Why Volume Decreases After Breast Fat Grafting

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Hello,

I am Hyun-joo Sung, Director of Cheongdam OK Clinic.

▶ Full Member of the Korean Association of Cosmetic Surgery (KACS)
▶ Full Member of the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity (KSSO)
▶ Full Member of the Korean Association for Aesthetic and Metabolic Surgery (KAAM)
▶ Full Member of the Korean Society of Liposuction Surgery (KSSL)
▶ Full Member of the Korean Society for Aesthetic Surgery (KSAS)

One of the questions most frequently asked

by people considering breast fat grafting

during consultations is:

“Why can the volume decrease over time

even though fat was injected?”

In fact, the appearance immediately after the procedure

and the appearance 3–6 months later

may be different.

Therefore, if you are planning breast fat grafting,

rather than focusing on how much fat is injected,

it is important to first understand

why changes in volume occur.

Today, I will explain in an easy-to-understand way

why volume decreases after breast fat grafting.

Contents
What is breast fat grafting? Why does the volume decrease? Why is the fat retention rate important? What should be checked to maintain volume?

1. What Is Breast Fat Grafting?

Breast fat grafting

is a procedure in which fat is harvested

from areas such as the abdomen or thighs,

then processed

and grafted into the breasts.

Because implants are not used,

it is one of the procedures that interests people

who hope for a natural feel

and appearance.

However, not all of the grafted fat

remains exactly as it is.

Therefore, how stably the fat becomes established

has an important effect on the result.

2. Why Does the Volume Decrease?

Fat grafted into the breasts

must receive blood and nutrients

from the surrounding tissues

to survive in its new environment.

This process

is called “fat retention.”

However, not all fat cells

successfully become established.

Some of the fat

may be absorbed by the body,

and this can naturally occur

after fat grafting.

In addition, swelling

is also present immediately after surgery.

Therefore, at first,

the breasts may appear larger than they actually are.

As time passes, the swelling subsides

and some of the fat is absorbed,

resulting in the final volume.

Since each patient’s constitution and tissue condition differ,

the extent of volume change

may also vary from person to person.

3. Why Is the Fat Retention Rate Important?

This is why medical professionals consider

the fat retention rate important

when discussing the results of breast fat grafting.

When fat becomes well established,

the grafted fat

is more likely to remain for a longer period.

Conversely, if too much fat is injected

at one time,

some of the fat may not receive

an adequate blood supply.

Therefore, rather than injecting an unconditionally large amount,

it is important to inject the fat

so that it can become stably established.

In addition, the fat harvesting process,

the purification process that removes impurities,

and the injection method

are also known to be factors

that can affect the result.

4. What Should Be Checked to Maintain Volume?

When considering breast fat grafting,

rather than discussing only the desired cup size,

your current condition should be assessed first.

The elasticity of the skin,

the thickness of the breast tissue,

and whether there is sufficient space for injection

should all be considered together.

It is also important to determine

whether there are sufficient areas from which fat can be harvested.

This is because the amount of fat that can be obtained

may vary depending on body type.

Postoperative care is also important.

During the recovery period,

it is advisable to carefully follow

the precautions provided by your medical team.

This is because excessive compression

or strenuous exercise

may affect the recovery process.

Another point to remember

is that the grafted fat

is also fat from your own body.

Therefore, if your weight decreases,

the grafted fat may also decrease,

leading to changes in volume.

Conversely, if your weight increases,

the volume may appear larger.

The main reason volume decreases

after breast fat grafting

is that some of the fat

is naturally absorbed during the retention process.

This is a natural process

that may occur with fat grafting.

Therefore, rather than simply injecting a large amount,

it is important to create an environment

in which the fat can become stably established.

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