If you’re unsatisfied with the appearance of your breast(s) due to a birth defect, cancer treatment, or previous breast surgery, you may be a candidate for breast deformity correction known as fat grafting or fat transferring. Fat grafting uses fat taken from elsewhere in the body and injects it into your breasts to improve their appearance.
During the procedure, the surgeon will use a low-pressure liposuction technique with a syringe to take fat from elsewhere in the body. The fat is then processed, washed with saline, and grafted onto the breast. Depending on your needs, this may mean filling in irregularities or smoothing out skin distortions and asymmetrical breast shape.
Because your body may absorb a portion of the grafted fat, your surgeon may overfill the breast. This will help ensure your breast settles into the size and shape you desire.
Planning and recovery
Many of our patients begin planning their fat grafting procedure after undergoing breast reconstruction to attain a more appealing and natural breast appearance. You’ll have a discussion with one of our surgeons to determine whether you’re a possible candidate for the surgery. In order to qualify, you’ll need an area of excess fat (such as from the stomach, thighs, or hips) that can be transferred to your breast.
Although fat grafting has limitations, it is a safer alternative to more complicated procedures. Because it uses your own fat, its results are more natural and can last longer than implants or injectable fillers. And because the transfer process only requires small incisions, the procedure and recovery process are shorter and less intensive.
The procedure for fat grafting is typically performed in an outpatient setting with patients returning home the same day. Recovery is generally short—you may be able to return to work in two to 14 days, although swelling may last up to six weeks.
Frequently asked questions
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Is fat grafting for breast deformities covered by insurance?
Fat grafting for breast deformities is covered by some insurance plans, but not all. Please contact your insurance company to determine your specific coverage.
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Do I need a referral to your office?
If you’re exploring options for insurance coverage, you may need to request a referral from your primary care doctor, depending on your health insurance plan. Check with your carrier to see if medical coverage is an option for you and, if so, whether a referral is required.
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What are the risks of fat grafting for breast deformities?
Every surgical procedure involves some risk. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the risks of fat grafting include:
- Cysts
- Infection
- Microcalcification (small calcium deposits in the breast tissue)
- Necrosis (death) of fat cells
- Possibility that some of the transferred fat cells will leave the breast area
Our providers
Location: Change location Enter your location
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Alayna Marie Blazakis, AGPCNP-BC
Wound Care & Plastic Surgery
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Katelynn Edinger, FNP-BC
General Surgery
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Karen Kim Evans, MD
Microvascular Plastic Surgery, Surgical Wound Care, Limb Lengthening And Reconstructive Surgery & Plastic Surgery
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Kenneth L. Fan, MD
Plastic Surgery
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Zachary Emil Frates, PA
General Surgery
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Kelly Lynne Fritz, MD
Breast Surgery
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Rex Hung, MD
Wound Care, Reconstructive Plastic Surgery & Plastic Surgery
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Samer Jabbour, MD
Microvascular Plastic Surgery, Breast Surgery, Reconstructive Plastic Surgery & Plastic Surgery
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Michael Eric Kramer, PA
General Surgery
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Paul J. Marino, PA
General Surgery
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David Zachary Martin, MD
Surgical Wound Care & Plastic Surgery
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Kimberly Ann Miller, FNP-BC
Plastic Surgery
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Kerry Shumanski Moose, CRNP
Wound Care & Plastic Surgery
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Rajiv P. Parikh, MD
Microvascular Plastic Surgery, Reconstructive Plastic Surgery & Plastic Surgery
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Laura Kate Tom, MD
Microvascular Plastic Surgery, Breast Surgery & Plastic Surgery
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Mimi Yue Wu Young, MD
Plastic Surgery
Our locations
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MedStar Health: Plastic Surgery at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital
3800 Reservoir Road NW, BLES Building 1st. Floor Washington, D.C., 20007
866-990-5515
MedStar Health: Plastic Surgery at MedStar Washington Hospital Center
106 Irving St. NW POB North Ste. 3400 Washington, D.C., 20010
MedStar Health: Plastic Surgery at MedStar Montgomery Medical Center
18101 Prince Philip Drive., Olney, MD 20832
MedStar Health: Plastic Surgery at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center
7501 Surratts Road Clinton, MD 20735