Written by Dr Gerard Ee. Reviewed by Dr Shenthilkumar Naidu and A/Prof Vincent Yeow. Last medically reviewed 7 November 2026. Fat transfer breast augmentation uses your own fat instead of an implant. Fat is taken from the tummy, flanks or thighs by gentle liposuction, cleaned, and injected into the breasts in small amounts. At The Clifford Surgery it is done by plastic surgeons Dr Shenthilkumar Naidu and A/Prof Vincent Yeow as day surgery. It suits women who want a modest, natural change and have some fat to spare.
Your Own Fat, No Implant
Day Surgery With a Plastic Surgeon
How Fat Grafting to the Breast Works
Your surgeon marks the areas where fat will be taken and where it will go. Through tiny openings, a thin cannula removes fat by liposuction. The fat is processed to separate healthy fat cells from fluid and oil. It is then placed into the breast through a fine cannula, a little at a time, in many thin layers. Spreading it this way gives each droplet of fat a blood supply so it can survive.
Not all of the transferred fat survives. The body absorbs part of it over the first few months, and what remains after that stays. Your surgeon plans for this when deciding how much fat to place. Some women choose a second session to add more volume.
| Fat transfer | Breast implant | Hybrid, implant with fat | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size increase | Modest, often up to about one cup | Chosen size | Chosen size with a softer edge |
| Scars | Tiny liposuction openings | Short cut, usually under the breast | Both |
| Feel | Your own tissue | Silicone implant | Implant covered by more of your own tissue |
| Bonus | Slimmer donor area | None | Smoother upper breast |
| More than one session | Sometimes | No | No |
Fat transfer breast augmentation key points
Your own fat, no implant
A natural, modest increase
- Your own fat, no implant
- A natural, modest increase
- Some fat is absorbed, so a second session is sometimes needed
- Can be combined with an implant in a hybrid augmentation
Who Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation Suits
Fat transfer suits women who want a small to moderate increase, a more even shape, or a softer result than an implant alone gives. You need enough fat to harvest. Very slim women may not have enough, and an implant or a hybrid augmentation is then the better plan. It is also used to correct a dent or a visible implant edge after earlier surgery.
Hybrid augmentation places a Motiva implant for the main volume and adds fat over it. This suits slim women whose own tissue is too thin to hide an implant edge.
Book a fat transfer consultation
Call (65) 6532 2400 or WhatsApp (65) 8318 6332. You do not need a referral.
After Fat Transfer to the Breasts
Fat placed in the breast can form small oil cysts or calcium spots. Radiologists can usually tell these apart on a mammogram or ultrasound. Tell your radiologist that you have had fat grafting. Keep up your normal breast screening.
The breasts and the donor areas are swollen and bruised for two to three weeks
You wear a support bra and a compression garment over the donor areas
Avoid pressing on the breasts or sleeping on your front for the first weeks
Most women return to desk work within about a week
The final size shows after about three months, once the fat has settled
Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation Questions
How long does fat transfer to the breast last?
The fat that is still there after about three months is living tissue and stays. It changes with your weight like the rest of your body fat.
How much bigger will my breasts be?
Usually a modest change, often up to about one cup size in one session. Your surgeon gives you a realistic range at consultation.
Does fat transfer interfere with breast screening?
It can leave small oil cysts or calcium spots, which radiologists can usually tell apart from anything of concern. Keep having your usual screening and mention the fat grafting.
How much does fat transfer breast augmentation cost?
It depends on how much fat is moved and from where, so the fee is quoted at consultation.
References
- Coleman SR, Saboeiro AP. Fat grafting to the breast revisited, safety and efficacy. Plast Reconstr Surg 2007, 119(3), 775–785. PMID 17312477. doi.org/10.1097/01.prs.0000252001.59162.c9
Read about fat transfer breast augmentation in Singapore, compare breast implants, fat transfer and a breast lift, or read the complete breast augmentation guide on The Clifford Clinic site.
