Can fat be transferred to breasts that already have implants?

The short answer is-yes--- fat can be transferred to a previously implant augmented breast. But the result-- the outcome-- and the intended long term appearance are questionable. Noone has yet perfected a technique for permanent fat transfer. Over time the fat will mostly be gone. You can repeat the process as we do in localized facial areas and into the buttocks in an attempt to preserve the achieved and intended result. In short- I do not recommend it because I believe the breast implant is the best way to get and achieve the best looking breast for volume loss provided the shape is acceptable.

I use this technique frequently in revision breast implant cases to improve any number of issues.Kenneth Hughes, MDLos Angeles, CA

Fat grafting can transfer fat from one area of the body to any other. When fat grafting to the breast is performed, it is important to keep in mind the risks of this procedure. If you have a lump in the breast following fat grafting, for example, it will likely need to be removed.Fat grafting can be performed to the breasts if implants are already in place to "camouflage" the implants (e.g. if rippling or sharp demarcations are present). I perform this procedure routinely for women following mastectomy to help masquerade the implants. I feel more confident doing this because the breasts have already been removed and the likelihood that a lump in the breast (from fat necrosis after grafting) represents cancer is exceedingly low.Nonetheless, radiologists are getting better at differentiating between fat necrosis and cancer on mammography. If you are looking to simply have larger breasts, an implant exchange is the most conservative approach. If you have rippling of the implants or implant visibility, there are established techniques and different implant types that may solve the problem before considering fat grafting to the breast.