Breast Fat Transfer Augmentation

An alternative to breast implants that increases the size and volume of your breasts by using the fat from your own body.

Same day procedure

Compression garments worn for 6 weeks

1-2 cup size increase

Assessment required

Dr Mitchell Kim Explains Breast Fat Transfer & BBL

04:18

Call 1300 138 797

We’re ready to answer any of your questions, call or ask us below

Call 1300 138 797

We’re ready to answer any of your questions, call or ask us below

THE RESULTS

Shaping and increasing bust size without implants

Breast Fat Transfer Before & After

View photos

The best candidates for fat transfer 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 from the 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.

*Results may vary from patient to patient.
**All photos are of patients from Cosmos Clinic, and all ‘after’ images are taken 6 weeks post operation.

THE PROCEDURE

Gently removing fat from unwanted areas to create a natural breast lift with a modest increase in size

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

Vaser 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.

Costs for Breast Augmentation via Fat Transfer vary depending on your overall situation, expectations and degree of liposuction being performed. As a guide:

Where liposuction is performed on one area and fat transfer to the breast, the cost is $8,000
The initial consultation is between $150 – $220

FROM

$8,000.

Locations available

Sydney

Adelaide

Gold Coast

Melbourne

OUR EXPERIENCE

Bringing science to the art of beauty

Your initial Breast Fat Transfer consultation and subsequent procedure can be undertaken at one of our cosmetic clinics in Australia.

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. 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. Cosmos Clinic now uses Vaser Liposuction, which is gentler than Bodyjet, and has been trained by Dr Roger Khoury of Miami Breast Center.

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, please use the contact form located at the bottom of this page to send us images of the areas you wish to have treated, which Cosmos Clinic you’d like treatment at, and where you’re located in the description so our staff can include all the appropriate information as part of your personalised quote.

50 years

of collective experience and the latest medical equipment

10 years

of experience performing Vaser Liposuction

15,000

surgical procedures in the last 10 years

About us

The team

POST TREATMENT

Recovery & what to expect after breast fat transfer procedure

Most patients can return home from the hospital on the day of their breast fat transfer procedure. You will find that your breasts are already bigger and may even look larger than you initially expected – this is because only around 80 percent of the transferred fat cells will survive, so your surgeon will inject extra fat to ensure an optimal result. As swelling subsides in the following weeks, you will begin to better see your new chest contour.

In the days after surgery, you may experience some pain and discomfort at both your liposuction sites and the breasts. However, your surgeon will prescribe pain medication to help with this. You may also notice some fluid seepage at your incision points – this is completely normal and will cease within a few days.

Most patients are able to return to work and other normal activities within two to five days. The exception to this is any strenuous exercise, which must be avoided for at least a month. After your fat transfer breast augmentation, your breasts will be supported in a post-operative bra, and you will need to avoid wearing a regular underwire bra for around six weeks. You will also need to wear a compression garment on your liposuction sites to minimise swelling and help the skin retract. This is usually for three weeks full time and three weeks part time.

Benefits of fat transfer breast augmentation

If you’re looking to enhance your breast size and improve your overall body contour, breast augmentation via fat transfer offers various benefits over a traditional augmentation, such as:

Natural looking results: Breast augmentation via fat transfer offers a more natural-looking breast enhancement of around one to two cup sizes. This is ideal for women looking for a subtle change in their breast size.
Reshapes the entire body: In addition to enhancing breast size, the process of fat transfer can be performed as an additional contouring tool to slim areas with stubborn fat, such as the thighs, abdomen, and hips.
Minimally invasive: Both liposuction and fat injection require very small incisions. As such, this procedure results in minimal scarring and is also linked with fewer risks and shorter recovery times.

How much does breast fat transfer cost?

We understand that cost is a major factor in your decision to undergo any form of cosmetic surgery. However, breast fat transfer is a highly individualised procedure that does not fit into a one price fits all strategy. The cost of fat transfer breast augmentation varies widely from patient to patient, depending on factors such as:

Surgeon’s fees: This is the fee charged by your Cosmos Clinic surgeon to perform the procedure. Your surgeon’s fee will depend on your body type, the chosen donor sites to be liposuctioned, and the amount of time spent in the operating theatre.
Anaesthetist’s fees: This is the fee charged by your anaesthetist to administer your medications during the procedure and is usually dependent on their qualifications and experience. If you choose to have your procedure under general anaesthesia, you can expect higher costs.
Hospital fees: This fee covers the use of hospital facilities and usually includes the time spent in the operating theatre, as well as any time needed to recover from anaesthesia.

At Cosmos Clinic, our fat transfer breast augmentation procedures start from $8,000, where liposuction is performed on one area only. However, your final costs will ultimately be determined by the factors mentioned above. To receive the most accurate breast fat transfer quote, please organise a consultation with one of our surgeons.

What is 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, one to two 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, including breast enhancement.

During the procedure, excess fat will 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 breast augmentation (with fat injections) will depend on how gently the fat tissue is transferred from the donor site to the breast. It is important to note that not all the fat cells injected into the breast survive the transfer process. The Vaser liposuction technique removes fat more gently than traditional liposuction so that about 80% of the fat cells survive the transfer into the breast tissue. This makes the Vaser 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). The breasts can be enlarged by one to two cup sizes with a fat transfer with this breast surgery. If you want a larger increase, it would be advised to get natural-looking breast silicone implants or have multiple fat transfer sessions to the breast spaced three to six months apart.

Am I a candidate for fat transfer breast augmentation?

Breast fat transfer is a suitable option for women looking for a natural enhancement in breast size without the use of implants. You may be an ideal candidate for this procedure if you fit the following criteria:

You are in good physical and mental health
You have realistic expectations regarding what breast fat transfer can achieve
You are a stable, healthy weight
You are unsuitable for breast implant surgery
You have firm, elastic skin
You do not have any blood circulation problems
You have enough fat stores to harvest and transfer
You are a non-smoker or are willing to quit before and after surgery

Ultimately, the best way to determine whether you are a candidate for fat transfer to the breasts is to meet with our surgeons for a consultation at Cosmos Clinic.

How do I prepare for breast fat transfer surgery?

During your fat transfer breast augmentation consultation, your surgeon will give you specific pre-operative instructions. Smokers will need to quit at least two weeks prior to surgery, as smoking can delay healing and increase surgical complications. Additionally, your surgeon may ask that you avoid certain medications that could lead to excessive bleeding during and after surgery. We also suggest preparing for recovery by purchasing some comfortable clothing, filling any required prescriptions, and preparing some healthy meals. You should also arrange for someone to pick you up from the hospital and, if possible, help with tasks at home for the first few days after surgery.

How long does the breast fat transfer procedure take?

During your breast fat transfer, you will usually spend between two and four hours in the operating theatre, depending on the amount of fat transferred to achieve your desired outcome.

Is fat transfer to the breast painful?

Your breast fat transfer will be performed under local anaesthesia and twilight sedation, so you should not experience any pain during the procedure. Some discomfort and pain are to be expected during recovery, which you can alleviate with medications prescribed by your surgeon.

When will I see the results of my breast fat transfer?

While you will notice an enhancement in the size of your breasts immediately after surgery, this is mainly due to post-operative swelling. As this swelling subsides, you will slowly begin to see your new breast contour. You can expect initial results to appear around six to eight weeks after surgery, with final results visible within six months.

How long will my fat transfer breast augmentation results last?

All of the fat that survives the transfer process will remain in your breasts permanently. However, weight fluctuations after surgery can interfere with the volume of your breasts. Thus, we recommend that patients follow a healthy diet and exercise routine after their breast fat transfer in order to maintain results in the long term.

Where does the donor fat come from?

The ideal donor site for breast fat transfer is different for everyone and will depend on where you have enough excess fat available to harvest. However, common liposuction sites include the abdomen, thighs, hips and back. During your consultation at Cosmos Clinic, your fat transfer surgeon will help determine which areas of the body have an appropriate amount of excess fat.

Will I have visible scars after my breast fat transfer?

Breast fat transfer is sometimes referred to as a scarless breast augmentation; however, this isn’t entirely accurate, as scarring is an inevitable part of any procedure. Despite this, significant scarring is very rare after breast fat transfer, as the incisions required to perform liposuction and inject the transferred fat are both very small and will be placed in locations that can be easily hidden.

How many fat transfers will I need?

When considering breast fat transfer, you will need to keep in mind that not all of the fat will take. In order to survive, the transferred fat will need to create a new blood supply to the body. If this fails, you may need up to three or four fat transfers to create your desired outcome. However, at Cosmos Clinic, we use advanced techniques that ensure a survival rate of over 80 percent so that you can achieve ideal results in one procedure.

Will breast fat transfer increase my risk of breast cancer?

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 and 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. It is important to note that there is also a risk of fat necrosis/calcification and cysts (5% chance) and infection (1% chance). As such, 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.

What are the risks and side effects of fat transfer breast augmentation?

No cosmetic procedure is free of risk. However, our Cosmos Clinic surgeons have vast liposuction experience and have performed thousands of fat transfer breast augmentation procedures Australia-wide without incident. Some of the potential side effects to be aware of following your breast fat transfer include: