Ask a Surgeon - Fat Injection - I am wondering why one's own body fat can't be used for breast...

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I am wondering why one's own body fat can't be used for breast enlargement?

Q:

I am wondering why one's own body fat can't be used for breast enlargement?

A:

Many people ask if plastic surgeons can use the fat obtained from liposuction to enlarge or fill other areas of the body. We often use this fat in the face, but usually in relatively small amounts. Occasionally, fat is injected into areas of contour irregularity in other parts of the body. Again, however, the volume used is relatively small. The problem with using the fat in the breast is that it would require a large volume. This makes it difficult for the fat to get a blood supply from the surrounding tissue and actually "live." The fat may then fibrose, or turn into scar tissue, which can form lumps and sometimes calcify. This makes the examination of the breasts for malignant tumors difficult. So, interference with the detection of possible breast tumors is a major deterrent from using suctioned fat in the breast area. Living fat, based on some sort of blood supply or piece of living tissue or muscle, is often used, however, for breast reconstruction after mastectomy or other reconstructive surgery. These are called flap reconstructions, involve major surgery , and are not usually used for breast augmentation alone.