If you’re wanting to subtly enhance fullness in the breasts, but don’t necessarily want to utilize breast implants, Dr. Garlick — our Utah-based plastic surgeon — offers patients an innovative and effective solution. Fat transfer breast augmentation refers to a technique in which fat cells from elsewhere on the body are repurposed to add volume to the breast contours. This can be done to provide a mild enhancement to your breast size, to cover up the edges of an implant, or to help improve cleavage.

Unlike an implant, breast augmentation using fat transfer introduces your own natural tissue into the region, allowing long-term results and eliminating the risk of an allergic reaction. Dr. Garlick is extensively experienced in advanced breast surgery techniques and can evaluate your concerns to confirm whether the fat transfer technique can help you make your desired contours a reality.

Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation Benefits
Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation Candidates
Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation Procedure
Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation Recovery
Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation Results
Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation Cost

What are the Benefits of Fat Transfer to the Breasts?

Fat grafting is a technique used in complement with many primary breast augmentation and breast revision procedures to refine, soften, and enhance the overall results. While commonly used in conjunction with implant placement, fat transfer to the breasts alone can also offer a natural, subtle approach to enhancing volume and shape without the use of implants.

Potential benefits vary according to each patient’s goals and what they would like to improve, but fat transfer breast augmentation can generally offer:

Softer, more supple breast contours: Fat grafting to the breasts can make the breasts smoother, softer, and more symmetrical, refining contour irregularities and improving the quality of your final results.
Smoother and more extensive coverage of the implant edges: Fat injections work by strategically layering purified fat cells over and around the implant to create a thicker, more natural tissue envelope. This added layer of soft tissue acts as a natural cushion, helping to camouflage visible implant edges.
Subtle volume enhancement using your own natural tissue: One of the primary benefits of this procedure involves the use of your own purified fat to enhance fullness, harvested from areas such as the abdomen, flanks, or thighs. Since the enhancement comes from your own tissue, the results tend to look and feel exceptionally natural.
Fuller, more visible cleavage: In addition, fat transfer can subtly enhance cleavage through strategic, meticulous injections and advanced suturing techniques in the inferior fold, allowing individuals to achieve more custom, visible cleavage.
Dual body contouring benefits: The liposuction portion of the procedure allows patients to harvest fat cells from “donor” sites affected by unwanted fat. This can help create a beautifully balanced, proportional silhouette in tandem with fuller breast proportions.
Little to no risk of an allergic reaction: Many patients find peace of mind in fat transfer due to the injection of their own biocompatible tissue. When performed on its own, there is no risk of implant-related complications with fat transfer breast augmentation, such as rupture, capsular contracture, or implant malposition. This can provide an appealing option for patients who prefer an implant-free solution to add subtle fullness to their breasts.

Is Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation Right for Me?

It’s important to remember that using fat transfer to enhance breast volume cannot provide the same type of breast enlargement as breast augmentation using implants. While saline and silicone implants are capable of providing a dramatic size increase (if desired), fat transfer breast augmentation can only achieve mild volume enhancement. In general, the procedure is most successful for patients who:

Are only seeking a mild increase in fullness or volume
Want to soften their breast contours
Are healthy and do not have any conditions that may inhibit your recovery
Have enough excess fat to repurpose for breast enhancement
Do not smoke or are willing to quit smoking

Dr. Garlick will discuss fat transfer breast augmentation with you in great detail to help ensure you understand the limitations and potential benefits of surgery. For certain patients, the best results are seen when implants are combined with fat transfer, allowing you to achieve rounder, fuller, and softer breasts simultaneously.

How is the Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation Procedure Performed?

Introducing excess fat into the breasts involves two components: harvesting the fat cells from the thighs or abdomen with liposuction, followed by delivering the processed and purified fat into the breast contours. As an adjunctive benefit, fat transfer allows additional body contouring in the “harvesting” site — usually the belly or thighs. Once this process is complete, Dr. Garlick will carefully inject the fat into the breasts to create the contours you envision. Only a portion of the transferred fat will survive, so it’s not uncommon to introduce relatively more fat than necessary to compensate for the fat cells that do not “take.” While it can take months to realize the final outcome, fat transfer can provide long-term enhancement that lasts indefinitely.

What Can I Expect From Recovery After Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation?

Although it can take one to two weeks to heal, most patients feel well enough to resume light activities after four to seven days. Swelling and bruising are normal, and it’s not uncommon for some of the transferred fat to be reabsorbed as your recovery progresses. Wearing compression garments as instructed can help reduce swelling, as well as facilitate and shape your new contours. Exercise and other strenuous activity should be avoided for at least four to six weeks.

What Can I Expect From My Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation Results?

Results from fat transfer breast augmentation are usually both immediately noticeable and improve over time. Initially, patients notice enhanced fullness and improved contours right after surgery. However, some of the transferred fat will naturally be reabsorbed by the body in the weeks following the procedure. This is accounted for by strategically and slightly overfilling the breasts during surgery. Over the course of three to six months, the remaining fat establishes a blood supply and becomes a permanent part of your breasts.

Once healing is complete, patients can expect soft, natural-looking breasts that are proportionate to their body frame. The results are subtle yet meaningful, and can be ideal for those who desire refinement rather than dramatic enlargement. This enhancement is created with your own fat cells, so the breasts maintain natural movement and consistency. Clothing often fits better, and many women report increased confidence in fitted tops, swimwear, and lingerie.

How Much Does Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation Cost?

As a highly personalized procedure, the costs of fat transfer breast augmentation in Utah differ from person to person. Your cost estimate will be calculated based on the details of your surgery, such as:

Whether implants are being utilized in conjunction with fat transfer
The surgical techniques used during surgery (liposuction, fat grafting, etc.)
The nature of your goals and overall complexity of your procedure
Fees for the anesthesia, lab tests, the surgical facility, and other standard expenses associated with surgery

Dr. Garlick cannot provide an accurate cost estimate until after he assesses your needs in a consultation, but rest assured that our office will provide you with a personalized quote in person. Please don’t hesitate to inquire about potential patient financing options that can make your costs more affordable.

Dr. Garlick offers a broad range of treatments and procedures to help patients in Utah achieve their aesthetic goals. Don’t hesitate to contact our Salt Lake City practice for more information on our services, or to book a consultation.

Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation