Breast Surgery

Fat Transfer
to Breasts

Natural breast enhancement and reshaping using your own fat — harvested from unwanted areas and carefully transferred to restore volume, correct contour, and refine shape.

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4–6 Weeks

Compression Garment

1 Night

Hospital Stay

2–3 Sessions

Typical Stages

3–4 Weeks

Recovery

General

Anaesthesia

ON THIS PAGE

Overview

Applications

Benefits

Procedure Planning

The Procedure

Recovery

Long-Term Results

OVERVIEW

What is Fat Transfer (Lipofilling)?

The terminology fat transfer is synonymous with lipo-modelling, lipo-filling, and lipo-structure. The procedure has grown in popularity over the last several years, and as techniques have become more sophisticated and advanced, so has its range of application.

Fat transfer is used widely in the face, breasts, and other areas of the body for the purpose of replacing tissue loss which may result following surgery, trauma, or ageing. As a technique, lipofilling can be utilised in the treatment of contour defects and volume loss across numerous anatomical areas — with results that are natural, longer-lasting, and that mirror the patient’s own body contour changes over time.

APPLICATIONS

How Lipofilling is Used

Lipofilling to the breasts has become increasingly available in the UK and can be applied across a wide range of clinical and cosmetic situations:

Natural Breast Enlargement

Lipofilling can be used as a sole method for breast enlargement — increasing volume naturally without implants, typically over 2–3 sessions.

Hybrid Breast Augmentation

Often used alongside breast implants to add a more natural look — particularly in slender patients — whilst simultaneously removing fatty deposits from unwanted donor areas.

Post-Cancer Reconstruction

Lipofilling to the irradiated breast can improve lumpectomy defects, enhance the outcome of breast reconstruction, and correct contour irregularities following prophylactic nipple-sparing mastectomies.

Breast Asymmetry Correction

Fat transfer can be used to address size and volume differences between breasts — either as a standalone treatment or in combination with other procedures.

Traumatic Contour Defects

Lipofilling can restore volume in areas of traumatic tissue loss — including indentations in the buttocks or limbs following accidents, injuries, or the excision of large areas of skin grafts.

Facial Volume & Lip Filling

Fat filling is a highly effective and longer-lasting treatment for facial contour defects and volume loss — and a natural substitute for dermal fillers in the lips, with a more supple feel and vibrant result.

It is not unusual for scars and skin in the treated area to show improvement and healthier quality following lipofilling — further adding to the overall outcome of surgery and increasing patient satisfaction.

PROCEDURE PLANNING

Number of Sessions

The number of lipofilling sessions required varies depending on the area being treated, the volume needed, and the individual patient:

Breast Enlargement

2–3 sessions on average — sufficient for most patients seeking natural breast enhancement

Irradiated Breast

4–6 sessions may be required — the irradiated tissue retains fat less predictably, requiring more episodes to reach the desired outcome

Facial Contouring

1 session is often sufficient — fat retention in the face tends to be more sustainable

As a sole method for breast enlargement, an external expansion device may be recommended to create more space and allow a larger volume of fat to be transferred — reducing the number of sessions needed. Expansion typically begins 3–4 weeks before surgery and may continue post-operatively, though not all patients wish to use this device.

THE PROCEDURE

How the Surgery Works

The number of lipofilling sessions required varies depending on the area being treated, the volume needed, and the individual patient:

1

Fat Harvesting (Liposuction)

Fat is harvested from donor areas — typically the abdomen, flanks, or thighs — using gentle liposuction techniques. This simultaneously improves the contour of the donor site.

2

Processing & Preparation

The harvested fat is carefully processed and purified to isolate the viable fat cells for transfer, ensuring the highest quality of material for optimal survival and retention.

3

Fat Transfer & Injection

The purified fat is carefully injected into the target area in small, precise amounts to achieve the desired volume and shape. The procedure is performed under general anaesthesia at an accredited hospital.

4

Recovery & Follow-Up

Patients typically stay one night in hospital. Dressings and stitches are removed at approximately 10–12 days, and most patients return to normal activities within 3–4 weeks. A compression garment is worn over the liposuction donor site for 4–6 weeks.

RECOVERY

After Your Procedure

Most patients find their pain limited and easily managed with appropriate pain relief tablets over the first few days following surgery.

10–12 Days

STITCHES REMOVED

Dressings and dissolvable stitches are removed at a follow-up appointment around 10–12 days post-surgery.

3–4 Weeks

RETURN TO ACTIVITIES

Most patients recover and can return to normal daily activities within 3–4 weeks of surgery.

4–6 Weeks

COMPRESSION GARMENT

A liposuction compression garment should be worn over the donor site for 4–6 weeks to support healing and optimise contour.

COMMON QUESTIONS