Breast Enlargement Observed After Power Liposuction: A Retrospective Review

BACKGROUND After undergoing power liposuction to various body areas, a significant number of subjects reported an increase in their breast size that occurred spontaneously several months after their procedure. OBJECTIVE To establish the incidence of breast enlargement among subjects who underwent power liposuction and to identify variables that are associated with the phenomenon. METHODS A retrospective chart review and patient interview were performed from among 73 subjects who had undergone power liposuction at our center. Variables such as age, original weight, volume of aspirated fat, estrogen supplements, amount of weight loss or gain, and body areas aspirated were compared between those who experienced breast enlargement and those who did not. RESULTS Thirty‐four percent of the subjects (25 of 73) reported an increase in breast size. Of this group, 32% (8 of 25) reported an increase in cup size of one or more. Variables associated with the cohort who experienced breast enlargement included larger volume of fat aspiration and liposuction in the abdomen and hip location. CONCLUSION Breast enlargement was observed in 34% of the subjects after power liposuction either in the form of a larger bra cup size or a subjective feeling of increased fullness. We hypothesize that an altered androgen to estrogen ratio after liposuction may be responsible for this change.