Breast enlargement after liposuction: comparison of incidence between power liposuction versus traditional liposuction.

Background: We previously reported that a significant percentage of patients who underwent power liposuction noted an increase in their breast size.

Objective: To determine whether the documented observation of breast enlargement after power liposuction also occurs after traditional liposuction.

Methods: Charts were retrospectively reviewed and patient interviews were conducted for 70 female patients who had traditional liposuction. Analyses were made based on several factors, including age, pre- and postoperative weight, total fat aspirate volume, treated body areas, and hormonal medications for patients who did and did not have breast enlargement. These results were then compared with patients who experienced an increase in breast size after power, liposuction.

Results: Thirty-seven percent of the study patients (26 of 70) undergoing traditional liposuction reported an increase in breast size. Sixty-five percent of these women (17 of 26) reported an increase of one or more cup sizes. Larger fat aspirate volumes and liposuction of the abdomen and hip or abdomen, hip, and thigh areas were factors associated with the patients who noted breast enlargement after traditional liposuction.

Conclusions: An increase in breast size was reported in 37% of patients after traditional liposuction and in 34% of patients after power liposuction. We conclude that breast enlargement after both traditional and power liposuction is not related to the mechanical effects of power liposuction. We propose the same hypothesis reported in our previous study that an altered androgen to estrogen ratio after liposuction is likely responsible for this noted occurrence. Weight gain may also be a factor.