Drastic weight loss to fit bikini, 'missing breasts'... 'Stem cell breast augmentation' effects

Drastic weight loss to fit bikini, 'missing breasts'... 'Stem cell breast augmentation' effects

Natural enlargement preserving the original breast shape… Over 1 million stem cells must be administered for a high engraftment rate.





To increase the engraftment rate in stem cell breast augmentation, an average of over 1 million adipose-derived adult stem cells must be administered. ©HealthO

Ms. Seo (29, female), an office worker, has been going "all-in" on dieting since January with the goal of "wearing a bikini before turning thirty." She succeeded in losing nearly 30 kg, achieving the "dream physique" of 45 kg at 162 cm tall. However, perhaps due to the sudden weight loss, her chest has disappeared, leaving her breastbones visibly exposed, so she does not look good in a bikini.

It is inevitable that breast fat will decrease after rapid weight loss. The breasts consist of 75% mammary glands (breast tissue) and fibrous tissue, with the remainder being fat tissue. Therefore, when weight is lost, breast fat also decreases, inevitably leading to the 'side effect' of a smaller breast size.

If you want to maintain a slim figure and a full bust size while dieting, paying attention to your diet is the priority. It is helpful to include high-protein foods such as fish, tofu, and cheese, as well as high-quality fats rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as oily fish, avocados, and olive oil. Isoflavones, which are abundant in soy products like tofu and soy milk, function similarly to the female hormone estrogen by promoting the growth and maturation of mammary gland tissue. Since these foods aid in breast muscle formation and the reduction of body fat, they help maintain bust size during a diet. However, as these effects are only visible with long-term consumption, they are not suitable for someone like Ms. Seo who is in a hurry.

After going swimsuit shopping together, Seo’s younger sister saw him come out of the fitting room and teased him, saying, "You can't tell the front from the back." Quite shocked by this, he is considering getting breast augmentation surgery, determined to achieve his goal for the year at all costs.

However, getting breast implants now would be too time-consuming. I am not even considering the currently popular 'simple autologous fat grafting breast augmentation.' This is because I have witnessed a close friend who had breast augmentation using autologous fat grafting see her breasts, which she had worked so hard to enlarge, disappear again within just three months.

In such cases, 'stem cell autologous fat grafting' can be an alternative. It is attracting attention for minimizing side effects such as capsular contracture (hardening of the area around the implant) and foreign body sensation caused by implant insertion, and raising the engraftment rate to 70%, which was a limitation of simple fat grafting surgery.

Dr. Shin Dong-jin, director of Apgujeong SC301 Clinic, said, “The process of harvesting fat cells from the patient’s abdomen and thighs is similar to autologous fat grafting, but then fat-derived adult stem cells are isolated and mixed with fat tissue in a 1:4 ratio before being injected into the breasts,” adding, “Growth factors within the stem cells have a positive effect on the survival of fat cells, thereby increasing the engraftment rate.”

Based on an average body type, about 1000 cc of fat can be harvested, and the amount of fat transplanted to one breast is around 200 to 250 cc, which is similar to the size of commonly used implants.

Director Shin Dong-jin stated, “The reason stem cell breast augmentation looks more natural than autologous fat grafting is that the patient’s own stem cells are used, which can be likened to a balloon,” adding, “You can think of it as swelling up while maintaining the original shape of your breasts.”

He enhanced the safety and reliability of the procedure by publishing an international paper, the first in Korea to demonstrate a high fat engraftment rate of over 70% driven by the effects of stem cells. He revealed the results of an analysis of stem cell breast augmentation outcomes for 200 patients aged 20 to 50 who were available for follow-up observation in 2013. The findings showed that chest circumference increased from 79.11 cm pre-operatively to 84.02 cm post-operatively for those in their 20s (77 patients), from 80.58 cm to 85.19 cm for those in their 30s (80 patients), and from 83.40 cm to 88.41 cm for those in their 40s and 50s (43 patients). Regardless of age, chest circumference increased by an average of approximately 5 cm. The women who underwent the procedure received an injection of at least 90 cc and up to 260 cc of fat cells and stem cells into each breast.

Director Shin Dong-jin emphasized, “No matter how good the stem cell breast augmentation is, there is a risk of a low engraftment rate if it is not performed precisely due to a doctor’s lack of experience.” He added, “To increase the engraftment rate in stem cell breast augmentation, an average of over 1 million adipose-derived adult stem cells must be administered.” He further stated, “To achieve satisfactory results, you must find a clinic that directly verifies the exact number of stem cells injected using a ‘cell counting’ device.”