Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation Cost: All That You Need To Know

By - Dr Ahmed Zayed

Some women have naturally smaller breasts, but others experience loss of volume and shape due to pregnancy, significant weight loss, and the natural aging process.

Thanks to the advancement in science and technology, women have the opportunity to undergo breast augmentation. Besides implants, it’s also possible to use fat transfer to increase breast size. How does it work, and what has the fat transfer breast augmentation cost? Scroll down to find out.

Fat Grafting Breast Augmentation with Implants

Fat grafting breast augmentation is a cosmetic surgical procedure that relies on using a patient’s fat to modestly increase the size of breasts and contour them into the desired shape.

This technique consists of liposuction and fat transfer. Liposuction is necessary to obtain fat from other body parts and transfer or inject it into breasts. The minimally invasive procedure uses 100% of patient-harvested tissue meaning the results are natural, and so is the feel.

Related: How Much Is A BBL? More Than Breast Augmentation?

Breast augmentation with fat grafting can help with the following:

The procedure is ideal for women who want a subtle and more natural approach to breast augmentation. Candidates considered eligible for this procedure are generally those who meet the following criteria:

Results of the procedure are natural, and breasts have a soft feel. The surgery may not be ideal for women who are very thin and lack excess fat.

What Are the Benefits of Natural Breast Augmentation with Fat Transfer?

Natural breast augmentation with fat transfer has the following benefits:

Besides benefits, there are some fat transfer breast augmentation risks you need to be aware of. These include infection, cysts, necrosis (death) of fat cells, and microcalcification.

Related: How Much Is a Tummy Tuck?

How Much Does Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation Cost?

There is no specific cost of fat transfer breast augmentation that applies to everyone. Why? Multiple factors determine the price of the surgery. Before you schedule an appointment or consult the plastic surgeon, it’s helpful to understand all factors that play a role in the cost of breast augmentation with fat transfer. These include:

Surgeon’s location

Practices that operate in areas with higher costs of living tend to charge more for procedures they perform.

Anesthesia and who administers it

Local or general anesthesia is necessary for this procedure. General anesthesia costs more. Also, the costs are higher when anesthesia is administered by an anesthesiologist rather than a certified registered nurse anesthetist.

Amount of fat for transfer and the number of liposuction sites

Generally speaking, the greater amount of fat for transfer leads to a higher cost of the procedure. The same applies to liposuction sites. The more sites, the higher the price gets because the procedure lasts longer.

Additional procedures

In some cases, multiple procedures are necessary to achieve desired results. You may need to pay for each method. Make sure to consult the surgeon about the way they handle new procedures.

The average cost of the procedure is $9200. The prices generally range from $3200 to $15,400. In some areas, the average cost of fat transfer breast augmentation is a little over $6000, but prices range from $3000 to $11000. Surgeon fees are around $4000 for implants and $3000 for fat transfer on average. The costs of breast augmentation with fat injections can go up to $20,000.

It’s useful to bear in mind the insurance companies don’t cover the costs of this surgery since it is considered an elective cosmetic procedure. Keep in mind you should discuss before and after breast transfer costs and everything it includes during the consultation.

Why is natural breast augmentation safer than breast implants?

For quite some time, breast augmentation relied only on the use of implants. Plastic surgery has evolved, and women can get bigger, fuller breasts without implants, thanks to breast augmentation and fat transfer.

This procedure is the safest way to get bigger breasts because it relies on the fat from your body. Excess fat in the body is the safest and most natural filling material. Since you’re using your tissue, there is no risk of allergic reaction.

This procedure is a safer approach to breast augmentation because it avoids the common pitfalls of traditional breast augmentation. These pitfalls are long-term breast thinning and rippling. The implant rippling happens when the breast implant’s edges, folds, and wrinkles are visible through the skin.

This complication is common with saline implants, but it’s also possible to experience it with silicone-gel implants. The rippling effects are usually present around the cleavage and the sides.

In other words, natural breast augmentation is a safer procedure because it doesn’t come with the risks and complications that may occur in persons who undergo breast augmentation with implants.

How many cup sizes can I gain with natural breast augmentation?

Natural breast augmentation usually increases the breast size by 1 to 1.5 cups. In some cases, the procedure can enhance breast size by 2 cups.

But this depends primarily on the amount of excess fat available in the body and whether a patient can gain weight after the surgery. Keep in mind natural breast augmentation aims to provide a modest increase in breast size to give a patient a more natural look and feel.

Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation Procedure Consultation

Consultation with a cosmetic surgeon is the first step toward a breast augmentation procedure. People usually browse online and look for fat transfer breast augmentation near me.

During the consultation, the surgeon will assess a patient’s general health, examine and measure breasts, take photographs, discuss options, and focus on likely outcomes. This is also the ideal opportunity to clarify goals, address all concerns you may have, or get answers to all questions that come across your mind.

The surgeon will walk you through and explain the procedure. Consult with your doctor to determine whether you are an eligible candidate for breast augmentation with fat transfer. For that reason, you should strive to give truthful answers. They will help the surgeon determine if you could benefit from the fat transfer breast augmentations and whether this procedure will provide you desired results.

Consultation is also the time when you discuss the fat transfer breast augmentation cost. Make sure you are informed about everything the cost entails.

What is Breast Augmentation Fat Grafting Recovery Like?

After the procedure, it’s normal to experience pain and soreness in the breasts and liposuction sites.

You can treat pain with over-the-counter pain relievers. The best thing to do is rest for a day or two, but most patients don’t need to restrict all activities. In most cases, patients feel well enough to do moderate-intensity activities the next day.

During the next few days, you may experience a little bit of soreness in your breasts. Discomfort isn’t that severe because the incisions are small. Patients may notice swelling and bruising in sites of liposuction. Keep in mind bruising in liposuction sites generally lasts a few days, but in breasts, it may last for a few weeks.

In most cases, the surgeon advises the patient to return to work two weeks after the surgery, but this timeframe may vary from one patient to another. Full recovery is achieved in six weeks, but more intense procedures may require a longer recovery period.

To make your recovery successful, you will be advised on what you can’t or can do. General tips include:

What happens if I lose weight after my natural breast augmentation?

Losing weight right after the natural breast augmentation could affect your breast tissue as well. You see, weight loss requires burning fat with regular exercise and a well-balanced diet. You can lose fat from any area of the body, including your breasts, because transferred cells will behave the same way as non-transferred fat cells. As a result, the size of your breasts could decrease. 

Also, if you typically lose weight in the breasts when you slim down, you can expect to decrease the volume in your breasts after the natural breast augmentation. At the same time, gaining a significant amount of weight after the procedure may lead to increased volume in the breasts. What we can conclude here is that substantial weight fluctuations affect breast volume.

FAQ

What is cheaper breast implants or fat transfer?

Breast augmentation with fat transfer is generally pricier than breast implants. The reason is simple; fat grafting surgery usually includes two procedures. These procedures are liposuction and fat transfer.

Can you take fat from your body for breast implants?

It is possible to use excess fat from other parts of the body instead of breast implants. In most cases, fat is obtained from the stomach.

What is the success rate of fat transfer breast augmentation?

Like any other fat transfer procedure, about 70% to 80% of fat will survive while the body metabolizes the remainder. The percentage of fat survival also depends on the recovery process and varies from one patient to another.

The patient satisfaction rate is high. In one study, 92% of patients were satisfied with the results of their procedure. The satisfaction rate among plastic surgeons was 89%. It’s also useful to mention in 99% of cases; patients end up with noticeably enlarged breasts.

Does fat transfer to breasts really work?

Yes, fat transfer to breasts is an effective procedure. For some women, this is a better option than implants. This is especially the case for women who want bigger, rounder, or fuller breasts without implants for a more natural feel.

How much does it cost to get body fat placed in your breasts?

The average fat transfer breast augmentation cost is around $9200. The costs typically vary from $3200 to $15,400. Keep in mind the prices may vary as they depend on multiple factors.