Whether it’s alternatives to breast implants, or recovery time, costs, and risks, cosmetic surgery is a big thing to consider. Dr. Johnson, board-certified physician and founder of award-winning cosmetic surgery practice Innovations Medical, is here to help you understand the process.
Question: Who is a breast augmentation or Brazilian butt lift good for?
The ideal candidate for fat transfer would like to change the shape and/or size of their breasts and buttocks AND has an area with fat they would like to see reduced. These patients get a “2 for 1” — seeing self-esteem and confidence-building changes in both the area reduced (harvest area) and the area augmented.
Many patients are happy with the shape of their bodies elsewhere but just want improvement in the breasts or buttocks. These individuals can still see very satisfactory results from fat taken from areas that already looked good but now look even better.
Question: Are there alternatives to implants?
Fat transfer is an excellent alternative to implants. Fat transfer has already surpassed implants for buttock augmentation and rapidly increased its presence for breast augmentation. Fat transfer is also frequently used for facial rejuvenation – replacing cheek or lip implants.
Question: What’s the typical process for breast augmentation or Brazilian butt lift?
Fat transfer begins with liposuction. This is done under local anesthesia and mild sedation. A fluid containing a local anesthetic is injected into the area to be liposuctioned and the area to be augmented. The liposuction is then performed, and the fat is collected in a sterile container. The fat is then separated from the fluid and injected into the area to be augmented using special cannulas (thin blunt tubes). The fat is never touched to keep it sterile.
Question: How much does it cost?
The cost of fat transfer depends on how many areas of liposuction are performed. This typically starts at $5,000-6000 for one liposuction area and one fat transfer area. It can be over $12,000 or more when fat transfer is combined with abdominoplasty (tummy tuck).
Question: How long does it take to recover and see results?
Swelling and bruising in the area of liposuction are common. Mild swelling and bruising on the area receiving the fat transfer is most typical. In general, most buttocks and breasts do not swell or bruise badly. Fat transfer to the face results in significant swelling and bruising most of the time. Typically, bruising is gone in two weeks and swelling in six weeks, BUT that is still not your final result. Improvements will continue for at least 6 months.
Question: What are the risks?
As with any surgery, liposuction and fat transfer carry some risks. Infection is rare but can happen. Unevenness, rippling, and loose skin can happen and require further treatment to resolve. Not all of the fat transferred will survive. The current widely used techniques result in 50-70% fat survival. Doing a “touch-up” or second fat transfer to the area within 6-12 months can see up to 90% of the second transferred fat surviving.
Question: How can I improve the chances of my surgery succeeding?
At Innovations Medical, we are introducing the Enhanced BBL (EBBL) and Enhanced Natural Breast Augmentation (ENBA) for the first time anywhere. This special technique adds pre-treatment of the harvest area with Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT), also known as Acoustic Wave Therapy (AWT).
Innovations Medical was the first practice in the United States to introduce AWT for cellulite in 2006. Now, we are adding it to BBL and Natural Breast Augmentation.
AWT has been shown to “activate” the fat by releasing special growth factors from the fat and turning on the stem cells in the areas. Growth factors are the chemical messengers our cells use to talk to each other. The growth factors released from fat help reduce inflammation and swelling in the augmented area and bring in the blood vessels and connective structures required for the fat to survive in its new home. We also add special supplements for several weeks post-op that promote fat survival as part of the EBBL and ENBA.
Question: What do you typically say to patients who are considering this time of procedure?
The liposuction and fat transfer techniques used at Innovations Medical have long been state-of-the-art. Now with Enhanced BBL and Enhanced Natural Breast Augmentation, they are the leading edge in buttock and breast enhancement. Combined with the experience of over 1,000 fat transfer procedures, Innovations Medical is a leader in this field.
For further inquiries into this exciting development, please contact:
Dr. Bill Johnson, Board Certified in Internal Medicine
Office: (214) 420-7970
Cell: (214) 769-2788
drjohnson@innovationsmedical.
https://innovationsmedical.
ABOUT INNOVATIONS MEDICAL
At Innovations Medical, we often provide cutting-edge procedures before they become mainstream. We specialize in body shaping, skin care, and stem cell therapies. Since 1984, Dr. Johnson has been helping patients look like the best version of themselves and providing a better quality of life for people with degenerative conditions.
Our advanced procedures are minimally invasive and involve significantly less swelling and bruising than traditional cosmetic surgeries. This often means that you can go home on the same day of the procedure. You look better, you feel better, and you can resume your life as soon as possible.
