LIPOCLINIC St. Gallen
9000 St. Gallen
LIPOCLINIC Zürich
8004 Zürich
In principle, any breast can be augmented with autologous fat. The more "beautiful" the shape of a breast, the better the end result. "Sagging" breasts will not change their shape, but it is possible to rebuild the usually sunken upper half of the breast with autologous fat treatment. Another great advantage of autologous fat is the fact that the new breast feels completely natural. You do not notice that anything has been "done" to the breast.
The movement of the breast, e.g., when lying down, is also completely natural – it does not protrude in a pyramid shape as with a silicone implant. All these reasons mean that women are increasingly opting for this method.
Dr. Nikolaus Linde works with the BEAULI™ method, which prepares the autologous fat perfectly. This procedure is characterized by particularly gentle extraction, preparation and insertion of the fat cells. This results in a significantly higher healing rate (approx. 50-70%) of the transplanted fat, and once ingrown fat is permanently retained.
As a rule, 100-200ml of autologous fat is injected per breast per session, although more volume may be injected in individual cases. The decisive factor here is how the shape of the breast develops during the injection, and how the pressure of the enlarged breast on the injected fat behaves. If the pressure on the living fat cells is too great, they will die. In any case, a significant enlargement is visible after the treatment, and studies also prove the long-lasting growth rates of autologous fat thanks to the BEAULI™ method.
Water-jet liposuction, or WAL for short, is currently considered the best method for obtaining autologous fat.
In contrast to conventional liposuction, very little local anesthesia is used and the fat is "washed out" of its compound with the help of a high-pressure water jet.
Studies have shown a far greater proportion of living fat tissue thanks to this innovative technology compared to previous methods. The harvested autologous fat is then specially prepared and injected where it is needed during the procedure.
The procedure is performed under local anesthesia in twilight sleep and the patient can go home immediately after the treatment.
The fat removal area is pre-treated with a tumescent solution (local anesthetic) as described on the homepage. The fat is then removed using the gentle WAL procedure and injected directly into another area.
Please note: Fat is often removed from the knee, abdomen or hip area. Therefore, please bring wide trousers or a loose skirt with you so that you can easily put the thick bandage under your clothes after the procedure. You should also bring warm socks and a dark T-shirt, just in case.
You can eat normal meals before the procedure, our short anesthesia has nothing to do with a normal anesthetic. You can expect to spend a total of three hours with us; this includes a welcome, explanation of the procedure, treatment, dressing, short rest with drinks, snacks and farewell. Due to the twilight sleep, you must be picked up and under no circumstances are you allowed to drive a vehicle yourself.
Afterwards, "fate" will determine how much fat survives the treatment and forms into the tissue where it was injected. Every fat cell that survives remains there forever – the result is permanent. Life circumstances, smoking, genetics etc. can influence the growth of fat and stem cells.
A follow-up check is advisable after 4 to 8 weeks. The result is then assessed and another "session" is planned if necessary. Depending on the desired result, one treatment is often sufficient, but sometimes two or more sessions are necessary.
In principle, the risks are minimal. The result is not always satisfactory with a single treatment and further treatment is required. Significant complications of the injection, which used to occur with poor techniques (nodule formation, melting and cyst formation), are now very rare because the quality of the fat has improved considerably, which also explains the high growth rate.
As the treatment takes place under the skin, the patient can return to the sun immediately. A "time-out" is not necessary; the patient can return to social life immediately after the treatment. Infections (inflammations) are also very rare; an antibiotic is given as a preventative measure with every treatment, which virtually rules out infections.
Many women feel insecure about the size and shape of their breasts, and there are many reasons for this: Some have always had small breasts and would like to look a little more "feminine". Others complain about sagging breasts after breastfeeding their baby. Still other women are no longer satisfied with the shape of their breasts as they get older and would like to have their dream body back. Whatever your reason, our specialists will be happy to take the time to answer all your questions in the context of your individual needs and wishes.
The aim of a successful breast augmentation is to create breasts that are the perfect size for a woman's shape and complement her. This can be achieved using either implants (a wide range of sizes, shapes and textures are available) or lipofilling. Lipofilling is the process of removing unwanted fat deposits while harvesting the body's own fat tissue through liposuction. This fat is then filtered and injected directly into the breast.
However, there are limitations to what can be achieved with autologous fat: Lipofilling is ideal for evening out differences between the two breasts or for gently "filling out" breasts (it is possible to augment a breast up to the next cup size) without the need to implant foreign material. This treatment is usually performed under local anesthesia and leaves no scars as the fat transfer is performed using injections. You can usually go home immediately after the treatment.
However, autologous fat cannot enlarge breasts, lift them or completely change their shape. Lipofilling is also not a suitable solution for patients with very little fat. Implants, on the other hand, offer a variety of sizes so that even a very slim woman can achieve a significant cup augmentation. It is important to understand that a breast implant can complicate a mammogram. It is also possible (although rare) for a breast implant to rupture. By and large, breast implants are now considered by medical experts to be a very safe and effective cosmetic procedure.
As every woman's body structure is different and every woman has different personal expectations and wishes, we recommend a free, no-obligation consultation with our experts to find out which treatment is best for you. Our experienced surgeons will be happy to take the time to explain the various options and answer all your questions.
Stem cells are cells that can develop into any type of tissue. The BEAULI™ method automatically transfers millions of stem cells from the fat tissue. This enrichment increases the fat’s survival rate and contributes to the large volume that permanently integrates into the breast.
The BEAULI™ method does not affect breast function, as the fat is injected only into existing fatty tissue, which is simply enlarged. The glandular tissue of the breast remains unchanged, so pregnancy and breastfeeding are not affected.
First, the areas for liposuction are marked. The procedure itself is painless and performed under twilight sedation with local anesthesia. After the procedure, the breasts and treated areas are wrapped in a bandage, which you may remove the next day.
You may go home right after the treatment and typically return to work within two days. In the following days, the breasts may be swollen and bruised, though significant pain is not expected. The liposuctioned areas are more sensitive, often compared to sore muscles. Bruising and swelling usually subside within three weeks. Compression garments must be worn over the liposuctioned areas for one week. A follow-up is recommended after about 4 weeks, and final results can be expected after 3 months. From the sixth week onward, no major changes occur – approximately 80% of the final result is visible by then. New long-term studies show that fat-transferred breasts may even gain more volume over time.
You will be informed about potential complications. However, side effects that are common with silicone implants have never occurred in our practice using the BEAULI™ method.
Fat resorption
Some fat cells do not survive the transfer and are broken down by the body. MRI scans taken before and six months after the procedure show that, on average, 76% of the transferred fat integrates with the BEAULI™ method. This is a statistical value – rare cases exist where little or no fat survives. Depending on the goal, a second or even third treatment may be needed to achieve the desired breast size.
Infection
In rare cases, infection can occur after the procedure. However, we administer antibiotics before and after the operation, and the BEAULI™ method uses a closed, sterile system. In all our years using this technique, we have never experienced an infection. If one does occur, it usually resolves quickly with antibiotics. Only in extremely rare cases could an abscess develop, which might require surgical treatment.
Oil cysts
The main risk of breast augmentation with fat is the formation of so-called oil cysts. These occur when large clumps of fat are injected, as was common in older methods. Much of this fat could not survive and broke down into oily cysts.
The BEAULI™ method eliminates this risk: instead of large clumps, fine droplets of fat are placed side-by-side like strings of pearls. Each fat cell is surrounded by live breast tissue, ensuring oxygen supply within hours – which explains the very high fat survival rate.
Microcalcifications
A U.S. study found that 3–4% of patients showed microcalcifications in follow-up mammograms two years after fat transfer. These are harmless and only visible in special X-ray images.
Fat injections are sometimes performed without proper handling of fat cells. For example, fat from conventional liposuction is injected directly into the breast using large cannulas. Many fat cells die, releasing oil. When this oil pools in large fat clumps, the body cannot absorb it and instead forms a capsule around it, which may calcify. If calcifications are extensive, the entire breast can become hardened.
The BEAULI™ method is fundamentally different from such techniques, and these side effects are unknown with our approach.
Book a non-binding consultation at LIPOCLINIC to receive detailed information about the cost of breast augmentation using fat transfer.
| Body contouring of up to 3 problem zones (flat rate) | CHF 6000.00 |
|---|---|
| Each additional fat injection | CHF 3000.00 |
We understand that aesthetic treatment needs to be carefully considered. We are therefore happy to take the time to answer all your questions during a free, no-obligation initial consultation. Arrange your consultation appointment today at one of our two LIPOCLINICs.
If you would like a brief online preliminary clarification before your consultation, you can also contact us by e-mail.
No matter how you want to reach us – we look forward to hearing/reading from you!
