• Anesthesia:
    General / Local with sedation
  • Duration:
    3 hours
  • Pain level:
    3/10
  • Recovery time:
    7 to 14 days
  • Resuming physical activities:
    4 to 6 weeks

Breast fat grafting (lipofilling) removes fat from one area of your body and then reinjects it into your breasts. This surgery is an excellent alternative for patients who do not want to use breast implants to increase the size or enhance the shape of their breasts.

Whether you have lost volume in the breasts after having children, are seeing deflation due to aging, or never loved your breast size, breast fat grafting can offer you a very natural breast enhancement. Additionally, it can help shape and contour other areas of the body, such as the abdomen, back, flanks, and thighs, improving body proportions and defining your curves.

Patients who are good candidates for this procedure:

  • Looking for a natural augmentation
  • Have areas of excess fat on their body
  • No significant medical problems
  • Non-smokers
  • Want to increase the size of their breasts by ~ 1 cup
  • Want to avoid scars on their breast
  • Want to avoid an implant in their body

Patients who are poor candidates for this procedure:

  • Very thin patients
  • Smokers
  • Significant medical problems
  • Want to significantly increase their breast size (> than 1 cup size)

Are you a good candidate?

Our Self-Evaluation Quiz can help you decide if breast fat grafting is the right procedure for you.

Techniques for Breast Fat Grafting

During your breast fat grafting procedure, Dr. Gdalevitch will perform liposuction to harvest fat from other areas of your body while focusing on contouring and defining the body’s silhouette. Once the fat is collected, it is purified and prepared into a type of “purée” that contains concentrated fat and stem cells.

Dr. Gdalevitch then strategically injects the fat into the breasts, giving the cells a maximum chance of survival. Not all fat cells will survive the transfer process, which is always considered when injecting. Depending on your breast goals, fat can be injected to either enhance your cleavage, create more upper fullness, correct asymmetries, or define a natural, round breast shape.

Discover the procedure through live surgeries

Breast lipofilling presentation

Breast augmentation with fat grafting

Consent for breast lipofilling

Pre op instructions for breast lipofilling

At Phi Plastic Surgery, we believe that a beautiful body can take many shapes and sizes. The Phi philosophy centers on respecting your body's proportions and helping you let your inner beauty shine.

We offer our patients the best, most advanced techniques to help them achieve their aesthetic goals.

Pre-op & post-op instructions

These pre-surgical and post-surgical instructions are provided as essential services for you. Please follow the instructions carefully to ensure optimum results. If there are instructions that need to be clarified, please feel free to contact our office as soon as possible. If some instructions are not followed, your surgery could be delayed if deemed necessary by your surgeon.

Pre-op INSTRUCTIONS

ONE MONTH before your surgery

  • Stop using contraceptive pills or hormone therapy.
  • A pre-operative visit (if necessary) approximately one month before your surgery will be scheduled to review your goals and provide you with additional information regarding your surgery.

THREE WEEKS before your surgery

  • Stop all consumption of collagen.
  • Complete your pre-operative tests. Be sure to complete all prescribed pre-operative tests (ECG blood tests, etc.). If your tests’ medical results and clearances are received on time, your surgery may be completed on time.
  • Prepare your surgery date: Plan to ensure a stress-free experience. Arrange your work leave and special assistance to help you with a ride home. Prepare your return by organizing meals, delivery, babysitting, etc. Make sure you have someone scheduled to accompany you home after your surgery. Someone should also be on-call to help you during the first 24 hours after your surgery.

TWO WEEKS before your surgery

  • Stop the consumption of anti-inflammatory drugs.
  • Aspirin, drugs containing aspirin or any anticoagulants such as Arixtra pf, clopidogrel, Plavix, coumadin, dalteparin, edoxaban, eliquis, apixaban, enoxaparin, Fragmin pfsyringe, lepirudin, Pradaxa, dabigatran etexilate, Xarelto, rivaroxaban.
  • A pre-operative visit (if necessary) approximately two weeks before your surgery will be scheduled to review your goals and provide you with additional information regarding your surgery.

SEVEN DAYS before your surgery

  • Stop taking any supplements or medications from the list below. These products can increase the risk of bleeding and other complications. Stop consuming any non-prescribed supplements, including: Omega 3-6, nutricap, echinacea, glucosamine, fat burners, St. John’s wort.
  • Confirm your surgical support plan: This includes your transportation and post-surgical care, including an adult family member or a friend on-call for your support 24 hours after your surgery.
  • Purchase any prescription provided by Dr. Gdalevitch (If applicable) and revise your pre-surgical instructions.

The day BEFORE your surgery

Prepare a bag. It should include the following:

  • All necessary papers
  • Your identification (RAMQ card)
  • Prescription Drugs
  • Glasses if necessary
  • Confirm who will assist you for the first 24 hours after surgery.
  • Take a shower. Use a non-perfumed soap. Wash your hair. Do not put cream or lotions. Do not put deodorants, hair products, perfumes, or makeup on.
  • Remove any nail varnish (even if transparent) from your hands and feet, including shellac, resin, gel or acrylic. All this reduces the risk of post-surgical infections, and nails are monitored for blood circulation.
  • Do not eat or drink dark liquids for 8 hours before your surgery. Do not drink any light liquids 6 hours before your surgery. Anything you eat can cause the cancellation of your surgery and increase the risks associated with surgery and anesthesia. This includes sweets, mints, chewing gum, tea or coffee. You can take a minimal amount of water after brushing your teeth or taking medication.
  • Relax. Enjoy a good night’s sleep and avoid stress.

YOUR SURGERY DAY

  • If you wish to have oral sedation, do not eat or drink 4 hours before the surgery. Present yourself at the time confirmed to you by a staff member one week before.
  • Do not train before surgery.
  • Please bring your medications which have been prescribed to you in a bag as above.
  • Please bring your compression socks if they have been prescribed to you.
  • Do not wear any makeup, jewellery, contact lenses, hairpin or piercings: during surgery, an electric cautery is used, and any piercing or jewellery can cause burns.
  • Wear light and comfortable clothing. Wear a top that opens forward. Do not wear a sweater, turtleneck or tight clothing. You can wear a skirt, but pants and a jogging jacket are ideal. Flat shoes that are easy to put on and remove (no heels) should be worn. A lip balm is recommended.

post-op instructions

When you get home

You can expect to have some pain in the breasts. You may feel like it is challenging to take a deep breath.

To help you rest comfortably, follow these instructions:

  1. Take extra-strength Tylenol every 4 hours
  2. Take an anti-nausea medication such as Gravol 30 minutes before taking your prescribed pain medication
  3. Take your pain medication as prescribed
  4. Take your antibiotics as prescribed
  5. Try and rest in a semi-sitting position until bedtime
  6. Avoid using your arms for anything strenuous

Contact us immediately if you experience any of the following:

  • Pain that is not controlled by the pain medication
  • One breast is unusually large, painful and bruised.
  • A fever of greater than 38.5
  • Severe nausea or vomiting
  • Hallucinations or incoherent behaviour
  • Pain or swelling of one calf
  • Excessive bleeding through your dressing

The first day following surgery

  • Your pain will start to dissipate after 48 hours.
  • It is normal for the incisions to leak a reddish fluid (like cranberry juice) for 48 hours and this may stain your bed sheets.
  • Avoid staying in bed all day, and rest in a semi-sitting position.
  • Avoid strenuous activities with your arms.

Healing and follow up

  • Your breasts will not be fully healed for 4-8 weeks.
  • Exercise is not permitted until 3 months after surgery to prevent loss of the fat graft.
  • You should rest for at least one week after surgery and gradually regain daily activities, except for strenuous upper body activities or exercise.

You will have a follow-up appointment 1-2 weeks after surgery, then at one month and three months.

Your results

Recovery from fat grafting consists of two days of taking pain medication, two weeks for the skin to heal, and three months for the fat to settle. Time off work is approximately two weeks.

Fat grafting to the breasts will help you obtain a slightly larger, more attractive breast and will accomplish the following:

  • Remove excess fat from other areas of the body, such as the abdomen, flanks, back, and thighs
  • Create a more defined body contour and silhouette
  • Slightly fuller, rounder breasts
  • Increase self-confidence that comes with a natural-looking breast augmentation

The result creates improved body proportions, an overall contoured silhouette and an enhanced breast size and shape.

View most frequently asked questions

What is breast augmentation using fat?

This newer technique can extract excess fat using liposuction and re-inject it into the breasts to increase the volume/size.

Am I a good candidate for breast augmentation using fat?

If you have excess fat on other parts of your body (abdomen, thighs, flanks) and want a small breast augmentation with a natural appearance, you are a good candidate for breast lipofilling.

How can I choose between breast augmentation using fat (lipofilling) and breast implants?

During your consultation with Dr. Perry Gdalevitch, she will help you decide on the surgery that best suits your needs and goals. In general, if you want an increase of more than 1- 2 cup sizes, you will be guided toward an implant. However, if you have fat that you want to get rid of in sufficient quantities and have deflated breasts but do not like the idea of an implant, you will be guided toward breast augmentation using fat.

How big of an augmentation can I expect if I use my fat?

The average increase is 1 cup size.

How much does the procedure cost?

Breast augmentation with fat grafting (fat transfer)

$15,000 – $17,000

Mastopexy with fat grafting

$17,500 - $19,500

For a more beautiful and proportional you!

φ Phi is the Greek symbol that indicates the golden ratio, a ratio that is synonymous with beauty.

Dr. Perry Gdalevitch offers a unique approach that involves applying the principles of perfect proportions (phi) to help you achieve your aesthetic and reconstructive goals.

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