Have you lost volume in your breasts after children, or perhaps you never quite loved your size and have always wanted more.
But, you’re not sold on breast implants and want to know “can I use fat grafting instead of implants?"
The answer is ‘maybe’ – really depending on your body and goals and in this article I’ll explain when breast fat transfer vs implants is best used and the long term results.
What is fat grafting or fat transfer?
Fat grafting (also called autologous fat transfer) is the removal of fat using liposuction from one area and then reinjection into another. For example, using fat from your thighs and putting it in your breasts.
Fat grafting involves harvesting fat from one area of the body using liposuction techniques. Once enough fat has been removed from the donor site, the fat cells are purified using a centrifuge, which spins the fat and removes impurities. The fat is then injected into the target area using small incisions to add volume or create contour.
Fat grafting vs implants
You may be thinking fat grafting sounds more appealing because it is your own natural material, but using fat alone to increase volume in the breasts will not always give you the shape you want, and the long term results in added volume is very variable as a percentage of the fat sadly doesn’t survive.
The volume factor
Many of the results I’ve seen using fat transfer alone look reasonably good in the early post-operative photos thanks to the transfer and swelling. But in the longer term, my own experience and that available in published research, is that up to 50% of the fat dies within 6 months, and more in the longer term. That’s why it is VERY difficult to find proper before and after photos with the patients at 12 months or beyond.
For patients seeking to increase breast size, fat transfer alone is generally not the answer. At most, you can expect stand-alone fat transfer to increase breast volume by about half a cup size.
The shape factor
The other factor is the shape that breast surgery can provide. For most of my patients, they want a lifted look with visible (but not over the top) cleavage. That is something that fat transfer can simply not achieve in the longer term.
One of the best ways I’ve heard this described is like “adding apple sauce to a bag” by a colleague in the US, Dr Subbio.
By that he means, the fat will add a bit of volume, but do little to the breast shape, especially in cases where shape is a significant issue like cases of laxity post babies or weight loss, and tuberous breasts.
A breast implant however, will hold it’s shape in the long term, creating the curves my patients want.
If you are serious about achieving upper pole fullness and long term results overall, I would recommend using implants.
Comparison: Breast Fat Transfer vs Implants
| Fat Transfer | Breast Implants | |
| Material: | Own fat | Silicone gel |
| Volume increase: | Limited | Customisable based on aesthetic goals |
| Suitability: | Must have enough excess fat | Suitable for patients with BMI <25 |
| Longevity: | Partially permanent - a percentage of transferred fat may not survive | 10 years or more |
When is fat grafting suitable?
Fat grafting is best used for correction of volume, shape and contour deformities. For this reason, I use fat grafting in certain cases where patients want a little extra coverage in combination with implants, which is more common amongst very slim patients or those with breast or chest abnormalities such as pigeon chest.
I also use fat grafting with lift surgery, as the surgical lift is creating the new shape, so the fat transfer simply has to add a little volume. But I caution these patients that the loss of this fat is variable, so to see it as the icing on the cake, rather than the main game.
FAQs about fat transfer to the breasts
How much does breast augmentation fat transfer cost?
Fat grafting starts from $4,000 on top of the fees associated with a lift or augmentation. This covers the extra time in the operating theatre for the liposuction to harvest the fat, prepare it for grafting and then insertion in the breast. It also covers the fat grafting equipment which is new for each patient. To find out more about overall costs and the augmentation and lift procedures by visiting our breast augmentation or breast lift pages.
Will I lose my fat transfer if I lose weight?
Any weight fluctuation of 2kg or more can have an impact on your surgical results. Fat grafting is most successful in patients who are at a stable weight and body fat percentage.
What will happen if I gain weight after my fat transfer?
When we gain weight, our fat cells increase in size, causing areas of the body to appear bigger. The same concept applies to artificially transferred fat. If fat has been transferred to the breasts, weight gain will often make the breasts appear larger.
What if I don't have enough body fat for fat transfer?
If there are not enough fat cells available in the required donor site, you may not be a suitable candidate for fat grafting. Particularly for low BMI patients hoping to achieve a significant increase in breast volume, breast implant surgery may offer a more predictable outcome. An in person consultation is required to determine your suitability for fat transfer.
What are the risks associated with fat grafting?
Some of the risks associated with breast fat transfer include fat reabsorption or death of a percentage of the transferred fat cells, variable results, fat necrosis and the possibility of further surgery. More information about the general risks of plastic surgery can be found on our dedicated risks page.
I'm interested in combining fat transfer with my breast augmentation - what could this look like on my body?
To explore what a breast augmentation may look like on your own body, you can book a $100 Vectra 3D surgery simulation with our Practice Manager Jessica. While this does not simulate what fat grafting would look like, this service works to simulate what different implant sizes and shapes can look on your own body.
The appointment gives you the opportunity to talk to Jessica about the surgical process, costs, choice of hospital and review of previous patient case studies.
Can I see a video explanation of fat transfer?
Dr Nick and Amber Moncrieff sat down at home on a Sunday to answer all the FAQs about fat transfer in breast surgery in a short video for social media. A copy is available here.
Blog Author:
Dr Nicholas Moncrieff, Cosmetic Plastic Surgeon
About Dr Moncrieff
Dr Moncrieff focuses exclusively on breast reductions, breast lifts, breast augmentation, tummy tucks and body lifts.
He is one of only a handful of Plastic Surgeons across Australia with this sole breast and body focus.
Dr Moncrieff has performed thousands of surgical procedures over more than three decades in medicine. Over 20,000 of these procedures have been in Newcastle.
Learn more information about Dr Moncrieff.
