Fat Transfer

Fat Transfer to Breast

at Cadogan Clinic, London’s Leading Cosmetic Surgery Specialists.

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Medically Reviewed April 2023, by Mr. Bryan Mayou (GMC: 1414396) - founder of the Cadogan Clinic and one of the world's leading plastic surgeons

What is Fat Transfer to Breast?

Fat Transfer to Breasts, also known as a Natural Breast Augmentation, is a surgical procedure which increases the size of a patient’s breasts by using your own body tissues. This involves removing fat from areas of the body where it is not wanted, processing it, and reinjecting it into the breasts. By not using implants, the results are more natural and as liposuction is used to remove the fat from other parts of the body, any concerns about areas of stubborn fat can also be addressed.

Patients consider Natural Breast Augmentation if they are concerned about the size of their breasts, but do not wish to have implants inserted.

The look and feel of the results are more natural, and some patients prefer this method over implants as there is no risk of implant migration or rupturing.

Naturally, with this procedure, there is no need for breast implant removal or replacement.

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Fat Transfer to Breast At a glance

Surgery Time

1 - 3 hours

Time off work

1 - 2 weeks

Hospital Stay

Day Case

Shower

1 week

Reasonable Mobility

48 hrs

Exercise

4 -6 weeks

Bras & Garments

6 weeks

Sexual Activity

Restricted 4 - 6 weeks

Sleeping on back

2 weeks

Full Recovery

4 - 6 weeks

Driving

2 weeks


Before and after

Why do people have Fat Transfer to Breasts?

Women lose volume in their breasts for several reasons which can make them feel self-conscious, especially if it has impacted their body’s natural proportions and they feel they look out of balance. Weight loss, hormonal changes such as the menopause, childbirth, breastfeeding, and ageing may all reduce the size of a woman’s breasts. Fat Transfer to Breasts is also suitable for women who have naturally small breasts that they feel don’t suit the size and shape of their body.

Fat Transfer to Breasts is suitable for patients who are looking for a subtle increase in their breast volume with natural results, and who don’t want to have implants inserted. The maximum size increase most women experience is around a cup size and a half. For patients looking for a larger size increase than this, then a breast enlargement with implants may be more suitable.

Fat Transfer To Breasts also has the added benefit of using liposuction, meaning areas of the body with stubborn areas of fat can be treated within the same procedure. This means a reduction in fatty deposits on the thighs, arms, tummy, or hips, which could aid with body contouring.

Who is suitable?

At Cadogan Clinic, our consultant surgeons will assess whether you are suitable for Fat Transfer to Breasts in a bespoke one to one consultation lasting between 30 and 60 minutes.

Our sugeons consider the following for your suitability:

  • You must be physically and psychologically fit and healthy with realistic expectations for your surgery
  • You must be over the age of 18 and have fully developed breasts
  • You are concerned by the size or shape of one or both of your breasts
  • You are of a stable and safe bodyweight with adequate fat deposits to extract from

Words from our clients:


The cost of Fat Transfer to Breast

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The cost of fat transfer to breasts 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. We also offer finance packages starting at 0% interest.

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What does Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation involve?

Liposuction

During the consultation, your surgeon will discuss with you the amount of fat that can be extracted and the best areas to take it from. The most usual areas are around the abdomen, flanks and thighs as there is often a high level of fat naturally in these areas.

Liposuction works by gently breaking up the fat cells under your skin using physical vibration or high pressure water jets. The fat is then extracted through a cannula, inserted into a small incision using a vacuum. The liposuction alone takes away fat from stubborn areas and creates a sculpted appearance in the areas performed.

 

Fat preparation

Before the fat is injected back into the body, it is processed to ensure it is pure and ready for your body to accept. This is done by using a piece of equipment called a centrifuge, which separates the fat from any unwanted elements such as oil, blood, and excess fluids. Your surgeon will decide how much fat to process, depending on the amount needed to be injected for the results you are looking for. The fat is extracted, prepared, and injected as part of the same procedure.

 

Fat injection

The processed fat is then reinjected into the breasts using a specific cannula. Once the fat has been injected, the surgeon will sculpt the area to give the desired shape to your breasts. During the consultation, the surgeon will explain that during fat transfer processes, it is normal for 20-40% of the fat that has been injected, to be safely and naturally absorbed back into the body.

Benefits of Natural Breast Augmentation

Fat Transfer to Breasts has a huge number of benefits to the patient, both physical and mental.

  • An enhanced, but natural appearance
    • By using state of the art fat grafting techniques it is possible to enhance the size and shape of the breasts, without using implants. As well as a more natural appearance, using the patient’s own fat reduces the risk of complications such as infection, and means your body will adjust naturally if you gain or lose weight. This maintains natural results in the long term.
  •  Improved shape and lift
    • If you are concerned about the volume of your breasts that can occur with age, weight loss, childbirth or hormonal changes, Fat Transfer to Breasts restores the youthful volume with a natural and subtle result.
  • Desired body proprtions
    • Through liposuction and fat transfer, Fat Transfer to Breasts address the shape and proportions of the body, as well as increasing the size of the breasts.
  • Increased self-confidence
    • Patients who have undergone Natural Breast Augmentation surgeries find that they are more comfortable in their bodies and their overall appearance. They are often happier with how their clothes fit and report a higher quality of life.

Fat Transfer Breast
Surgeons

We have invited a selection of the country's very best consultants to join us at the Cadogan Clinic so that you can be sure that whatever the nature of your treatment, you will be seeing one of the top practitioners in the country.


What to expect

Below you will find some key information to help you prepare for surgery and make necessary arrangements to ensure you have the support you need and that everything runs smoothly on the day.

You will meet your surgeon for up to two consultations at our award-winning Chelsea based clinic to discuss your surgery and the results you are looking for. Consultations are usually between 30-60 minutes and your surgeon will explain the best approach for you and what results you can expect.

To allow for open communication and the best consultation experience, it is a good idea to write down any questions you have for your surgeon before your consultation. This will ensure you feel fully prepared and are able to get the most from your consultation.

Your surgeon will also conduct a general health and wellness check, take your measurements and take ‘before’ photos.

Your surgeon will send your intended plan through to your patient advisor. If the surgeon has decided you are suitable for surgery, your advisor will  explain the plan, pricing and offer available dates to you, before giving you a two week cooling off period to allow you to consider whether you wish to proceed with your surgery.

If you decide to go ahead with your surgery, you will next visit the clinic on your procedure day. In the run up to your surgery, you will be asked to prepare in the following way:

  • You will need to complete your pre-operative paperwork to allow your surgical team (surgeon, anaesthetist and nurses) to review all of your medical and psychological information and advise on any changes you need to make in the run up to your surgery.
  • If you smoke or vape, your surgeon will ask you to stop for six weeks before surgery can take place. This is vital to ensure your recovery is smooth and you heal fully and properly.
  • You will also be asked to cut down on drinking alcohol as excessive alcohol consumption can also impact the healing and recovery process.
  • In the week before your procedure, avoid taking any anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen and aspirin, and any herbal supplements as these can increase the risk of bleeding
  • You will need to organise a chaperone to come and collect you after the surgery. This should be a family member or friend who can either drive you or accompany you in a taxi and stay with you for the first night
  • In the 6 hours before you arrive at the clinic, you mustn’t eat any solid food or consume any juice or milk (including tea or coffee). You can have sips of clear liquids (water, or black tea and coffee) up to 2 hours before you arrive at the clinic

On your surgery day, you will be asked to arrive at the clinic an hour before your surgery time. This will allow you to speak with your surgeon, anaesthetist and the nurses to ask any final questions, and to be prepared for surgery with any marking the surgeon may need to do.

You will then be taken into theatre, where your anaesthetist will administer your general anaesthetic. All procedures at Cadogan Clinic are done using TIVA (Total Intravenous Anaesthesia) which minimises post-operative sickness and nausea and allows for a faster initial recovery.

Your surgeon will then carry out the procedure. After the procedure is finished, you will be taken to our recovery ward, where you will wake up from the anaesthetic and a nurse will check your vital health signs. Once you are awake and comfortable, you will be taken into our ambulatory ward where you will have something to eat and drink and a nurse will talk you through any medication you need to take once you leave. When you are ready, the nurses will ask your chaperone to come and collect you and you will be discharged.

The first few days following surgery may be slightly uncomfortable and you may experience some pain. Your surgical team will have prescribed any medications you may need to help to control this and keep you comfortable. You will be up and moving within a day and able to bathe normally in three days.

Your surgeon will ask you to wear a surgical bra, day and night for up to 8 weeks post surgery. This will support your breasts, assist with healing and reducing swelling and will also preserve the surgeon’s results.

One week after your surgery you will have an in person appointment with our nurses so they can assess your incisions and make sure you are healing well. They will provide any advice you need on dressings and will be able to answer any questions you may have about your recovery.

Six weeks after your procedure you will meet with your surgeon so they can check your recovery, discuss your results and answer any questions about your ongoing recovery from that point. After six weeks, if you have any questions or concerns, you will still be able to contact the team and speak with one of our specialist nurses.

The Patient Journey. A breakdown of what you can expect on your journey with us

We are deeply invested in ensuring that every step of your surgical journey with us is as informative and reassuring to you as it can be. This article outlines what you can expect at each stage of the journey

The Patient Journey

Frequently Asked Questions

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 recommended for those who want a more natural-looking breast augmentation. Suitable patients will have enough fat to transfer from other parts of the body and do not require a breast uplift.

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, but you are unlikely to be any more than a cup size bigger. For those who want a more significant increase in their bust size, we recommend surgical breast augmentation with implants.

Fat transfer breast augmentation is an excellent way of restoring volume to breasts which has been lost through aging, breastfeeding or weight loss. You should avoid having a natural breast augmentation if you are considering having children within the next year.

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. 

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 £6900, 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.

Fat transfer to breast is the most effective alternative to breast implants when it comes to permanently increasing the size of the breasts. Fat transfer to breast relies on the natural volumizing effect of fat grafting and fat injections, and does not require the use of a foreign implant.

Fat transfer to breast relies on fat grafting and harvesting, and fat injections to the breast. This is a highly effective and increasingly popular surgical alternative to breast implants.

Other non-surgical alternatives to breast implants include push up bras, firming creams, and breast prostheses, but these techniques are of course unable to secure a comparable permanent change.

Complications of breast fat transfer are rare. But, like with all types of surgery, there is still the possibility of complications. The risks include:

  • Blood collecting underneath the skin (also known as haematoma)
  • Death of fat tissue (fat necrosis)
  • A piece of fat causing a blockage in a blood vessel (fat embolism)
  • Thick, noticeable scars
  • Air leaking into the space between the lungs and chest wall (pneumothorax)

Any operation also carries a small risk of:

  • Infection
  • Blood clot in a vein
  • Excessive bleeding
  • Allergic reaction to the anaesthetic

Although it is important to bear in mind the risks, overall natural breast enlargement is a safe procedure. Your surgeon will go through all the potential complications with you at your consultation and answer any questions that you may have. The surgeon will also discuss aftercare and how the Cadogan Clinic will support you through the healing process.


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Founded in 2004 by world renowned plastic surgeon Mr Bryan Mayou, we now work with over 100 leading consultants and successfully treat over 20,000 patients each year. We have been winning industry awards since inception.

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What are the risks?

Before opting for Fat Transfer to Breasts or any cosmetic surgery, it is vital to be aware of the potential risks and complications. Although the Fat Transfer to Breasts can produce transformational results, there are risks that you need to consider and discuss with your surgeon:

  • Hematoma - This is the build up of blood beneath the skin and will require treatment from your surgeon
  • Fat necrosis - In some cases, transferred fat cells may not survive
  • Poor wound healing - Healing complications or infection can affect the incision sites
  • Asymmetry - Occasionally, one breast may appear larger than the other
  • Seroma - This is the formation of a lump under the skin caused by buildup of fluid around the incision sites. This will require treatment from your surgeon.
  • Poor graft take - The acceptance of transferred fat may vary from patient to patient and cannot be guaranteed.

In the event of an unforeseen complication or less than optimal outcome, a revision surgery may be required. The need for a revision surgery can arise due to factors beyond the surgeon’s control. Our skilled consultant surgeons are qualified professionals who have performed fat transfer procedures numerous times.

 

It is also important to acknowledge that any surgical procedure carries a slight risk of:

  • Excessive bleeding 
  • Allergic reaction to general anaesthetic
  • Infection at the surgical site
  • Deep vein thrombosis (blood clot in a vein)

Fat Transfer

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