Breast surgery
Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation
Implant-free augmentation using harvested fat for natural-feeling results in appropriately selected patients.
Overview
Fat transfer breast augmentation uses your own fat to enlarge your breasts, with no implant1. Dr. Cassileth removes fat from an area where you have extra, usually the abdomen, flanks, or thighs, purifies it, and places it into the breasts in small, precise layers.
The result is a modest, natural increase that feels like you, because it is you. Some patients choose it as their only augmentation. Others use it to restore volume after having implants removed. You will find both in the fat transfer breast augmentation before and after photos on this page.
Who it's for
The right candidate.
- Women who want a modest, natural-looking increase of about one cup size
- Patients with enough donor fat at the abdomen, flanks, hips, or thighs
- Women who want to avoid implants, or who are having implants removed and want some volume back
- Patients at a stable weight who do not smoke
- Not the right choice if you want a dramatic increase in size or have very little body fat
Technique
How it's done.
Harvest. Fat is collected with gentle liposuction, usually from the abdomen, flanks, or thighs, which slims the donor area in the process. Please don't gain weight for surgery. Dr. Cassileth wants your healthy, long-standing fat, not fat you put on last month.
Purify. The fat is processed to separate the healthy, viable fat cells for transfer.
Place. Through a tiny incision, Dr. Cassileth uses a very fine cannula to place the fat in hundreds of small passes, fanned out like the spokes of a wheel and built up in layers. Each fat cell needs to sit beside a blood supply to survive. Fat injected as one large deposit does not last.
Repeat if needed. Some patients need two or more sessions to reach their goal.
Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation Before and After: What to Expect
Fat transfer breast augmentation before and after photos are the most useful thing on this page, as long as you know how to read them. Four points will help.
How much change is realistic. Most patients gain about one cup size. Fat transfer creates soft, natural fullness, not the dramatic jump an implant can deliver.
When the result settles. Your breasts look fuller than the final result during the early weeks, while swelling is present. Some of the transferred fat is absorbed in the months after surgery, so fat transfer breast augmentation results keep settling for several months. A fair fat transfer breast augmentation before and after comparison uses photos taken once that settling is done.
How much fat stays. Published studies report that between 34% and 82% of transferred fat is retained4. The fat that survives becomes part of your own breast tissue. It stays, changing only as your weight and age do. Some patients choose a second session to build on the result.
What the photos show. Each breast fat transfer before and after pair is the same patient, photographed from the same angle. Open any case to see the side and oblique views as well.
“I had an incredible experience with Dr. Cassileth and her team! Everything was easy and comfortable from the very beginning - Dr. C answered all my questions and explained all the options available to me in detail, including the pros and cons of each possible approach. My results are everything I’ve dreamed of and more.”
— Abbey L. via Google My Business
Patient results
Real cases.
Every fat transfer breast augmentation before and after result here belongs to a real patient of Dr. Cassileth. Notice how different their starting points were. A breast fat transfer before and after comparison is only useful when the starting point resembles yours.
Clovis. She wanted to double her natural breast size without implants. Dr. Cassileth performed fat transfer to both breasts using fat from her abdomen and flanks.
West Hollywood. She felt she had outgrown her breast implants. Dr. Cassileth removed both implants and performed fat transfer to both breasts.
Los Angeles. Age 30.
Los Angeles. Age 46.
Pacific Palisades. She wanted to restore volume after having her breast implants removed. Treated with fat transfer to the breasts.
Miami. In her 30s, she felt her implants were too large for her frame. Dr. Cassileth removed them and grafted fat to both breasts.
Looking for a breast fat transfer before and after result closer to your own starting point? Dr. Cassileth shows additional cases during your consultation.
FAQ
Common questions.
How long do fat transfer breast augmentation results last?
Fat transfer breast augmentation results are long-lasting. Some of the transferred fat is absorbed during the early months, and the fat that survives becomes a permanent part of your breast tissue. Your breasts will still change with age and weight, just as they would have without surgery.
How much does fat transfer breast augmentation cost?
Fat transfer breast augmentation pricing depends on how much fat is needed, how many donor areas are used, and your goals. After your consultation, Dr. Cassileth gives you a full cost breakdown for your treatment plan. The price includes the procedure, general anesthesia, and post-operative care.
Is fat transfer breast augmentation safe?
Yes, when it is performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon. Fat transfer breast augmentation uses fat from your own body, so there is no risk of an allergic reaction and no implant to rupture or develop capsular contracture. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia at our accredited surgery center.
Does fat transfer to the breast increase cancer risk?
Published research has not shown that fat transfer to the breast increases breast cancer risk3. Transferred fat can occasionally appear on a mammogram or ultrasound as small, harmless changes, which radiologists can usually tell apart from concerning findings2. Always tell your radiologist that you have had fat grafting.
Does fat transfer breast augmentation leave scars?
Scars are minimal. Fat is removed and placed through a thin cannula, so the incisions at the donor area and the breast are only a few millimeters long. They are placed where they are easy to hide and typically fade over time. No implant-sized incision is needed.
Can someone else's fat be used for fat transfer?
No. Fat transfer can only be performed with your own fat cells. Using fat from another person would be comparable to an organ transplant and would carry a high risk of rejection and serious complications. If you have little donor fat, Dr. Cassileth will discuss other options with you.
Can fat transfer be combined with a breast lift or implants?
Yes. Fat grafting is often combined with a breast lift or with implant-based augmentation to soften the result and create natural contours. It is also commonly performed after breast implant removal, or alongside a tummy tuck as part of a mommy makeover.
Can fat transfer be used for breast reconstruction?
Yes. Fat grafting in breast reconstruction adds fullness after mastectomy or lumpectomy, fills contour irregularities, and softens the edges of an implant3. It can also improve the quality of radiated tissue. Two or more sessions may be required to reach the desired result.
What other areas can fat transfer be used for?
Dr. Cassileth also uses fat grafting for body contouring and for the face. Facial fat transfer restores volume lost to aging and sun damage, and it is often performed alongside a facelift. The same principle applies everywhere: your own fat, placed precisely where volume is missing.
Related reading
From the journal.
Sources
Cited research.
- 1American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation. plasticsurgery.org · Accessed October 13, 2026
- 2Noor L, Reeves HR, Kumar D, Alozairi O, Bhaskar P. Imaging changes after breast reconstruction with fat grafting: retrospective study of 90 breast cancer patients. Pak J Med Sci. 2016;32(1):8-12. doi:10.12669/pjms.321.9460
- 3Spear SL, Coles CN, Leung BK, Gitlin M, Parekh M, Macarios D. The Safety, Effectiveness, and Efficiency of Autologous Fat Grafting in Breast Surgery. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2016;4(8):e827. doi:10.1097/GOX.0000000000000842
- 4Yu NZ, Huang JZ, Zhang H, et al. A systemic review of autologous fat grafting survival rate and related severe complications. Chin Med J (Engl). 2015;128(9):1245-1251. doi:10.4103/0366-6999.156142. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov · Accessed October 13, 2026
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