FAQ
What are the most common misconceptions about breast fat transfer?
Dr. Oh’s answer
The most common worry is that it will cause calcification or oil cysts. These are indeed the best-known complications of fat transfer. But when an appropriate amount of fat is transferred, within a range that doesn’t raise the risk, not every fat transfer leads to oil cysts and calcification.
As with any surgery, complications can occur, and adding too much fat raises the risk. Published studies report oil cysts and calcification after breast fat transfer in about 5% of cases, but that figure includes small findings seen only on ultrasound, so cases that actually cause problems are rarer. I don’t simply add as much as possible. I calculate the amount needed based on how much space the breast has. In my experience, these complications have occurred in about 2 in 1,000 patients.
Many people also ask whether fat transfer will improve sagging breasts. The people who come to me include those whose breasts have deflated after pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding, or after rapid weight loss. Some have breasts that truly sag, while others don’t sag much but have simply lost volume. If the breasts sag a lot, it’s hard to lift them with fat transfer alone, so I suggest considering a breast lift as well. If the sagging isn’t severe, fat transfer can improve the shape.
People also ask whether others will be able to tell. A breast is naturally made up of glandular tissue and fat, and fat transfer adds to the fat, so it feels the same as a natural breast. Think of it as having the breasts you’d have if you gained some weight.
The incision is made in one of three places: the armpit, around the areola or in the fold under the breast. It is very small, so once it heals, the scar is hard to see.
Translated from Dr. Oh’s original answer in Korean. Read the Korean original