Though breast augmentation remains the most popular cosmetic procedure in America, the number of explant (implant removal) surgeries performed each year is also rising. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the rate of breast implant removal jumped by 10 percent between the years 2010-2014. The ASPS also revealed that most women who choose to have their implants removed are between the ages of 30-54, which suggests that the evolution of the body shape over time and changing body preferences are probably driving this trend. As women mature, they often decide that what they loved when they were in their 20s no longer suits them. For some, breast implant removal is part of cultivating an updated look and adapting to the natural changes of the body over time.
Should I have Breast Implant Removal with Simultaneous Fat Transfer?
If you’re thinking about having your breast implants removed, you know there’s a lot to consider before you arrange a consultation. Breast implant removal on its own can leave the breasts looking droopy and deflated. Many women, therefore, choose to have an accompanying procedure to lift and fill their breasts. For instance, a breast lift performed in conjunction with explant surgery can restore the breasts to a more youthful position. Implants can also be replaced with new implants of a smaller size or different shape. Finally, there is another option that creates a natural, beautiful shape when performed during explant surgery: fat transfer.
Fat transfer is the process of using liposuction to harvest body fat from one part of the body, processing the fat for transfer, and then strategically injecting the fat into other locations (such as the breasts or buttocks) to enhance the fullness of the area. Enhancing the breasts with fat transfer during explant surgery is the perfect complement for women who want a fuller bust without implants. In some cases, this scarless technique can also eliminate the need for breast lift surgery. Breast implant removal with simultaneous fat transfer might be right for you if any of the following points apply:
You’re ready to downsize, but you don’t want to return to your original breast size.
Fat transfer will increase your breast size by about one cup. Liposuction can remove 5 to 8 pounds of fat, and some transferred fat breaks down after injection into the breasts. If your breasts were originally an A cup, for example, fat transfer will probably give you a perky B cup. Your skilled plastic surgeon can place the fat in precise locations to improve fullness and give you beautiful curves. This modest increase in size is just right for some women.
You want to make part of your body slimmer.
Before transferring fat to your breasts, Dr. Maida Parkins will need to remove unwanted fat from somewhere else on your body. Prior to arranging a consultation for this procedure, you should, therefore, choose an area you’d like to contour. Most people elect to have fat harvested from their belly or thighs, and other options may be available to you, depending on your body shape. However, if you have a very low body fat percentage, fat transfer may not be the best option for you.
You don’t like the way breast implants look or feel.
Modern silicone gel implants closely mimic the consistency of human breast tissue, but they’re not right for everyone. Women with very small natural breasts sometimes feel that implants create an unnaturally round look when combined with their anatomy. Other women don’t like the denseness of their implants or they experience complications, like implant shifting or capsular contracture. Fat transfer avoids these drawbacks and possible complications while still enhancing your cleavage.
You’re looking for permanent results.
Siliconee implants can last a very long time (up to two decades, in some cases), but they can require replacement at some point. Injected body fat, by contrast, can last a lifetime. When your surgeon carefully harvests and prepares the fat for transfer, the cells survive in their new location and will establish themselves permanently. For patients who would like to avoid the possibility of revision surgeries, fat transfer can offer a long-term solution to enhancing the bust.
Learn More About Breast Fat Transfer in Milwaukee
Whether you’re ready for an aesthetic change or you’d prefer a more natural alternative to silicone breast implants, fat transfer can help you achieve the shape you want when you have your implants removed. To learn more about the benefits of breast implant removal with simultaneous fat transfer, contact female plastic surgeon Dr. Maida Parkins in Milwaukee. Dr. Parkins will be happy to answer your questions and help you arrange a private consultation.
