Is it Worth it to Have a Breast Augmentation?

When you’re considering any elective medical procedure, you need to know the risks, and weigh them against the benefits. The choice of whether or not to have elective surgery is very personal, and every person will make their choice differently. Here, we’ll discuss the major risks and benefits of having breast augmentation surgery with fat transfer. If you want to learn more about what the procedure and the recovery are like, please visit Breast Augmentation (with Fat Transfer): the Procedure and Recovery.

Please note that this page is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for qualified, individualized medical advice. You should discuss your potential elective surgery with your own doctor(s), including your primary care physician and the surgeon who will perform your surgery if you decide to proceed.

Risks

Any surgery has risks, and they should be carefully weighed before you decide to proceed. There is a chance of infection, which may require antibiotics and may also lead to a less aesthetically-pleasing result. There is also a chance of excessive bleeding during the surgery, which occasionally requires a blood transfusion. Some women react badly to anesthesia. There is a  small risk of death due to any surgery. Although it’s important to be informed, these risks are small in most healthy people; talk with your surgeon to determine your personal risk.

There is also the risk that you won’t be happy with your breast augmentation results. You may feel that the surgeon transferred too much or not enough fat, or that the fat was not placed correctly. You can reduce this risk by choosing a surgeon who listens to you carefully and tries to understand your goals. Also, while the results of a fat transfer are immediately visible, you should expect the results to change over time. On average, 60 to 80% of the fat transferred will survive in its new location; the rest will be absorbed by the body. This is an average, so some women will retain more fat than that, while others will retain less. Additionally, because this is your own body fat, it will change if your overall body weight changes; if you lose a significant amount of weight, then a portion of that loss will come from your breasts. This may be to your advantage if it balances your figure during your weight loss journey, but it may not be desirable for some women.

Benefits

A woman may believe that her breasts are too small, or that her figure is unbalanced. She may have avoided certain situations, including intimacy, because of her concerns about her figure, and may have suffered from a decrease in self-esteem. Breast augmentation with fat grafting is the most natural way for her to increase the size of her breasts, as it uses fat from her own body. It also allows for a quick recovery, as there are no large incisions to heal. Additionally, the liposuction can help her to remove fat from areas in which she would like to be slimmer. The procedure can allow her to move through her day and wear any style of clothes she chooses with confidence.

Cost

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the average surgeon’s fee for a breast augmentation is $3,678. This varies between surgeons and in different regions, so check with the surgeon you’re considering to find out the exact price. Additional costs, including the anesthesia, operating room fees, medications, and possibly additional items, may not be included in this fee. For more detail, please visit our Breast Augmentation Costs page.