In short: Breast fat grafting moves your own fat, collected by liposuction from areas such as the abdomen or thighs, into the breasts. It gives a modest increase in volume and can improve shape without an implant. Some of the transferred fat is reabsorbed, so a second session is sometimes needed. It is usually a day case.
- What Is Fat Grafting?
- Suitability for Fat Grafting
- Important Considerations for Fat…
- Fat grafting or implants?
- Fat Grafting to the Breast: Cost…
- Post-Procedure Considerations
- Risks and Complications
- Recovery, week by week
- Questions
What Is Fat Grafting?
Fat grafting, also known as fat transfer, is a surgical procedure that involves transferring a patient’s own fat tissue from one area of the body to another.
In breast surgery, fat grafting may be considered in a range of clinical situations following consultation and individual assessment. These may include:
- Use as part of breast surgery where a patient’s own tissue is considered instead of implants.
- Adjunct use in breast implant surgery to address contour or tissue characteristics.
- Use following breast lift procedures where additional tissue is considered.
- Use following breast reduction or significant weight change.
- Use in revision breast surgery where contour irregularities are present.
- Use in breast reconstruction, including in tissue that has previously received radiation.
Fat grafting involves harvesting fat from donor areas such as the abdomen, hips, thighs or flanks, processing the fat, and transferring it to the breast area using established surgical techniques.
The suitability of fat grafting, surgical approach and expected considerations are discussed during consultation based on individual anatomy, medical history and clinical assessment.
Suitability for Fat Grafting
Suitability for fat grafting procedures is determined following consultation and clinical assessment. Factors such as medical history, anatomy and surgical considerations are taken into account.
Fat grafting may be discussed in a range of clinical contexts, including:
- Adjunct use in breast implant surgery
- Consideration alongside other breast procedures where additional tissue is assessed
- Revision breast surgery where contour irregularities are present
- Situations where sufficient donor fat is available
- Breast reconstruction following cancer treatment or other medical conditions
A consultation with Dr Rohit Kumar is required to determine whether fat grafting is clinically appropriate and to discuss potential risks, limitations and alternative options.
Important Considerations for Fat Grafting to the Breast
Fat grafting to the breast is a surgical procedure that involves the transfer of a patient’s own fat tissue. As with all surgical procedures, there are specific considerations and limitations that are discussed during consultation.
- The amount of fat that can be transferred is limited by individual anatomy and donor fat availability
- Not all transferred fat may survive, and outcomes can vary between individuals
- Multiple procedures may be required in some cases
- Fat grafting may be used in conjunction with other breast procedures depending on clinical assessment
- Donor site healing and recovery considerations apply
The suitability of fat grafting, potential risks, limitations and alternative options are discussed during consultation to support informed decision-making.
| Clinical Considerations | Personal Considerations |
|---|---|
| Nature of any implant-related concerns (rupture, contracture, position) | Desire to change implant size, profile, or type |
| Breast tissue health and skin quality | Changes in personal preferences over time |
| Previous surgical history and technique | Comfort with your current result |
| General health and fitness for surgery | Family planning considerations |
| Completion of any planned pregnancies (where relevant) | Individual goals and expectations |
Fat grafting or implants?
| Fat grafting | Implant augmentation | Breast lift with fat grafting | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volume increase | Modest | Larger and more predictable | Modest, with a lift |
| Implant to maintain | No | Yes | No |
| Also removes fat elsewhere | Yes, from the donor area | No | Yes, from the donor area |
More detail: breast augmentation and breast lift with fat grafting.
Fat Grafting to the Breast: Cost and Medicare
Fat transfer to the breast is quoted individually. The cost depends on how many areas the fat is harvested from, how much grafting is required, and whether more than one session is likely — fat grafting is a procedure where a proportion of the transferred fat does not survive, and a second session is sometimes needed to reach the result discussed.
Does Medicare cover fat grafting to the breast?
For most patients, no — and it is better to know that before you plan.
The Medicare items for autologous fat grafting to the breast are 45534 (unilateral) and 45535 (bilateral). They are restricted to four situations:
- correction of defects arising from the treatment or prevention of breast cancer, where there is a contour defect, at least 20% volume asymmetry, post-treatment pain or poor prosthetic coverage;
- preparation of thin or irradiated skin flaps after mastectomy, in patients intending to have breast reconstruction;
- breast reconstruction in breast cancer patients; or
- correction of a developmental disorder of the breast.
Photographic and/or diagnostic imaging evidence of the clinical need must be documented in your notes. Medicare pays a benefit of 75% of the schedule fee for item 45535 when the service is provided in hospital.
Fat grafting performed to increase breast volume for cosmetic reasons is not claimable under either item. That includes most fat transfer done to restore upper pole volume after weight loss or pregnancy, unless one of the four situations above applies to you. Plan on this being a self-funded procedure and treat any suggestion otherwise with caution.
Fat grafting after major weight loss
After significant weight loss the breast commonly loses volume from the upper pole and the skin envelope becomes loose. Fat grafting can restore some volume without an implant, which is why it appeals to patients who do not want a prosthesis.
Two things are worth understanding before you decide. First, there needs to be enough donor fat to harvest — after major weight loss there sometimes is not, and that is a genuine limiting factor rather than a matter of preference. Second, fat grafting adds volume but does not lift; where the problem is position rather than volume, a mastopexy addresses it and grafting alone will not.
Dr Kumar will tell you which of those applies to you, and whether a combination is the better answer.
What does it cost?
Dr Kumar’s practice provides a written, itemised quote after consultation rather than publishing a package price. Your quote will set out:
- Surgeon’s fee
- Anaesthetist’s fee
- Surgical assistant’s fee
- Hospital and theatre fees — fat grafting to the breast is usually a day case
- Compression garments for the donor sites and follow-up appointments
Where a second session is anticipated, that is discussed and quoted at the outset rather than raised afterwards.
A consultation with Dr Kumar is $400, with a Medicare rebate of approximately $88 where you have a valid referral.
Private health insurance
Health funds follow the Medicare item. Where items 45534 or 45535 do not apply, private health insurance generally will not cover the hospital component either. If a separate item applies to another procedure being performed at the same time, Dr Kumar’s team will give you the number to check with your fund.
There is more on the costs and Medicare page, and the risks and considerations page sets out what to weigh before deciding. Individual results vary.
Post-Procedure Considerations
Outcomes following fat grafting surgery vary between individuals and may be influenced by factors such as changes in body weight, skin characteristics, pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Following fat grafting procedures, a proportion of the transferred fat may be absorbed by the body over time. The amount of fat retention varies between individuals, and in some cases additional procedures may be discussed during follow-up.
These factors are discussed during consultation and reviewed as part of post-operative care to support informed decision-making.
Risks and Complications
If you are considering fat grafting surgery, it is important to be informed about the potential risks, complications and side effects associated with the procedure.
Complications can occur despite appropriate medical care. These risks are discussed in detail during consultation to support informed decision-making.
Potential risks may include:
- The risks associated with general anaesthesia
- Bleeding (haematoma)
- Infection
- Poor wound healing
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Scarring
- Changes in sensation, including numbness
- Contour irregularities following liposuction
Recovery, week by week
| When | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Day of surgery | Usually a day case. Compression garments are fitted for the donor area and the breasts. |
| Weeks 1 to 2 | Time off work. Swelling and bruising at the donor area and breasts. Walk daily, and avoid pressure on the breasts. First review with Dr Kumar and his nurses at about one week. |
| Weeks 2 to 6 | Most patients return to work from about two weeks, then gradually resume most everyday activities over the next four weeks, depending on how physical the activity is. No heavy lifting or straining, and drive only once you can do so comfortably and safely. The Prineo and Micropore dressings come off at six weeks, and the compression garment is worn for six weeks. |
| Weeks 6 to 12 | After your six-week review, exercise and more physical work are built up progressively. Most patients are cleared for full activity at the 12-week review. |
| 3 to 12 months | Swelling settles and the scars mature. Reviews at 6 months and 12 months. |
Results
Surgical photographs are restricted to viewers aged 18 and over. The outcomes shown in any photograph are relevant only to the patient pictured, and individual results will vary. You can view the fat grafting gallery.
Where Dr Kumar operates
Consultations are held at Westmead, Penrith and Orange. If you live a long way from Sydney, you can send photos to Dr Kumar’s team before your first appointment.
Day-case procedures are performed at Somerset Private Hospital in Kingswood or at Westmead Private Hospital, an accredited Ramsay Health Care hospital.
Dr Kumar’s nurses also work on the wards at Westmead Private Hospital. The nurses who prepare you for surgery are the same ones who look after you at every post-operative review.
Common questions
How much does fat transfer to the breast cost in Sydney?
There is no single price. The cost of fat transfer to the breast (autologous fat grafting) depends on how many donor areas are treated with liposuction, how much fat is harvested and injected, how long the operation takes, and whether it is performed on its own or with another procedure such as a breast lift (mastopexy).
What you receive is a written, itemised quote after your consultation, before you commit to a surgery date. It sets out the surgeon’s fee, the anaesthetist’s fee, the surgical assistant’s fee where one is required, the hospital or day-facility fee, compression garments, and the follow-up appointments included. A cooling-off period applies before booking, as required for cosmetic surgery in Australia.
A GP referral is required regardless.
Medicare items 45534 and 45535 do exist for fat grafting to the breast, but they are restricted to a narrow set of reconstructive circumstances set out in the cost and Medicare section above. Fat grafting performed to increase breast volume for cosmetic reasons is not claimable under either item, and private health insurance follows the Medicare item — if no item applies, the fund will not contribute to the hospital admission.
Does fat transfer to the breast actually work?
Fat transfer does add volume, but not all of the transferred fat survives, and this is the single thing patients most often misunderstand about the procedure.
Fat is harvested by liposuction from a donor area such as the abdomen, flanks or thighs, processed, then injected into the breast in many small parcels rather than one pocket. Each parcel needs to pick up a blood supply from the surrounding tissue to survive. The parcels that do survive stay permanently; the rest is reabsorbed by the body. Most of that loss happens in the first three months, and the result is generally settled by around six months.
How much survives varies considerably between patients and cannot be guaranteed in advance by any surgeon. Published surgical series commonly report retention in the order of half to two-thirds of the injected volume, but this depends on technique, how much is injected at one sitting, the quality of the recipient tissue and factors such as smoking. Dr Kumar will tell you at consultation whether he expects one session to achieve what you are asking for, or whether a second session is likely to be needed — and if he does not think fat grafting will do what you want, he will say so.
Fat grafting also does not lift. If breast tissue sits low on the chest wall, adding volume will not raise it; a breast lift (mastopexy) is the procedure that changes position. Volume and position are separate problems and are addressed by different operations.
How much bigger can my breasts get with fat transfer?
Realistically, a modest increase. For most patients a single session of fat transfer to the breast produces part of a cup size to around one cup size, once the volume that does not survive has been reabsorbed.
Two things set the ceiling. The first is how much usable donor fat you have. Liposuction has to take fat from somewhere, and a slim patient may simply not have enough to transfer — this is one of the more common reasons Dr Kumar advises against the procedure at consultation. The second is the breast and skin envelope. Only so much fat can be injected at one sitting while still leaving each parcel close enough to a blood supply. Injecting beyond that point reduces the proportion that survives and increases the risk of fat necrosis and oil cysts; it does not produce a bigger result.
If you want a substantial or predictable increase in volume, a breast implant achieves that in one operation and fat grafting does not. Implants carry their own risks and the likelihood of further surgery over a lifetime, so it is a trade-off rather than a ranking. Some patients are suited to a combination of an implant and fat grafting; others to neither. Which applies to you depends on your anatomy, your donor fat and what you are trying to change, and is a discussion to have at consultation.
What is recovery like after fat grafting, and will I have scars?
Fat grafting to the breast is performed under general anaesthesia by a specialist anaesthetist in an accredited private hospital or day facility. Most patients go home the same day or the following morning, depending on the extent of the liposuction and the clinical assessment after surgery.
Scars. The incisions are small. Liposuction is performed through access points a few millimetres across, usually placed in skin creases or within the area being treated, and the fat is injected into the breast through similar small entry points. These marks fade over time but, like all surgical scars, they are permanent, and healing varies between people — some patients form thickened, raised or pigmented scars.
Recovery. Expect bruising, swelling and soreness across the donor areas for the first one to two weeks; the donor sites are usually more uncomfortable than the breasts. A compression garment is worn over the treated donor areas, typically for around four to six weeks. Many patients doing desk-based work return after one to two weeks, and strenuous exercise, heavy lifting and pressure on the breasts are generally avoided for about six weeks. Swelling settles gradually and the final volume is not apparent until around three to six months.
Risks. All surgery carries risk. Risks specific to fat grafting include loss of a proportion of the transferred fat, fat necrosis (firm lumps), oil cysts, asymmetry, contour irregularity or dimpling at the donor sites, infection, bleeding, and calcifications that can appear on a mammogram and may prompt further imaging or a biopsy. Further surgery may be needed. These are discussed in detail at consultation and in the risks section of this page.
Do I need a GP referral?
Yes. A GP referral is required to see Dr Kumar, and it is also needed for the Medicare rebate on your consultation.
Where is the surgery performed?
Day-case procedures are performed at Somerset Private Hospital in Kingswood or at Westmead Private Hospital. Consultations are held at Westmead, Penrith and Orange.
What does the consultation cost?
Dr Kumar’s initial consultation fee is $400, with a Medicare rebate of approximately $88 with a GP referral. Surgical fees are quoted individually after consultation.
How much of the fat survives?
Some of the transferred fat is reabsorbed in the first few months. How much remains varies between patients, which is why a second session is sometimes planned.
Download our Fat Grafting Guide
Talk it through with Dr Kumar
If you would like a modest change in breast volume or shape without an implant, a consultation will establish whether fat grafting suits you. Dr Kumar consults in Westmead, Penrith and Orange, and a GP referral is required. You can also download a procedure guide first.
This page is intended as general information and is not a substitute for individual medical advice. All surgery carries risk, and individual results will vary. Surgical photographs on this website are intended for viewers aged 18 and over. Read more about the risks of surgery here.
Dr Rohit Kumar (MED0001630444) Registered medical practitioner, specialist plastic surgeon (specialist registration in surgery – plastic surgery).
