Jun 24, 2008 3:12 pm US/Eastern
New Technique Gives Fuller Figure Without Implants
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
There may be an option other than implants for women who want a fuller figure. Brookline dermatologist, Dr. Jafar Koupaie, is the first in the Boston area to start performing a new technique—using a woman's own stem cells to lead to breast enlargement.
Koupaie's wife, Shohreh Koupaie, was his first patient to try the procedure. After childbirth, Shohreh "really wanted something because everything was dragging down." But, she did not want to get traditional implants because of her family's history of breast cancer.
Dr. Koupaie described how this new procedure differs from traditional implants: First, fat is extracted from the patient's stomach or thigh during liposuction. Then, the extracted fat is put into a machine that separates stem cells from other materials. The segregated stem cells are then combined with the fat and injected into a woman's own breasts.
Dr. Koupaie explained that the stem cells ensure the graft grows its own blood supply, allowing breasts to grow up to three cup sizes. And, there is no risk of rejection because the cells are a woman's own. "It's natural and feels like their own tissue and their own breasts."
Shohreh was happy with her results, "I'm definitely bigger because before I was pushing a C-Cup. Now, I'm a D-Cup."
The new procedure costs about $15,000 and is not generally covered by insurance, because of its cosmetic nature.
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