When it comes to enhancing breast shape and volume, you have more than one option. Breast implants have long been the standard, but fat grafting offers a natural alternative that uses your own fat to add volume without the need for implants.
In my practice, I offer two surgical approaches to breast enhancement:
- Breast augmentation with implants
- Fat transfer breast augmentation
Both methods aim to enhance size, shape, and symmetry, but they do so in different ways.
Let’s discuss the options.
Understanding Breast Implants
Today, breast augmentation surgery with implants continues to evolve with advancements in implant technology, surgical techniques, and safety protocols. Modern silicone and saline implants are available in a variety of shapes, sizes, textures, and profiles to meet the diverse goals and preferences of today’s patients.
If you are leaning towards implants, take time to learn more about your options – including Saline vs Silicone and other considerations you will be discussing with your board certified
you can further educate yourself by learning more about implants choices. Read Saline vs Silicone and explore the other decisions you’ll review with your board-certified plastic surgeon.
Breast Implant Advantages
- High level of customization – choose from various profiles (moderate, high, extra high), sizes, and textures
- Can achieve a significant increase in breast volume – up to 800cc per breast
- Today’s breast implants from Mentor and Allergan include lifetime warranties for rupture, meaning the manufacturer will replace them free of charge if a rupture occurs.
Breast Implant Considerations & Limitations
The most common complications related to breast implant surgery are:
- Implant rupture / leakage
- Capsular contracture – where scar tissues forms around the implant
- Implant drop out
- Has limitations in correcting asymmetry
- Most patients either remove or replace the implants after 20 years. Note: There is no official guideline for timeline from the implant manufacturers, but this is what we have seen after 30 years of performing breast augmentation!
Understanding Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation
Since the 1990s, fat grafting has been used to improve or augment areas where the fat is injected. Also referred to as fat transfers, fat injections, or autologous fat grafting (afg), the history and applications may surprise you.
In recent years, fat grafting has been gaining popularity as an alternative or complementary technique for breast augmentation and lumpectomy reconstruction.
Fat transfer, also known as fat grafting or autologous fat grafting, involves the harvesting and transferring of fat to the breast . This can be done either unilateral to correct asymmetry, or bi-lateral (both breasts) to increase the size of the breast.
Fat transfer breast augmentation involves harvesting fat from one or more areas of the body using liposuction, processing it, and then injecting it into the breasts to enhance volume and shape.
Fat Transfer Advantages
- Uses your own fat for a natural, implant free way to augment your breast
- Procedure is less invasive in that it involves no tissue elevation or dissection
- Procedure does not require drains post operatively
- Dual benefits to enhance your figure – bigger breasts, and a lean thinner torso
Fat Transfer Considerations & Limitations
- You must have enough fat on your body — typically two areas (abdomen + flanks), but most surgeons can extract from multiple areas if necessary.
- Because the breast tissue is tighter than other areas of the body (such as the buttocks), only about 300 cc of fat can be transferred to each breast in one operative session. This equates to about one cup size up.
Cost Comparison: Breast Augmentation with Implants vs. Fat Transfer to the Breast
Fat grafting to the breast is more expensive than a breast augmentation using implants. That may seem counter intuitive since you’re using your own fat, but you are really getting two procedures: breast augmentation and Lipo 360!
Plastic surgery costs are typically a function of time in the OR. It takes around 2 hours to perform an average breast implant augmentation procedure, while it takes around 5 hours to perform the fat grafting to the breast.
Cost comparison of Breast Augmentation with Fat Transfer to the Breast
- Breast augmentation with implants : $6,000 (silicone)
- Fat Transfer with your own fat (from two areas) : $10,000 – $11,500
Making an Informed Decision of Breast Implants vs Fat Transfer
Your surgeon should be a board-certified plastic surgeon, and you should be able to view before and after photos of previous patients. Make sure your surgeon has performed many cases of the procedure you’re considering.
Here is a summary comparison chart to help you decide between breast aug with implants or fat transfer to the breast:
| Breast Implants | Fat Grafting | |
| material | Silicone / Saline | Your Own Fat |
| size change | Significant size change is possible (up to 800cc per breast). | Minimal size change is possible (up to a cup). ~300 cc per breast, sometimes more |
| looks / feel | Silicone implants feel more natural than saline implants. The ‘look’ of a breast implant varies according to the profile/size of the implant. | Organic and natural- you determine what area of the breast you want fullness |
| asymmetry | Different size and profile implants can be selected in an attempt to correct asymmetry | Can be even more precise for correcting asymmetries, deformities, or scarring |
| predictability | More predictable results. | heavily dependent on the injection technique used by the surgeon |
| complications | Rippling, rupturing, capsular contracture | Cysts or breast hardness if procedure not performed correctly |
| body changes | Bigger breasts. | Bigger breasts *and* slimmer torso (lipo 360) |
| Surgery duration | 2 hours | 4-5 hours |
| cost | $5,200 – $6,000 est. | $10,000 – $11,500 est. |
Which option is right for you?
Choosing between breast implants and fat transfer breast augmentation is about choosing the right approach for your body, your goals, and your lifestyle.
In general, the best technique comes down to your aesthetic preferences and what kind of outcome feels most aligned with your vision.
Fat transfer may be best for patients who:
- Want a more natural look and feel
- Prefer a modest increase in size
- Like the idea of using their own tissue for enhancement
Implants may be more appropriate for patients who:
- Want a more dramatic size increase
- Prefer a rounder or fuller upper-pole projection
- Are looking for the most predictable volume outcome
As a board-certified plastic surgeon with over 30 years of experience, I’ve performed thousands of breast implant and fat grafting procedures. Every surgery I perform is done in our QuadA-accredited surgical center using only board-certified anesthesiologists and techniques that prioritize your comfort, safety, and long-term results.
You can view my full bio here or request a consultation to talk through your options in person. Every body is different. During your consultation we’ll walk through your goals, assess your anatomy, and create a personalized plan whether that means fat transfer, implants, or a combination of both.
Talk Through Your Goals with Dr. Rodriguez
Have questions? Contact Us to schedule your in-office or virtual consultation. Or just give us a call at 410-494-8100! We’re also happy to provide second opinions via virtual consults.
