Natural Breast Augmentation (Fat Transfer)

Fat transfer, also known as fat grafting, is an advanced surgical treatment that involves harvesting and filtering unwanted fat cells through liposuction techniques. It is a safe and minimally invasive procedure that is commonly used to reshape breasts.

Fat transfers to the breasts occur in two consecutive procedures. In the first procedure, fat issue is harvested using a small syringe from other areas of the body, such as the thighs, stomach, or buttocks, through liposuction. In the second procedure, the extracted fat tissue is refined into pure fat and re-injected into the breasts to increase their natural contours and enhance their size and shape. In order to ensure the survival of the tissue, it is injected in small, rather than large quantities.  

The fat transfer procedure is longer than the procedure for inserting implants. It can take around three hours. This is because the fat transfer procedure is broken up into two parts and requires more meticulous techniques, such as carefully harvesting the fat tissue, preparing it, and then carefully re-injecting it into the breast to produce a natural appearance.

The whole procedure is conducted through multiple 2 to 3mm incisions, leaving very small scars that are nearly invisible. Depending on the patient and surgeons’ preferences and suitability, it is usually performed under local or general anaesthesia. It takes around one week for the pain to subside. Within one month after the procedure, the patient will have recovered fully and back to their normal routine.

Natural Breast Augmentation is recommended for those who want a more natural-looking breast augmentation. Suitable patients will have enough fat from other parts of the body to transfer and, are not considering having children within the next year and do not require a breast uplift also. For those who want a more significant increase in their bust size, we recommend surgical breast augmentation with implants.

Natural breast augmentation is the perfect solution if you are looking to refine your shape rather than significantly alter it. This procedure will give you fuller and more shapely breasts. It is useful for young breasts, but currently extremely useful for refining the result of all types of breast reconstructive surgery. The prominent top and inner edges of a breast implant can be disguised. The empty upper pole of an older breast after childbirth can be plumped out.

For those who want a more significant increase in their bust size, we usually recommend surgical breast augmentation with implants. However, not everyone wants foreign material inserted into the body and natural breast augmentation using your own fat is attractive. The main point to consider is that the enlargement will be limited. Do not expect to be more than a cup size bigger.

A second operation will produce the same improvement. This, of course, depends on you having enough fat available. Many patients asking for breast enlargement naturally have a slim, athletic figure and have very little fat to spare. Your suitability for this procedure will be assessed during your initial consultation and examination.

It is important to be open and honest with your consultant so you can move forward with a procedure that can achieve the results you are looking for. Natural breast augmentation is a perfect solution for many patients, but be aware that there are limitations to the results of a fat transfer procedure that surgical implant augmentation does not have. You should not, for instance, be wanting to breastfeed within the next year

For some people, natural breast augmentation via fat transfer has some added benefits to it. Your breasts are being augmented with fat cells taken from another part of your body by liposuction, so you are really having two procedures. The liposuction will slim and define the part of your body you are taking the excess fat from.

The final result of your fat transfer to breast procedure will depend on your current breast size and the amount of fat that can be extracted to be re-distributed. You may need several sessions to achieve the full look. The best way to find out exactly what you should have for your specific case is to book a consultation with one of our experienced surgeons at the Cadogan Clinic.

Yes, it does.

We use fat in three ways to enhance the breast at the Cadogan Clinic:

+ To improve the shape after breast augmentation to disguise visible edges. These can become visible in slim people across the top of the breast and in the cleavage.
+ To improve the shape after breast reconstruction or a mastectomy
+ To increase volume as a natural alternative to implants. It works well for small increases. Larger ones will require multiple procedures to build up the volume. Older people after pregnancy often develop empty breasts with stretched skin and loss of volume. Fat grafted into the upper part of the breast will give back that pertness of youth.

Whilst it is true that the degree of success of the procedure can vary from case to case (depending on the suitability of the candidate and the quality of the donor site), excellent results are typically achieved.

This procedure is also a safer way to enhance the breast than implants since no artificial, foreign substances are used; it is completely natural. Also, by inserting one’s own body cells, the likelihood of allergic reactions or other negative body responses is much lower than with implants.

Finally, it is also a great long-term solution to get rid of fat in stubborn areas and enhance the breasts in one operation.

You will see immediate results. The swelling associated with healing and the injection of local anaesthetic settles in a couple of weeks. There is also some loss of the graft itself. At the end of the day, 50-70% of the added volume remains. The appearance and feel of the breasts will continue to improve over the next few months. By 3-6 months the change is as permanent as normal breast tissue and we can look at photographs to make a final assessment.

At this point, one might want to consider if this is the result desired, or whether a further grafting session is indicated. The transferred fat is alive and behaves just like the normal breast fat. Most breast changes occur with pregnancies and rather less with age and weight. This is also the case with grafted fat. There are people who will want extra grafting to replace this further loss. It would also be perfectly safe to carry out breast lift surgery(mastopexy).

After fat transfer to your breasts, you will notice results immediately - more evidently within the first few weeks after your treatment when any swelling and bruising have subsided. The results will continue to improve over the next few months’ as your fat re-distributes itself and settles.  

The immediate concern is to support the breasts and avoid significant exercise, while the grafted fat is developing a new blood supply. This will take about 3 weeks, but it is highly recommended to wear the sports bra your surgeon suggested during both day and night for a month and in the day time for 3 months following the procedure.

There will be some swelling and bruising, accompanied by the expected discomfort, which will settle in 3 weeks. Paracetamol should be sufficient analgesia. Any stitches are removed at 7-10 days.

Some areas of the breast may feel firm or even tender for many months. This is deep bruising and fat, which is slower to incorporate.

You will be able to work from home in a couple of days and travel to work in 3-7 days. Moderate exercise is possible in 3 weeks and severe exercise in 3 months.

Your breasts have conformed to their final shape in 6 months. One of the most significant advantages of this kind of breast augmentation is that the results are permanent. Once the transferred fat cells are completely incorporated into the breast tissue, they are there for life and there's often no need for any additional fat transfer. The breasts may change shape over the patient's lifetime, of course, just as anyone's breasts will change due to the effects of age and gravity. However, the fat that was transferred and fully incorporated won't need to be removed or replaced, as is required with breast implants.

Another major advantage of the breast augmentation with fat transfer is that liposuction from the donor site also improves the body's overall silhouette permanently. It's important to note that while a significant amount of fat can be removed from the treated areas of the body during liposuction, some fat cells will be left behind. Weight gain will continue to be a possibility, just as it always is, so maintaining a healthy diet and exercise habits is important for preventing weight gain and preserving your new sleek figure.

Following fat transfer to the breasts you may have some bruising and swelling but this should subside within a couple of weeks.  Recovery time for fat transfer procedures to the body can depend on how many areas the initial liposuction was carried out on.  You may be bruised and swollen for 1-3 weeks and should avoid exercise during this time and you may wish to be off work for 1-2 weeks also.  The few days following your fat transfer augmentation you may feel some discomfort around the breasts and experience an aching sensation for a week or two following treatment - this is completely normal and will subside as will any bruising and swelling.

Fat transfer to breasts starts from £6750, however this will depend on your particular case. This can only be determined during a consultation with your surgeon, and following that an accurate price can be quoted.

After surgery, patients may experience some discomfort for a couple of days’ post-surgery –a dull ache may persist in the areas that have been treated for a further 1-4 weeks but this can be managed easily with pain killers that either your surgeon or aftercare team can provide you. 

Downtime is usually minimal following either fat transfer to body or face, however you may notice some swelling and bruising which can take up to 1-2 weeks to subside post-surgery.

Following fat transfer to the breasts for instance, your consultant will advise wearing a support bra a few days per week after surgery and for buttocks you will have a dressing in situ for ten days. Where the liposuction has been performed, you will most likely be required to wear a compression garment for around three weeks and avoid exercise for up to two weeks following your treatment.

Swelling and bruising should subside within a couple of weeks following fat transfer to the face, which you will be able to conceal well with makeup.  Recovery time for fat transfer procedures to the body are typically longer than the face depending on how many areas the initial liposuction was carried out on.