Fat transfer vs breast implants: which is right for me?

The short answer: implants give a bigger, more predictable increase in size in one operation. Fat transfer gives a softer, more modest increase, usually up to about a cup size per session, using your own fat. Which is right depends mainly on how much bigger you would like to be, and whether you have fat to spare.

How fat transfer works

Fat is gently removed by liposuction from an area such as the tummy, hips or thighs. It is purified and then injected in small amounts throughout the breast. This is also called lipomodelling.

The result looks and feels natural, there is no implant, and the scars are tiny. Many people also like the contouring effect where the fat was taken from.

The trade-off is that some of the transferred fat is naturally reabsorbed. The fat that survives after three to six months is permanent and behaves like normal fat, so it will change if your weight changes. To reach your goal, more than one session is sometimes needed.

How implants work

An implant is placed either partly under the chest muscle or above it, through a small incision. I choose the implant within a narrow range that suits the width of your chest and what your skin can comfortably hold, rather than starting from a cup size. Crisalix 3D simulation can help you see likely results before deciding.

The increase in size is more predictable, and it is achieved in one operation. But implants are not lifetime devices. Many last 10 to 15 years or more, but you may need further surgery at some point. Every implant I use is recorded on the national Breast and Cosmetic Implant Registry.

Side by side

• Size: fat transfer gives a modest increase, up to about a cup per session. Implants can give more.
• The operation: fat transfer takes about two hours and you usually go home the same day. Implants take about one and a half hours, with one night in hospital.
• Back to work: about three to seven days after fat transfer, and about a week after implants.
• Longevity: surviving fat is permanent. Implants may need replacing one day.
• Breast screening: fat transfer can occasionally cause changes on a mammogram, so always tell the radiologist. Implants also need mentioning at screening.
• Guide price: fat transfer starts from £2,495, though you may need more than one session. Breast augmentation starts from £4,995, with implants priced separately.

Who suits fat transfer

It is a good choice if you would like a modest, natural change, if your breasts are different sizes, or if you want to improve shape after previous surgery. It does not work if you are very slim and have no fat to spare, and it will not give a large increase in one go.

Who suits implants

Implants suit people who want a more noticeable change in size, or more fullness at the top of the breast, in a single operation.

It does not have to be either or

The two can work together. Fat can be used to soften the edges of an implant, especially in slimmer women. And if your breasts are low as well as small, neither option on its own will lift them. A breast uplift, sometimes combined with implants or fat, may be what you need.

At your consultation I will examine you, talk through what you would like to achieve and give you an honest view of which option will get you there. You can read more on my fat transfer page and breast augmentation page.