The Next Best Thing

Fat transfer, once considered unsuitable for breast augmentation because of the body's ability to reabsorb the fat, may now be successful with a new technique designed by the American company, Cytori Therapeutics.

The new breast augmentation technique, called "Celution", essentially takes the fat stem cells from fat so that they can be reinjected into the breasts. Doing so promotes growth of tissue over a period of time (about six months), thereby augmenting the size of the breasts with more natural looking and feeling results than silicone or saline could ever achieve. The fat can be taken from other parts of the body that have high fat deposits, such as the stomach, thighs and buttocks by liposuction.

The technique is still in its clinical testing and research stage. Successful results were achieved in Japan, by 19 women so far. If all goes well, the company hopes to make it available to the public by 2008.