Can unwanted fat from liposuction be used as 'natural' breast implant or will it lead to unwanted complications?
Fat stem cells removed from liposuction to be redeposited in the breasts for a natural breast enlargement
A few months ago (March 2009) news emerged that a new technique that involves taking stem cells from excess fat on the stomach or thigh, and then 'growing' them in the breasts. The technique is supposed to give a more natural look than many synthetic implants, but because it does not provide firmness or uplift it can only make breasts one cup size larger (nobody wants large breasts if they are saggy). For that procedure surgeons extract fat and stem cells from a woman's stomach or thigh and inject the cells into the breast, which then increases in size over the next few months. The technique was developed in Japan and has been available there for six years and now professor Kefah Mokbel, a consultant breast surgeon at the London Breast Institute at the Princess Grace hospital, started testing procedure on 30 volunteers last May.
Although the technique has been tried on breast cancer sufferers, skeptics dismissed the validity of this procedure for cosmetic purposes, as breast cancer patients regularly attend follow-up appointments whilst young women who have cosmetic surgery do not, thereby risking undiagnosed complications.
In the past surgeons have tried injecting plain fat to enlarge breasts, but found that blood supply in the new tissue remained poor. However stem cells encourage the growth of blood vessels. But today news emerged that...
Whole unwanted fat tissue removed via liposuction is to be grafted in the breasts, resulting in a "two-in-one operation joy for women"
A group of plastic surgeons at a leading Harley Street cosmetic clinic in London seem to have apparently solved the problem of poor blood supply and aim to offer fat grafting from the buttocks, thighs or stomach straight into the breasts - no stem cell technology needed and no waiting for months for stem cells to grow, providing instant gratification to women with large bums and small breasts...
However, critics argue that the risk of complications is high (including fat necrosis, cyst formations and indurations that could be mistaken for cancer), the procedure will take up to eight hours to complete, and it should ideally be performed in stages over a period of months - not in one long procedure.
As in all similar cases, I am sure that technology and surgery technique will improve over the years, and the technique will be common practice a decade from now - but dozens of patients will suffer several side effects and complications before the technique is perfected. So my advice is, for the moment stick to more traditional ways to enhance your body (diet, exercise, liposuction, breast implants) instead of becoming a guinea pig/plastic surgery pioneer, and if you do choose the latter option be prepared to pay a small fortune to the best doctor in the UK to ensure success and avoid the drama of disfigurement. Oh yes, and remember that liposuction does not remove cellulite which is part and parcel of the skin, and therefore not removable surgically!











