How Much Does Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation Cost?

Fat transfer breast augmentation costs $9,250 on average, according to 871 patient reviews on RealSelf. The cost can range from just $4,378 to as much as $18,000 for a more extensive procedure.

A fat transfer breast augmentation procedure costs several thousand dollars more than the price of breast implants because it’s actually a combination of two procedures:

• Harvesting your own fat from other areas of the body (such as thigh or belly fat) via liposuction
• Carefully injecting tiny drops of this fat it into the breasts, to add volume and contour.

This “natural breast augmentation” technique has been growing in popularity, as more women consider alternatives to traditional breast augmentation with saline or silicone implants.

Some surgeons also recommend pairing fat grafting (or “over grafting”) with breast implants, to enhance the results, hide implant edges and ripples, and treat asymmetry. This combination creates larger breasts that are also higher and firmer.

Insurance doesn’t cover breast fat transfer to boost breast volume (with or without breast implants), because it’s considered an elective cosmetic procedure. However, it is covered by insurance for breast reconstruction patients.

Read on to find out why the cost of this breast augmentation procedure can fluctuate so much—and whether real patients think it’s worth the hefty price tag.

Related: Everything You Need to Know About Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation

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What does the cost include?

During your initial consultation with a surgeon, you’ll discuss the details of the treatment plan they recommend for you. This is the perfect time to ask for a detailed, personalized cost quote that includes:

• The surgeon’s fee
• Anesthesia fees
• Facility fees for the hospital or surgery center
• Follow-up appointments

Also, ask if you’ll need to budget for pain medication or recovery supplies, such as a compression garment.

Is a fat transfer breast augmentation worth the money?

Fat transfer breast augmentation has a 87% Worth It Rating from patient reviews on RealSelf, so a solid majority thought their results are worth what they paid.

Reviewers who were happy with the outcome reported that their final results had a full, natural look and felt like natural breast tissue. The procedure also comes with body contouring benefits, as unwanted fat is removed from other body areas during the harvesting process.

Among those who say it was “Not Worth It,” the biggest complaint is that the increase in breast size was too subtle. Some also say they were left with scarring or complications.

This isn’t the right breast enhancement procedure for everyone:

• People who are concerned about sagging may be better candidates for a breast lift or want to combine the two procedures.
• Those who want a significant size increase may be disappointed. For most patients, the procedure will add up to one cup size, though patients with more skin laxity may be able to achieve an increase of two cup sizes (sometimes over two procedures).
• If you’re looking for a big change in breast shape, including obvious cleavage, your surgeon will probably recommend breast implants, which can offer more “upper-pole fullness.”

What affects the cost of a fat transfer breast augmentation?

These are the biggest factors in whether what you pay for your procedure will be more or less than the average cost.

1. Your surgeon’s credentials and level of experience

An experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon can help ensure that you’ll get your desired results, but they will charge more for their time and expertise.

This fat transfer procedure is generally considered safe, but both liposuction and fat injection procedures come with risks that more experienced surgeons know how to avoid.

For example, the risk of cysts can be mitigated if your surgeon injects the fat very slowly and carefully, one drop at a time—a technique that’s often called microfat transfer. This also helps avoid harming the fat cells, to preserve as much of the fat graft as possible.

A less experienced physician, or one who rushes patients through, may leave you with nodules, cysts, contour irregularities, or even fat necrosis, either at the liposuction site or in the breasts themselves. 

Before you book a consultation, check your prospective surgeons’ board certifications, patient reviews, and before-and-after photos. 

2. Their practice location

Medical practices operating in areas with higher costs of living typically charge more.

If you live in an expensive metro area, like New York or LA, you may want to consider getting cost quotes from qualified providers outside the heart of the city, in outlying areas—or in less expensive cities like Austin or Miami. Even with the travel expenses, the savings may be worth it.

3. The type of surgical facility

Your surgeon’s own surgical center will probably come with a lower facility fee than a hospital operating room. 

If you go this route, ask if their facility is accredited, and make sure your doctor has admitting privileges at a nearby hospital in case you need to be transferred, in an emergency.

4. The complexity of your procedure

Fat transfer breast augmentation starts with liposuction to harvest excess fat, which is why it’s more expensive than breast enhancement via breast implants. 

This comes with body-contouring benefits, but the amount of fat that’s involved can impact your cost. A higher volume of excess fat will take longer to harvest, process, and precisely inject.

“Take into account how much fat we would be transferring and how many areas we need to harvest the fat from,” says Dr. Christopher Khorsandi, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Henderson, Nevada. “When multiple donor sites are needed to get the fat, the cost increases, since the surgery will take longer.”

You may also need a series of fat grafting procedures to obtain the results you want, because not all of the transferred fat cells will successfully establish a new blood supply and survive. 

“Oftentimes, a second transfer is necessary for some contour touch-ups or volume issues,” says Dr. Andrew M. Lofman, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Bloomfield Hills, Missouri. 

You can expect to pay for an additional procedure, though some surgeons offer a price break to correct an asymmetrical result.

5. The type of anesthesia you have and who administers it

This procedure can be performed with local anesthesia with IV sedation (twilight) or general anesthesia, and what you choose will impact the cost. The more expensive option is typically general, where you’re fully unconscious, whereas twilight, the highest level of sedation that doesn’t require using breathing tubes, tends to cost less.

The total price of your anesthesia typically includes the anesthesia provider fee and the hospital or facility anesthesia fee, which covers the cost of supplies, medications, and additional staff.

A certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) is qualified to give you anesthesia and may come at a lower cost than an anesthesiologist (a medical doctor who administers anesthesia). However, a board-certified anesthesiologist could increase your safety—which is always worth the cost.

Can you finance fat transfer breast augmentation?

Yes, most practices offer payment plans or accept financing options.

The CareCredit credit card is widely accepted by providers across the U.S., for both plastic surgery and nonsurgical procedures.

Where can I find fat transfer breast augmentation surgeons near me?

The best way to get a personalized cost quote for breast fat transfer is to have an in-person consultation with a plastic surgeon. We make it easy to find qualified doctors in your area. 

RealSelf Verified doctors meet or exceed requirements verified by RealSelf, including licensing in good medical standing, high patient satisfaction ratings, and commitment to responsive service.

Fat transfer breast augmentation costs in U.S. states

Browse average fat transfer breast augmentation costs in U.S. states, according to recent RealSelf member reviews (as of July 2023). States not currently listed did not have enough data to include.

Fat transfer breast augmentation costs in major U.S. metros