Thursday 31 January 2013

Update on Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation

One of the most sought after treatments we offer has been the Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation.  In light of the PIP breast implant scandal women are seeking alternatives to implants.

In 2012 we saw a steep rise in fat transfer procedures- not only to the breast, but also the the hands and face.  "FAT HAS BECOME THE NEW FILLER" its your own tissue, you cant reject it, and it wont result in capsule formation or contracture.  Furthermore, it is soft, feels like surrounding tissue and blends in with the natural shape and contour.

BAAPS have also commented Interestingly, for the first time we see a greater number of women having procedures to re-insert fat (known as fat transfer, to add volume to the face) than to remove it, in the form of liposuction."
  
The most popular procedure was still breast augmentation (‘boob jobs’ using implants) but numbers dipped by 1.6%, from 10,015 in 2011 to 9,854 in 2012
Women had more fat-injecting than fat-removing procedures for the first time, with 2,641 fat transfer procedures compared with 2,638 liposuction ops.
Graft retention rates (the volume of fat that survives) have improved vastly.  This is mainly due to healthier respect for the tissue and utilising different techniques.   Using more volume has also allowed us to achieve slightly larger sizes than before.
Important is still to have very realistic expectations.  These are not implants and thus sizes like DD and E are not achievable.  Also many women require significant lifting of the breast and this procedure is not suited for that, although more projection of the breast is often achieved.

Come see our website www.DrWolf.com 

Cosmetic procedures 2012

I've been able to audit my 2012 figures as I keep a very accurate record of every procedure I do.  This enables me to improve on my outcome and also track my performance in terms of patient satisfaction, percentage of male to females, ratio of various treatments etc.
In the UK on the whole the figures have jumbled a bit.
 
According to BAAPS Interestingly, for the first time we see a greater number of women having procedures to re-insert fat (known as fat transfer, to add volume to the face) than to remove it, in the form of liposuction. The growing appreciation that facial ageing is more than just about the effects of gravity, combined with scientific advances the rejuvenating qualities of stem cells contained within fat help explain this trend. The Nobel prize for medicine in 2012 being awarded to research in the field of stem cell physiology suggests this may be an area of continued growth in the future.”

These are the stats from BAAPS over the last year.  Important to remember is that these are only the figures of cases that have been reported and audited.

Highlights:
  • The most popular procedure was still breast augmentation (‘boob jobs’) but numbers dipped by 1.6%, from 10,015 in 2011 to 9,854 in 2012
  • All anti-ageing procedures experienced a double-digit rise including face (up 14%) and brow (up 17%) lifts, eyelid surgery and fat transfer (both up 13%).  Fat transfer to the face as taken the UK by storm.
  • Male brow lifts went up by an impressive 19% from 125 to 149, facelifts up 14%, eyelid surgery by 11% and even fat transfer procedures to the face (to restore lost volume) by 10%
  • Women had more fat-injecting than fat-removing procedures for the first time, with 2,641 fat transfer procedures compared with 2,638 liposuction opWe combine our VASER technique with fat transfer and thus achieve two results in one.  Its become one of our most sought after treatment, especially as an alternative to breast implants.
  • In contrast, demand for body-shaping procedures such as liposuction and tummy tucks tumbled by 14% and 12% respectively, for both genders combined
  • Male breast (or ‘moob’) reduction surgery, possibly shunned in favour of new non-surgical approaches, was down by 18% - yet still maintained its place as the third most popular procedure for men.  We have definitely seen a rise in male chest reductions.  As we only perform the minimally invasive VASER technique it is much more attractive as a day case procedure.
  • Male surgery overall fell by 4.5%, from 4,298 ops performed in 2011 to 4,102 in 2012, but men still account for roughly one in ten of all cosmetic surgery patients