What Type of Breast Augmentation is Best: Fat or Silicone Implant?

A fuller, curvy and attractive body is a dream for many women. Going by celebrities and women in showbiz, even middle-class women are considering breast enhancement or augmentation for various reasons. Some women opt for enhancement after breast cancer surgery. The transgender population is also increasingly going under the knife. Social media has impacted the rise of this trend in metros like Hyderabad. 

Breast enhancement surgery takes 2-2.5 hours and these women are discharged in a day and recover in 1-2 weeks. Two types of methods are available for breast enhancement. Women may choose the method best suited to them after a detailed consultation with the plastic surgeon and according to the tissue characteristics.

Augmentation Through Fat Grafting

In this relatively new modality, fat from areas like abdomen and thighs are processed and injected into specific areas to give fuller breasts.

• Pros- This is a safe method without allergic reactions as one’s own fat is used. The breasts look and feel more natural, with no scars. Patients can have the double benefit of breast augmentation and body contouring due to removal of extra fat from abdomen or thighs. There is no maintenance involved.
• Cons- Fat grafting may not yield drastic changes in breast volume, because only 60-70% of injected fat remains and the rest is absorbed. Women may expect one cup size increase. A second session of fat grafting maybe necessary, increasing costs. Few complications like calcifications, fat necrosis and fat cysts may arise.

Augmentation Through Silicone Implants

Silicone implants are a time-tested option for breast augmentation over the years.

• Pros- Implants produce reliable and predictable change in breast size and shape. The cost is also relatively cheaper.
• Cons- Minimal scarring beneath the breast. Rare risk of rupture, leakage and infection, which can be reduced with newer generation gummy bear implants. Capsular contracture and breast implant illness may occur rarely.

General guide

• For young girls with minimal or no sagging, and adequate fat reserves in abdomen and thighs, fat grafting is suggested.
• In women with minimal to moderate sagging, augmentation with silicone implant is a better option.
• For those with moderate to severe sagging after childbirth, silicone implant with breast lift gives the ideal outcome.