Boosting Bride-to-Be's Confidence in Wedding Dress Fittings with 'Chest' ... How to Add Volume

Since an average of over 1 million fat-derived adult stem cells must be administered to increase the engraftment rate of fat cells in stem cell breast augmentation, it is advisable to find a hospital equipped with a cell counting device. ⓒHealthO

Ms. Kim (30), a prospective bride, is six months away from her wedding. She wants to get into full "bridal care" mode, but she can't bring herself to do it because of her busy work schedule. More than dieting or skincare, what she cannot give up is her "breasts." Although her breasts are not small at 75B cup, they sag slightly, so she feels somewhat disappointed because the volume of her upper breasts is low. The wedding dress she has her eye on also features a design that emphasizes the cleavage, so she is afraid that her flat chest will be exposed. She is hesitant about getting implants because it is burdensome, and she is also worried about getting fat grafting because the volume disappears quickly. Furthermore, she is wavering between having surgery and worrying that if the surgical site does not settle naturally within six months, it will be all for nothing.

Breast augmentation using implants offers dramatic results with a single procedure that lasts permanently. However, post-operative side effects persist for several days, interfering with daily life. Furthermore, post-procedure care, such as massage, is quite extensive. A significant number of people are hesitant due to concerns about side effects, including capsular contracture (hardening of the tissue around the implant) and an unnatural appearance.

On the other hand, autologous fat grafting is gaining popularity because it allows for breast enlargement with a natural shape. Since surgery and discharge can be completed within a single day, there is no disruption to daily life the following day. It is also highly recommended for brides-to-be who are preparing for their wedding while working. However, the engraftment survival rate remains in the 20–30% range, making it difficult to maintain the results for more than six months. Caution is required, as attempting to increase the amount of fat excessively due to greed can lead to side effects such as fat necrosis and calcification.

In such cases, 'stem cell autologous fat breast augmentation' can be considered, as it overcomes the disadvantage of low engraftment rates. This procedure is attracting attention for raising the engraftment rate—a limitation of simple fat grafting (around 20–30%)—to the 70% range. While the process of harvesting fat cells from the patient is the same as in autologous fat grafting, this method involves isolating fat-derived adult stem cells, mixing them with fat tissue at a ratio of 1:4, and injecting them into the breasts. Intracellular growth factors have a positive effect on the survival of the fat cells, resulting in a high engraftment rate.

Dr. Shin Dong-jin, director of Apgujeong SC301 Clinic, explained, “If fat cells are simply transplanted, they are absorbed and lost to the original breast tissue after a short time. To overcome this, stem cells must be extracted from the fat tissue, mixed with purified fat cells in a specific ratio, and then injected into the breasts.”

Although it varies from person to person, for an average body type, approximately 1000 cc of fat can be extracted. The harvested fat is separated into microfat and injected using a syringe. Typically, the amount of fat transplanted to one breast is about 200 to 250 cc, which is similar to the size of commonly used implants.

No matter how good a stem cell breast augmentation may be, there is a risk of a low engraftment rate if the procedure is not performed precisely due to a doctor's lack of experience. There are quite a few hospitals that claim to offer stem cell procedures but lack both the equipment and the technology to handle cells. This means you must find a place that does it properly.

To increase the engraftment rate of fat cells in stem cell breast augmentation, an average of over 1 million fat-derived adult stem cells must be administered. You must find a hospital that uses a 'cell counting' device to directly verify how many stem cells have been injected.
Director Shin Dong-jin pointed out, “Even if you possess equipment such as TGI or HuriCell for extracting stem cells, it is impossible to gauge the engraftment rate based on the equipment's performance without a specialized auxiliary system for cell counting.” He added, “Above all, it is crucial to receive treatment at a facility that has accumulated surgical experience and objectively proven stable procedural effects through extensive research.”