidates.
- Procedure: It incorporates liposuction to harvest fat cells and a fat grafting procedure to transfer the fat to the breasts. Dr. Kolker assesses anatomic contour during the initial consultation and identifies areas of excess fat for harvesting. He aspirates the fat by hand to maximize fat graft “take” and carefully transfers it through small needle sites to the breast.
- Benefits: No breast incision (only needle access sites), no need for implant “maintenance” as the results are long - lasting after graft “take”, no breast implant “downsides” like leak or capsular contracture, and the opportunity to sculpt and contour areas of fat excess through liposuction.
- Limitations: Only small volume increases can be anticipated. If a patient hopes for a ¼ to ½ cup - size increase or greater, breast implant surgery is recommended. Multiple procedures may be required for more substantial size increases, and there may be irregularities in the fat donor site or lumps in the breasts that can confound mammography.
New York Group for Plastic Surgery
This group offers breast augmentation through autologous fat transfer. They provide a comprehensive consultation process to help patients make informed decisions.
Procedure Details:
- Consultation: During the private consultation at their NYC or Tarrytown locations, board - certified plastic surgeons discuss breast augmentation options, how the procedure will be performed, and what patients can expect from the results. Patients can ask questions about implants, risks, and complications. Surgeons ask health - related questions and perform a physical examination to confirm candidacy.
- Procedure: Fat is removed from a region of the body with excess fat tissues using liposuction, processed and purified, and then injected strategically into the breasts. This method can increase the breasts by one full cup size and has the benefit of being completely natural, with the surviving fat lasting indefinitely.
- Recovery: Autologous fat transfer has a shorter recovery timeline as it is a less invasive procedure. Patients are required to wear a compression bra and limit strenuous activities. Most patients feel comfortable returning to work after a few days, and residual bruising and swelling typically resolve in as little as two weeks.
Comparison of Autologous Fat Breast Augmentation and Breast Implants
Aspect | Autologous Fat Breast Augmentation | Breast Implants |
---|---|---|
Appearance and Feel | Natural look and feel as it uses the patient's own fat | Silicone implants mimic natural breast tissues well, but some may have a firmer or less natural feel depending on the type |
Size Increase | Typically up to one or two cup sizes, with results that can be somewhat unpredictable due to fat reabsorption | Can provide more significant and predictable size increases, suitable for larger desired enhancements |
Complications | Lower risk of implant - related complications such as rupture or capsular contracture, but there is a risk of fat cell death, cysts, and infection | Potential risks include implant rupture, capsular contracture, changes in nipple or breast sensations |
Recovery | Generally quicker and less invasive, with less pain and a shorter time to return to normal activities | Longer recovery time, with more soreness and a longer period of avoiding strenuous activities |
Cost | Cost can range from $8,000 - $15,000 or more, depending on various factors and may include the cost of additional devices like the brava system | Cost varies depending on the type of implant and other factors, and may also require future replacement |
Considerations Before Undergoing Autologous Fat Breast Augmentation
- Health Assessment: It's crucial to be in good overall health before the procedure. A comprehensive medical history review and physical examination should be conducted to ensure there are no underlying health issues that could affect the surgery or recovery.
- Realistic Expectations: Understand that autologous fat breast augmentation may not provide a dramatic increase in breast size, and multiple sessions may be needed to achieve the desired outcome. Results may also vary from person to person due to factors like fat survival rate.
- Surgeon Selection: Choose a board - certified plastic surgeon with extensive experience in autologous fat breast augmentation. Look at their before - and - after photos, patient testimonials, and professional reputation.
- Pre - operative Preparation: Follow the pre - operative instructions provided by the surgeon, which may include diet and exercise guidelines, avoiding certain medications, and discontinuing smoking. Also, arrange for someone to accompany you on the day of surgery and help with recovery at home.
Conclusion
Autologous fat breast augmentation is a viable and attractive option for women in New York City who wish to enhance their breast size and shape in a natural way. With the availability of several top - notch hospitals and clinics, patients have a range of choices to select from based on their specific needs and preferences. The key is to choose a qualified surgeon, have realistic expectations, and follow the pre - and post - operative instructions carefully.
If you're considering autologous fat breast augmentation, take the time to research different facilities and surgeons. Schedule consultations to discuss your goals and concerns, and make an informed decision. Don't hesitate to reach out to the experts in New York City to start your journey towards achieving your desired breast appearance.