Breast Fat Transfer

Breast fat transfer, also called autologous fat transplantation (to the breasts), is a surgical procedure that plumps up a patient’s breasts  using their own, naturally-occurring fat. This treatment is an alternative to breast implants and gives a subtle, 1/2 – 1 cup size increase in breast size (* Results may vary from patient to patient).

Fat transfer to the breast is a safe, natural, non-allergenic procedure; and because it uses your own fat cells, you can never have an allergic reaction.

The Japanese have been successfully using the Fat Transfer method for over 20 years in various plastic surgery cases such as these breast enhancements. Fat transfer procedures will be offered at our Gold Coast and Adelaide clinics using the BodyJet.

During the procedure, excess fat can be removed via Liposuction from your thighs, hips, flanks, back or tummy. This fat will then be transferred to the breast for a beautiful improvement in size and shape. The success of the breast augmentation (with fat injections) will depend on how gently the fat tissue is transferred from the tummy/thighs to the breast. It is important to note that not all the fat cells injected into the breast survive the transfer process.  The Bodyjet liposuction technique removes fat more gently than traditional liposuction so that about 80%¹  of the fat cells survive the transfer into the breast tissue.

This makes the Bodyjet liposuction technique the best way to transfer body fat into the breast. With traditional liposuction, less than 50% of fat cells survived the transfer (* Results may vary from patient to patient).

With this breast surgery, the breasts can be enlarged by half to one cup size with a fat transfer. If you are wanting a larger increase, it would be advised to get natural-looking breast silicone implants or having multiple sessions of fat transfer to the breast spaced 3-6 months apart.

On the day of your fat transfer procedure, patients are given twilight sedation – which eliminates the need for general anaesthesia and its associated adverse effects.¹

Bodyjet Liposuction is then used to remove fat from the area of your choosing. The fat is then purified and the healthy fat cells are separated. These healthy fat cells are then re-injected into your breasts. Different amounts of fat may be injected into each breast to even out any size differences (breast asymmetry) already present.

The length of the procedure will vary depending on the amount of fat required and extracted via liposuction. Both procedures can be performed on the same sitting. Fat transfers have also become popular in the Buttocks region – for a procedure known as the Brazilian Butt Lift.

The breast fat transfer procedure is a day procedure performed by one of our specially trained breast surgeons. As it is a day procedure, it is important to note that you will go home on the day you receive treatment. Most patients are usually back to normal activities after about 2-5 days. You will have to wear a compression garment on the areas treated with liposuction full time for 3 weeks, and part time for a further 3 weeks. You will not be able to wear a bra for 6 weeks after the procedure.

There is no proof that a fat transfer into the breast has any impact on breast cancer, although there is also no proof that it does not. This procedure has been widely accepted in Europe & Japan for over 20 years. The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) has stated that fat transfer into the breast is as safe as other breast enlargements techniques. RACS has also stated that the fat injected into the breast does not make it more difficult to detect breast cancer.¹ 

It is important to note that there is a risk of fat necrosis/calcification and cysts (5% chance), as well as infection (1% chance). We advise that you tell the radiologist that you have had a fat transfer to the breast when you go for a mammogram, so that they can determine the difference between calcification and breast cancer.

Additionally, with fat transfer to the breast, it is important to understand that there might be slight bruising and swelling post the operation (but this will resolve within a few weeks and won’t last long-term).

The best candidate for Fat Transfers to the breasts are those who need some shape and definition as well as those who want to increase their bust size without the need for implants. Reserves of fat elsewhere on their body are needed; namely abdomen, thighs or back. It’s important to carefully consider your expectations and discuss them with your surgeon before proceeding. You must have realistic expectations.

Our surgeons, Dr Kim (Gold Coast) and Dr Rahbar (Adelaide) have been trained by Dr Klaus Ueberreiter and Dr Harmut Meyer in the Bodyjet fat grafting technique to the breast. Both these German plastic surgeons have spent time at Cosmos Clinic teaching our surgeons the safest and best way to prepare and inject fat into the breast.

Your initial Breast Fat Transfer consultation and subsequent procedure can be undertaken at one of our cosmetic clinics in Australia (be it Sydney, Adelaide or the Gold Coast).

We also treat many interstate and overseas patients each year at Cosmos Clinic.  Therefore, we have set procedures in place for those travelling to our clinics for treatment.

For travelling patients seeking minimally invasive surgery (such as Vaser Liposuction or a Brazilian Butt Lift), please send us images of the areas you wish to have treated with a brief description of the procedure you are interested in. Email us at body@cosmosclinic.com.au and our staff will give you a quote for this treatment. Should you wish to proceed with surgery, simply inform us and our surgical doctors will get back to you shortly afterwards.

For travelling patients wanting non-invasive treatments (such as dermal fillers and anti-wrinkle injections), please send your images to info@cosmosclinic.com.au with a brief outline of your desired procedure. We will give you a quote and should you wish to proceed with treatment, we can arrange an appropriate plan with you.