When it comes to breast augmentation, many patients want results that look and feel as natural as possible—enhanced without calling obvious attention to the surgery. For the right candidate, fat transfer breast augmentation offers a beautiful, organic option, using your own fat to subtly enhance the breasts. At Ford Plastic Surgery, I perform this procedure for patients who want to slim one area of the body while shaping the breasts with subtle, natural volume.
What Is Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation?
In a breast augmentation with fat grafting procedure, I use gentle liposuction to collect fat from one or more areas of the body—typically the abdomen, flanks, thighs, or back. The fat is then purified and meticulously injected into the breasts to enhance their shape, volume, and symmetry.
Because it is your body’s own tissue, most of the fat integrates naturally, establishing a blood supply and living in its new home as if it had always been there. Since not all of the fat survives the procedure, sometimes we will perform another round of fat grafting at a later stage.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Natural Breast Augmentation?
This procedure can be a good option for women who want a modest size increase (usually about one cup size) or who wish to refine the results of a previous surgery. It’s also an excellent approach for correcting asymmetry or volume loss after pregnancy or weight changes.
For patients experiencing sagging or deflation, I may recommend combining a breast lift with fat transfer. A lift reshapes and repositions the breasts for a more youthful profile, while fat grafting restores lost volume, especially in the upper portion of the breast.
This procedure is best suited for women who:
- Are looking for subtle, natural breast enhancement
- Have enough excess fat to be safely harvested
- Prefer a solution that doesn’t involve implants
Compared to breast implants, the increase in size from fat grafting is subtle. For this reason, fat transfer breast augmentation patients who would like larger increases in size should consider breast implants. During your consultation, I’ll evaluate your goals and anatomy to determine the best approach for your unique anatomy and goals.
The Dual Benefit: Liposuction and Breast Augmentation in One
One of the most rewarding aspects of this procedure is that it allows for dual contouring—liposuction and breast augmentation performed together. Not only do you gain subtle enhancement in the breasts, but you also enjoy a slimmer, more sculpted appearance in the donor area. This often creates a more defined waistline or flatter abdomen, which further highlights the enhanced breast contour.
While fat transfer is appealing, it’s important to know that not all the transferred fat will “take” to its new placement. Typically, about 60% to 80% of the fat remains long-term. To account for this, I often slightly overfill the breasts during surgery.
A Hybrid Approach: Implants + Fat Grafting
Some patients come to me looking for more volume than fat transfer alone can provide, but still want the soft, natural feel of their own tissue. In these cases, a hybrid augmentation—a combination of implants and fat grafting—can be an ideal solution.
This approach uses an implant to provide foundational volume, while fat is grafted around it to refine the shape, correct asymmetries, and soften visible edges. It’s especially helpful for patients with thinner breast tissue or a more athletic frame, and it creates incredibly natural-looking cleavage and contours.
Long-Term Results and Revisions
Understandably, patients often ask about what to expect from breast fat transfer after 5 years or more. In my experience, fat that successfully grafts becomes a permanent part of the breasts. However, changes in weight, pregnancy, or aging may affect the volume over time. If desired, a touch-up procedure or additional fat transfer can be considered in the future.
What To Expect During Your Recovery
One of the main advantages of fat grafting is the relatively smooth recovery. Because the breasts aren’t surgically opened in the same way as with traditional augmentation, there’s typically less discomfort in the chest area. That said, you’ll have two healing zones—the breasts and the liposuction sites.
Here’s a general overview of the fat grafting recovery time for the breast and donor areas:
- Swelling and bruising are most noticeable during the first 2 to 3 weeks.
- Most patients are back to light daily activities within a few days.
- Compression garments are worn on the donor sites to support healing.
- Strenuous activity and exercise should be avoided for 3 to 4 weeks.
You’ll begin to notice visible improvement in breast shape within the first few weeks, as initial swelling starts to subside. However, because some of the transferred fat is naturally reabsorbed by the body, the final shape and volume typically stabilize between 3 to 6 months post-surgery. This allows time for the surviving fat cells to fully integrate and for your body to heal.
Will I Have Scars?
Scarring with this technique is minimal. Both the fat harvesting and injection sites require only tiny incisions—often about the size of a grain of rice. These are typically placed in discreet, natural creases and tend to fade well over time.
Compared to traditional augmentation or lift procedures, fat transfer breast augmentation offers a significant advantage in terms of scar visibility.
Get Started
As a Royal College-certified plastic surgeon, my goal is always to help you feel more confident and comfortable in your own skin. Whether you’re considering fat grafting breast augmentation as a standalone option or as part of a more comprehensive surgical plan, I’m here to guide you through the process with expert care and personalized recommendations.
Start your breast enhancement journey today by requesting a consultation online or calling Ford Plastic Surgery at (416) 925-7337.
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