Natural breast augmentation by lipofilling in Paris

Natural breast augmentation: the benefits of lipoflling

The main advantage is, of course, that you don't need a breast implant to obtain a breast augmentation, so you get a natural breast augmentation. This avoids the complications associated with implants, namely ruptures (and therefore the need to change implants every 10 to 15 years) and shells.
Fat does not feel like a foreign body, and the operation cannot be detected by touch or sight. Moreover, scars are virtually invisible. The second major advantage is the aesthetic benefit of liposuction, which is performed to remove fatty tissue. The patient loses an average of one pant size by removing excess fat such as saddlebags.

In short, breast augmentation by fat injection offers several major advantages:

Natural result without foreign bodies
No visible scars
Suitable for moderate breast augmentation

How can I enlarge my breasts naturally?

Many women are interested in finding out how to increase the volume of their breasts naturally, without resorting to surgery. From massages and creams to targeted bodybuilding exercises, so-called natural solutions abound. Yet none of these methods has been scientifically proven to deliver lasting volume gains. A diet rich in phytoestrogens (soy, fenugreek) is sometimes mentioned, but its impact remains limited and varies from one individual to another. As for hormonal fluctuations linked to pregnancy or contraceptive use, these only offer a temporary change, with no stable long-term effect.

The only truly effective solution for breast augmentation is surgery. Two techniques are available today: silicone gel or saline implants and breast lipofilling. Prostheses enable precise, adjustable volume to be achieved, with a wide range of shapes and sizes to suit every morphology. Lipofilling, based on the transfer of autologous fat removed by liposuction, offers a more subtle and natural result, but its effectiveness depends on the quality and quantity of fat available in the patient. In addition, some of the injected tissue is gradually resorbed, sometimes necessitating a second procedure to optimize volume. If the aim is to achieve more shapely, harmonious breasts in a reliable and lasting way, only breast surgery can achieve this.

Breast augmentation without prosthesis: what does it involve?

Many women want to increase the volume of their breasts naturally, without resorting to surgery. From massages and creams to targeted bodybuilding exercises, so-called natural solutions abound. Yet none of these methods has been scientifically proven to deliver lasting volume gains. A diet rich in phytoestrogens (soy, fenugreek) is sometimes mentioned, but its impact remains limited and varies from one individual to another. As for hormonal fluctuations linked to pregnancy or contraceptive use, these only offer a temporary change, with no stable long-term effect.

Breast lipofilling is an autologous breast augmentation technique, i.e. using your own tissue. It avoids the use of silicone breast implants, although mixed techniques can be proposed (placement of breast implants and lipofilling at the same time). The principle is to remove fatty tissue in the least traumatic way possible, to separate the fat from the blood and oil coming from the damaged fat lobules, and then to reinject the purified fat into the breast to increase its volume.
It is therefore a double operation combining liposuction and breast augmentation. The patient thus obtains a double aesthetic benefit with a reduction in waist and thigh circumference, a disappearance of the saddlebags and a breast augmentation of one cup per operation. It is a tissue graft. The transferred fat will survive thanks to the blood supply of the breast tissue into which it is transferred. The result at 1 month is then totally stable over time and will even accompany your weight variations (the breasts will grow in case of weight gain).

Breast lipofilling is intended for women who want a moderate breast augmentation (about 1 cup per session), giving a natural result without breast implants.

The disadvantages of breast lipofilling

The major drawback of this technique is that it can only increase breast volume by a maximum of one cup per session. New techniques seem to improve the uptake of the fat graft at each session, notably prior breast expansion by suction or the BRAVA technique. However, the BRAVA technique is expensive and highly restrictive, with little benefit.

Contraindications of breast augmentation by lipofilling

The first contraindication is, of course, patients who are too thin to be able to consider taking enough fat for a bilateral breast augmentation. Indeed, to inject 300 cc of fat into each breast, a minimum of 1.5 l of fat must be removed during liposuction. This corresponds to the removal of the saddlebags, the anterior abdomen and the inner thighs.
On the other hand, this technique is not indicated in case of a history of breast cancer because of the modification of the breast architecture. It should be noted, however, that trials have been carried out on women who have had breast cancer and for whom breast lipofilling has been performed to correct the aesthetic sequelae of radiation. They did not show an increase in the rate of local recurrence of cancer, which is very much in favor of the safety of this technique.
Finally, smoking more than 10 cigarettes a day is a contraindication to breast lipofilling because the fat graft will take less. For more information on this topic, see our blog post about the new recommendations for fat injection in the breasts.

How does natural breast augmentation (breast lipofilling) work?

The pre-operative consultation is probably the most important part of your breast augmentation by lipofilling. We check that your morphology is suitable for breast lipofilling, look for any contraindications and explain the advantages and disadvantages of this technique at length. You will receive a specific information sheet.

Breast augmentation without prosthesis: before the operation

We systematically request specific imaging of your breasts prior to breast lipofilling. These examinations must be performed by a radiologist specialized in breast imaging. You will need to undergo digital mammography, breast ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging. If all the tests are perfectly normal, the operation can be considered.

A compression girdle and compression stockings will be prescribed and must be ordered before the procedure. If you smoke, nicotine patches or an electronic cigarette must be ordered in order to avoid smoking for 15 days before and after the operation. Finally, a consultation with your anesthesiologist is mandatory in the month preceding the operation. No blood test will be required unless you have a specific history of blood loss.

Breast augmentation by fat injection: during the procedure

Mammary lipofilling or breast augmentation by fat injection is performed under general anesthesia during a day hospitalization (outpatient surgery). You must fast 6 hours before the start of the procedure, and a betadine shower must be taken at home. All piercings, earrings, jewelry and false nails must be removed.
When you are admitted to the operating room, routine checks are carried out (safety checklist), and the procedure begins after you have fallen asleep.

You are first positioned on your stomach to remove fat from the lower back, the saddlebags and the inner thighs. This removal is done with specific liposuction cannulas of small diameter (3 or 4 mm) with many small holes allowing to remove only the small lobules of fat that are more resistant to the grafting process.

In addition, the liposuction machine is set to establish a suction twice as low as that normally used. Then, you are placed on your back to remove fat from the front of the thighs and stomach as well as from the inner side of the knees. At the same time, we begin the fat purification process. Unlike a traditional liposuction, the fat is not discarded but is collected in a sterile jar between the cannula and the liposuction machine.

The fat is then transferred to a medical device for purification. 2 options are possible:

a centrifuge that separates the fat into surface oil, purified fatty tissue and blood by the action of centrifugal force.
a specific PureGraft® filtration bag allowing to treat large volumes of grease. We now use this technique almost systematically despite its high cost (400 €). Indeed, it is a closed system (the fat is not in contact with the air, which reduces the risk of contamination by bacteria) which filters the fat without any deleterious mechanical action. We obtain a better quality fat with high grafting rates.

This makes it possible to obtain 500 to 800 cc of pure fat per procedure. The fat is then injected by means of very fine cannulas through multiple millimetric entry points. Up to 400 mL of fat can be injected per breast and per session. A compression garment is put in place at the end of the procedure and you can go home 4 hours after the end of the operation.

Natural breast augmentation: post-operative care

Breast augmentation without prosthesis: Painful breast lipofilling

Pain is moderate. Edema at the fat collection sites and in the breasts appears within 48 hours of the breast lipofilling procedure, and generally takes 1 to 3 months to subside. Bruising may appear in the first few hours at the fat collection sites, and will subside within 10 to 20 days after the procedure. Some fatigue may be felt for one or two weeks, especially in the case of fat harvesting and extensive liposuction.

natural breast augmentation

Natural breast augmentation: sheath, bra and volume development

The girdle should be worn for 3 weeks, and palpé-roulé-type massages performed on the body from day 5 onwards. No specific care is required for the breast, apart from wearing a non-compressive sports bra.

The breasts appear very swollen the first week. You should not wear a bra for the first 5 days in order not to compress the injected fat. The volume of the breasts decreases until 1 month after the operation when their appearance is almost definitive.

Developments at natural breast form manufacturers

Breast implants have evolved considerably in recent years to meet the growing demands of patients seeking a more natural look. Gone are the rigid, artificial implants of past decades: today's models are natural and reproduce the texture and mobility of breast tissue as faithfully as possible, while guaranteeing a high level of safety.

The latest-generation silicone gel prostheses are characterized by their soft consistency and shape memory, preventing visible folds and irregularities under the skin. Thanks to advanced cohesive gels, even in the event of rupture, the contents do not diffuse into the body, which also limits medical risks.

Another notable advance is the diversity of models available. Today, patients can choose between round prostheses, for a more assertive décolleté, and ergonomic implants, which reproduce the natural slope of the breast. Customization doesn't stop there: the projection, diameter and height of implants can be adjusted for a made-to-measure result. Manufacturers also offer hybrid models, combining several technologies to best adapt to each woman's morphology and aesthetic expectations.

Far from the fixed standards of yesteryear, today's breast augmentation is part of an individualized approach, where the aim is to obtain breasts that match the patient's figure and desires. Thanks to constant advances in materials and design, the new generations of breast prostheses today offer a natural look, without compromising on safety or comfort.

Discover our article on round or anatomical breast forms

Natural breast augmentation: precautions after lipofilling

It is important to understand that immediately after the breast lipofilling procedure, the breasts are very swollen and have a significant edema, which corresponds to an increase of 2 cups. In 15 days, the edema will disappear and the breasts will lose about 30% of their volume. The final result of a lipofilling procedure can only be appreciated at least 1 month after the operation. In the end, the breasts will have an average increase in volume of 1 cup and a more harmonious shape. The silhouette is also improved thanks to liposuction of the areas where fat was removed (saddlebags, stomach, knees).

A new procedure can be considered 3 months after the first lipofilling in order to obtain an additional cup size.

Questions/Answers about natural breast augmentation (lipofilling)

What happens to the fat after natural breast augmentation?

The fat injected into your breast will be grafted using blood from the surrounding tissue. During the grafting process, around 30% of the injected fat volume will not take hold, but 70% will survive to give you the aesthetic result you want over the long term.

Is the result of breast augmentation with lipofilling comparable to that of breast implants?

No, lipofilling allows for a maximum breast augmentation of one cup size, or about 180 cc. With breast implants, two or even three cups can be gained. In addition, a breast lipofilling does not provide a maximum projection and cleavage as with a breast implant. On the other hand, the result is perfectly natural and there is nothing to distinguish a breast that has been remade after lipofilling.

Is it possible to combine breast augmentation by fat injection with a breast prosthesis?

Yes, this is called mixed breast augmentation. The main interest of this procedure is to hide the top of a breast implant in the neckline. This allows the implant to be placed in front of the muscle, even in skinny patients. Thus, the procedure is much less painful and the result more natural.

Price of a natural breast augmentation (breast lipofilling)?

The price of a natural breast augmentation for a conventional outpatient operation varies between 6,000 and 7,000 euros, depending on the case.

Compare this with the price of breast augmentation by lipofilling.

To know more about our rates

Breast augmentation from a B to a C cup: is lipofilling possible?

Lipofilling can only be considered if you have sufficient fat to achieve the desired breast augmentation. It is therefore impossible to propose a B to C cup breast augmentation by lipofilling to a skinny woman with a size 36. Finally, the operating time for breast lipofilling is longer (2 hours versus around 1 hour for breast augmentation by prosthesis).

Breast lipofilling reimbursed: is reimbursement possible?

When performed for aesthetic reasons, breast lipofilling is not reimbursed by the French Social Security system. However, partial or total reimbursement is possible in certain medical cases, such as reconstruction after mastectomy, proven breast malformation (tuberous breasts, Poland syndrome), or severe hypoplasia. In these cases, a request for prior agreement must be drawn up by the surgeon. It is also advisable to contact your mutual insurance company to find out about additional reimbursement options.

Natural breast augmentation before and after: results photos

Discover the before-and-after results of breast lipofilling: breast augmentations performed by breast surgeons in Paris for over 20 years: Dr Berdah and Dr Benjoar.

The photos will allow you to observe the natural result obtained thanks to natural breast augmentation by fat injection.