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What is Breast Lipomodelling?

Lipomodelling (or fat transfer) in breast surgery is the surgical procedure of injecting the patient’s own fat into the breasts to reshape them. Lipomodelling can be done to all parts of the body.


 

Where does the fat come from?

Only the patient’s own superficial fat (beneath the skin) can be used, so they must have some to begin with. Common areas for harvesting fat are the flanks, inner thighs and anterior abdomen.


 


How do you get the fat out?

To harvest small volumes of fat the patient can be awake, and they are numbed, but for larger areas patients are normally asleep. Fluid is injected into the harvest site and then the fat gently suctioned out using special cannulas inserted under the skin via small stab incisions (cuts). 


 


What happens to the fat outside the body?

The fat is processed after removal. This can be anything from simply standing the fat and allowing it to separate from the fluid, to washing the fat and spinning the fat in a centrifuge. 


 

How is the fat injected?

Large blunt tip needles are inserted via a number of small cuts in more hidden locations (e.g. the breast crease) to inject the fat in long lines, like spaghetti.


 

Is it successful?

Yes, but on average only around 40-60% of the injected fat survives. Also, the amount that can be injected in one go is limited as too much in one place will not survive. Most patients will therefore require several lipofilling procedures, which can be costly. The shape of the breast will be a more natural ski-sloped shape, as lipofilling does not tend to be as effective in filling the upper poles of the breasts when compared to implants. Lipofilling can be combined with implants to achieve a desired outcome.

Breast Lipomodelling

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