Breast Fat Transfer
(Fat Grafting to the Breasts)
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Breast fat transfer uses your own fat from an area that does not need it to subtly enhance the size and shape of your breasts. It’s ideal for patients looking for a modest increase in volume, improved symmetry, or a soft contour without implants.
At Appleby Plastic Surgery, our surgeons use time-tested liposuction and fat grafting techniques that create beautiful, balanced results. Our two-in-one approach sculpts one area while enhancing another, all with natural tissue.
Fat is harvested from areas like the abdomen, flanks, or thighs using gentle liposuction. It’s then purified and strategically re-injected into the breast tissue to enhance volume and shape. Since the transferred fat can shrink, we may put in some extra to get the right result. More fat may be needed later to keep the same shape.
This procedure involves:
works—
how it
Fat transfer surgery is performed under general anesthesia and takes approximately 2 to 3 hours.
Liposuction
from areas with excess fat.
Careful injection
of purified fat to the upper pole or cleavage area.
Combination with other procedures
like a Breast Lift or Liposuction (Body).
In general, here’s what most of our breast fat transfer patients experience:
A compression garment over the liposuction site.
Mild soreness or tightness in the chest.
Return to desk work within 5 to 7 days.
Your surgeon and nurse will walk you through your personalized recovery plan.
expect—
what to
& recovery
timeline —
stage
what to expect
Consultation
We’ll assess fat availability and breast goals to create a personalized plan.
Surgery
2 to 3 hours under general anesthesia. Liposuction plus fat grafting to the breasts.
First week
Swelling, bruising, and soreness in donor and grafted areas. Compression garment worn.
4–6 weeks
Resume light activity. Fat begins to stabilize. Swelling improves.
Full result
By 3 to 6 months, your final shape is visible. Transferred fat that survives remains permanent.
Breast Fat Transfer
Procedure —
Seamless care
to ensure your entire experience, from consult to recovery, is positive.
Precision-focused results
A final result that meets our high standards and achieves your goal.
to handle complex cases and deliver results that restore confidence.
Technical mastery
collaborating to craft your ideal outcome.
Team of top-tier surgeons
Our clinic was designed to make your experience easier—from streamlined consults to overnight care, and everything in between.
appleby—
why choose
About 60 to 80% of the transferred fat typically survives long-term. Once established, it behaves like normal fat tissue.
Where is the fat taken from?
Common donor areas include the abdomen, flanks, inner thighs, or hips. We select the site based on your body and wherever there’s enough fat to harvest safely.
Can this be combined with other procedures?
Yes. It’s often combined with a Breast Lift, Liposuction, or as part of a Mommy Makeover.
Is fat transfer better than implants?
It depends on your goals. Fat transfer offers a more subtle, natural-feeling enhancement without foreign material, but doesn’t offer dramatic volume increases like implants.
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Does the fat stay permanently?
Most patients gain about one cup size, depending on fat availability and how much survives after grafting.
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FAQs ABOUT
BREAST FAT TRANSFER—
Does fat transfer cause cancer?
No. There is no reason to believe that fat transfer may cause breast cancer. The transferred fat may become firm and cause lumps. The firmness may make it harder to examine your breasts. You may need radiology exams, like a mammogram, to confirm that the lumps are not due to cancer. Abnormal imaging may require a biopsy.