Like any procedure that requires incisions, fat transfer breast augmentation scars are possible – to some degree.
A breast fat transfer can typically involve less extensive incisions than with a breast augmentation using implants, which can mean that less scarring will result. The procedure generally involves small incisions for liposuction and a small injection site on the breasts.
Apart from the specific placement of the incisions, scars can also depend on your individual healing and how well you care for your incisions after your procedure.
In this blog, we’ll discuss where you can expect scarring to be, how they may look and how you can minimise their visibility as much as possible.
How is a breast fat transfer performed, and where will incisions be placed?
Any fat transfer breast augmentation scars will appear where incisions were placed during the procedure.
To perform a breast fat transfer, liposuction is first used to harvest fat from areas of the body where you have excess. This could be on your thighs, buttocks or another area. The incisions required for liposuction are typically quite small, as they are only needed to allow your surgeon to insert the small cannula. The small incisions can also be placed in strategic, discreet areas where possible, minimising the scar’s visibility.
The fat is then purified before being carefully injected into the breasts to achieve a subtle or moderate increase in volume and minor change in shape. The incisions required for fat injection are even smaller in the breast area. A fine needle or cannula is used to inject the purified fat into the breasts, which normally only requires an opening of just a few millimetres.
Because the process uses your own fat and doesn’t place breast implants, it is often referred to as a natural breast augmentation. Not only does it create more subtle results, but it can also involve quite minimal post-procedure scarring.
To find out exactly where your incisions will be placed and what they may look like, you can discuss your procedure plan with Dr Rastogi during your consultation process in Sydney.
What influences the visibility of scarring after a breast fat transfer?
While the placement and size of the incisions will directly influence the visibility of fat transfer breast augmentation scars, there are some other factors that can come into play.
The appearance of scarring can vary depending on factors like your skin type, genetics, and how well you care for the incision sites during recovery.
Some patients may be predisposed to forming more visible scars due to skin type and genetics, such as raised or darker scars known as hypertrophic scars or keloids. If you know that you have a predisposition to more visible scarring, you should let Dr Rastogi know during your consultation.
Each patient can also naturally heal differently and at different speeds. Typically, incisions are most visible straight after surgery and can fade quite significantly over time, but some patients may find that scars are more visible after the initial healing process. At the same time, other patients may find that scars fade to an extent that they become barely visible over time.
Supporting your body’s overall healing process and properly caring for your incision sites can also influence the visibility of scarring.
How to minimise scars after your breast fat transfer procedure
While some level of scarring after any surgical procedure is inevitable, there are steps you can take to help minimise their appearance.
Firstly, proper incision care will help to prevent infection, which can prolong healing and worsen scarring if it occurs. Caring for incisions will typically include keeping them clean and dry, as well as protecting them with bandages, and following steps to avoid applying pressure to the incision sites. Dr Rastogi may also recommend applying creams to the area or taking antibiotics to further prevent infection.
If you do notice any signs of infection, such as inflammation or puss around the incision sites, treating the infection immediately can still prevent scarring from becoming more noticeable. You should contact our team as soon as possible if you suspect an infection has occurred.
While your body is healing, making sure that you avoid smoking, follow a healthy diet and get plenty of rest can also help. Taking care of your general health can support the overall healing process, including how well incisions heal.
Once the incision sites have completely closed up and healed, you can use further scar-minimising treatments, if you prefer. For example, silicone scar sheets or gels can significantly help to fade scars when used correctly. However, we recommend seeking Dr Rastogi’s advice before using any additional scar treatment.
It’s also a good idea to protect your skin from excessive UV ray exposure. If your scars are exposed to UV rays, they can potentially become darker and more noticeable over time. You should cover up the areas with clothing or apply a high SPF sunscreen once the incisions are fully healed, before going outside.
When you have your consultation, you can receive more detailed advice on how to care for your incisions and manage scars after your breast fat transfer. Essentially, following these instructions carefully will help you minimise scarring as much as possible.
See Dr Rastogi for a breast fat transfer (natural breast augmentation) in Sydney
If you would like more advice on how to minimise scars after a breast fat transfer, you will be able to ask any questions you may have during your consultation with Dr Rastogi.
A consultation will allow Dr Rastogi to plan a detailed and personalised procedure, identifying where fat will be taken from and how incisions will be placed. He can also provide you with recovery instructions to help your body heal, prevent infection at incision sites, and reduce scarring where possible.
Please feel free to get in touch with our team to book your consultation!
