Who is it for?
Women who want a modest, natural increase, who prefer not to have implants and who have enough fat to donate. Fat transfer breast augmentation in Turkey can also refine the upper breast after a breast lift, soften the edges of implants, fill a dip after implant removal or correct small asymmetries.
It is less suitable for very slim women with little donor fat, or for women who want a large increase in size – an implant is more effective then. Our article breast lift without implants explains how fat transfer can be combined with a lift.
How it works
Fat is removed with gentle liposuction, purified and injected in small amounts into many layers of the breast so that it can develop a blood supply. Not all transferred fat survives: on average 60–70% stays, which is why a second session is sometimes planned. The donor areas – usually the abdomen, flanks or inner thighs – are contoured at the same time.
Fat transfer at New City Clinic
At New City Clinic the surgeon first checks from your photos whether you have enough donor fat and how much volume is realistic. The procedure is performed in an accredited hospital under general anaesthesia, with one night’s stay. You can read the clinic’s description on fat transfer breast augmentation at New City Clinic and a detailed patient article on the clinic blog: fat transfer breast augmentation in Turkey.
If an implant would suit you better, the surgeon will say so honestly; compare with breast augmentation with implants at New City Clinic.
Preparing for surgery
Keep your weight stable before surgery: if you lose a lot of weight, there is less fat to transfer, and if you gain weight afterwards the breasts will grow with it. Stop smoking at least four weeks before and after surgery, because nicotine reduces the blood supply that new fat cells need to survive. Women over 40 should have a recent mammogram or breast ultrasound before the procedure, to have a baseline for future screening.
Recovery
A soft non-wired bra and a compression garment on the donor area for 4–6 weeks. Avoid pressure on the breasts – including sleeping on your front – for the first weeks, so the grafted fat is not compressed. The donor areas are bruised and swollen at first, like after any liposuction. The final volume is visible after 3–6 months, once the surviving fat has stabilised.
Results and what to expect
Breasts enlarged with fat look and feel completely natural, because they are your own tissue. The increase is moderate – usually about one cup size per session – and the upper breast becomes rounder. Because some of the fat is absorbed in the first months, the breasts look bigger at first than at the end. Many patients appreciate the slimmer waist or thighs as much as the breast result.
Combining with other procedures
Fat transfer combines well with a breast lift (fat restores the upper fullness that a lift alone does not), with implants in a "composite" augmentation to camouflage implant edges in thin women, and with a tummy tuck in a mommy makeover. It is also useful to correct small differences between the breasts – see breast asymmetry.
Price in Istanbul vs the UK
At New City Clinic fat transfer to the breasts costs from €3,000 to €4,500, including liposuction, fat processing, hospital, hotel, transfers and compression garments. In the UK the same procedure typically costs the equivalent of €5,500–€8,500. The price depends on the number of donor areas and on whether a second session is planned. See our prices page and the official New City Clinic price list.
Risks
Partial absorption of the fat, small oil cysts or areas of fat necrosis that may be felt as lumps, asymmetry and the usual risks of liposuction. Fat grafting does not interfere with breast cancer screening when it is performed and documented correctly; tell your radiologist about the procedure.
Long-term care
The fat that survives the first months is permanent and behaves like the rest of your body fat: it grows if you gain weight and shrinks if you lose weight. Keep your weight stable, continue normal breast screening and keep a copy of your operation report to show your radiologist.
Choosing your surgeon
Fat grafting is a technique of patience and precision: fat must be harvested gently, processed carefully and placed in many small portions in different layers of the breast so that each droplet can find a blood supply. Choose a plastic surgeon experienced in both liposuction and breast surgery, who tells you honestly how much volume is realistic for your body. You can meet the surgeons of New City Clinic and compare with our clinic checklist.
Fat transfer or implants?
Implants give a predictable, larger increase in a single operation and do not depend on how much fat you have; they are the better choice for a significant change in size. Fat transfer gives a smaller, softer increase with no implant to monitor or replace, and slims the donor area at the same time; it is ideal for a natural, modest change. Some women combine the two: a small implant for volume and a layer of fat to soften the edges. Our breast implants guide and breast lift or breast augmentation? help you weigh the options.
Which donor areas are used?
The most common donor areas are the lower abdomen, the flanks (love handles), the outer and inner thighs and the lower back. The surgeon chooses areas where you have enough fat and where removing it will improve your figure. The scars from liposuction are tiny entry points of a few millimetres, usually hidden in natural creases or under underwear. Donor areas are bruised and swollen at first and need a compression garment for several weeks.
Fat transfer at New City Clinic for UK patients
For patients travelling from the UK and Ireland, fat transfer to the breasts fits easily into a one-week stay in Istanbul. Because the final volume takes three to six months to appear, follow-up continues online after you return: you send photos at agreed points and the surgeon tells you whether the result is on track. If a second session is advisable, it can be planned in a later trip. Send photos of your breasts and of the possible donor areas with your height and weight to get a first opinion, and read the recovery guide to plan your time off.
Frequently asked questions
How much bigger will my breasts be?
Usually about one cup size per session. For larger increases an implant or a combined technique is more effective.
Is the result permanent?
The fat that survives behaves like normal fat and stays, changing with your body weight.
Am I too slim for fat transfer?
Possibly. You need enough donor fat in the tummy, flanks or thighs. Send photos of these areas with your height and weight and the surgeon will tell you.
How much does fat transfer to the breasts cost in Turkey?
At New City Clinic it costs from €3,000 to €4,500 all-inclusive, depending on donor areas. You receive a fixed price after the online assessment.
Will I need a second session?
Not always. If you want more volume than one session can give, a second session can be planned after at least three to six months.
Can fat transfer lift my breasts?
No. Fat adds volume and can make the upper breast rounder, but it cannot raise a nipple that has dropped. A lift is needed for real sagging.