Fat transfer breast augmentation uses your own fat, taken by liposuction from the abdomen, flanks or thighs, purified, and injected into the breast to add volume. It produces a modest, natural increase of about half a cup to a cup per session with no implant to monitor, at the cost of a more conservative result than implants and the possibility of a second session. Dr. Itay Wiser offers it in NYC alone, with a lift, and after implant removal.
How the procedure works
- Harvest. Fat is removed by gentle liposuction from an area with excess, most often the abdomen or flanks. The donor area is slimmer afterward, which many patients count as a second benefit.
- Processing. The fat is purified to remove fluid and damaged cells so that healthy fat cells are transferred.
- Injection. Small amounts are placed in many layers across the breast so the fat has blood supply on all sides and survives. Access points are a few millimeters wide.
Who fat transfer suits
- You want a natural increase of about a cup and prefer no device.
- You have enough fat elsewhere to harvest.
- You are restoring modest volume after pregnancy, weight loss or implant removal.
- You are correcting a small asymmetry or refining the shape around an implant or reconstruction.
Patients wanting a larger or more dramatic increase are usually better served by implants; the breast implant types guide compares them.
Fat transfer and implants compared
| Fat transfer | Implants | |
|---|---|---|
| Increase | About half a cup to a cup per session | Any size your tissue can carry |
| Feel | Your own tissue | Silicone closest to natural; saline firmer |
| Scars | Small liposuction access points | Short scar in the fold or areola |
| Longevity | Not all transferred fat survives; the amount that remains varies from patient to patient and changes with your weight | Not lifetime devices; monitoring and eventual replacement |
| Extra benefit | Slimmer donor area | Predictable, larger volume |
| Drawbacks | Some fat does not survive; may need a second session | Device to monitor; capsular contracture possible |
Survival, settling and mammograms
A portion of transferred fat does not develop a blood supply and is reabsorbed, so Dr. Wiser places slightly more than the target and the result settles over about three months. Not all transferred fat survives, and how much remains varies from patient to patient; fat that does establish itself behaves like the rest of your fat, changing with your weight. Fat grafting can leave small calcifications that radiologists recognize as benign; tell your radiologist you have had the procedure.
Recovery and preparation
Recovery is driven by the liposuction more than the breast: bruising and soreness at the donor site for one to two weeks, a compression garment on the donor area, a soft bra on the breasts, and no pressure on the breasts for the first weeks so the fat can establish. Preparation matters for fat survival; read the guide to preparing for fat grafting surgery. The breast augmentation in NYC page covers the full range of options, and breast implant removal explains fat transfer after explant.
Frequently asked questions
How much bigger can fat transfer make my breasts?
Usually about half a cup to one cup per session. A portion of the transferred fat does not survive, so the surgeon over-fills slightly and results settle over three months. Larger increases need a second session or an implant.
How long do fat transfer results last?
Not all transferred fat cells survive, and the amount of fat that remains can vary from patient to patient. Fat that does establish itself behaves like the rest of your fat and grows and shrinks with weight change, which is why a stable weight matters.
Do I have enough fat for the procedure?
Most patients do. The fat is taken by liposuction from the abdomen, flanks or thighs. Very lean patients may not have enough donor fat for a meaningful increase.
Does fat transfer affect mammograms?
It can create small areas of calcification that radiologists recognize as benign, and it is worth telling your radiologist you have had fat grafting. Dr. Wiser discusses this before surgery.
Can fat transfer be combined with a lift?
Yes. A lift restores position and fat transfer restores modest volume, often a good pairing after pregnancy or weight loss for patients who do not want an implant.
Find out if you are a candidate
At the free virtual consultation Dr. Wiser assesses your donor fat and breast tissue and tells you what increase is realistic, and whether fat transfer alone, with a lift, or an implant fits your goals.