How does natural breast augmentation differ from surgical augmentation? What are the overall longterm benefits, and what is the recovery like? Dr. Jeff Birchall of Dermacare offers his expert advice on what you need to know.
What is natural breast augmentation, and how does it differ from silicone or saline implants? Natural breast augmentation is a procedure that can add volume to create fullness and curves in the breasts, using the patient’s own fat cells harvested from other parts of the body, such as the abdomen, hips, or thighs. We remove unwanted fat with laser liposuction, which typically has minimal down time and side effects in comparison to traditional liposuction. There is a tiny incision made to insert a very small cannula to remove the fat. Once the fat is removed and processed, it is injected into the breasts to increase size and volume. There is minimal risk of infection, distortion, or other complications with natural breast augmentation than there are with traditional breast implants. Results often are more natural-looking, with less recovery time needed.
What are the benefits to natural augmentation versus implants? It is an outpatient procedure that is minimally invasive, with minimal discomfort and a shorter recovery time. Many patients can return to work in 2-3 days. Results are more subtle and natural-looking. There are minimal risks for adverse side effects.
Are the results permanent or will one need to have touch up surgery in order to maintain the results? Approximately 30-50% of people will require two treatments for optimal results. As the natural aging process occurs, touch up treatments may be necessary in the future.
Is the recovery time similar? The recovery time for touch-up treatments is similar to the recovery time for the original treatment. Recovery for natural breast augmentation is much shorter than a surgical breast augmentation.
How can women improve the look of their breasts naturally, utilizing treatments or topical applications? Is there a specific skincare regimen you recommend? There are not any topical applications or skincare regimens that can increase the size or change the shape of the breasts. Any topical treatments recommended for the face can improve the look of the chest as far as skin issues are concerned – minimizing wrinkles, improving skin laxity, etc. We often recommend using the same sunscreen, moisturizers, and serums that you are using on your face on your neck and chest for full anti-aging benefits.
As Dermacare’s Medical Director, Dr. Birchall is a board-certified physician with more than 25 years of medical experience and more than a decade working with cosmetic treatments. Unlike many other med spas, he not only operates as the medical director, but Dr. Birchall also treats patients everyday at both Carlsbad and Rancho Bernardo offices. Dr. Birchall is a member of the American Society of Cosmetic Physicians, the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, and the Allergan Advisory Board. He achieved Black Diamond status for administering BOTOX® and JUVÉDERM® injections, being recognized among the top quarter of the Top 1% of more than 30,000 providers in the country. Additionally, Dr. Birchall has also been recognized as a Black Diamond provider for Fraxel® laser skin rejuvenation, a Top 100 provider for Sculptra® Aesthetic, and a Premier Partner for CoolSculpting. He is constantly researching and utilizing the latest technology to achieve the best possible results.
