How Much Does Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation Cost?

Fat transfer breast augmentation costs $10,860 on average, according to 136 patient reviews. Prices range from $5,400 to as much as $19,500 for a more extensive procedure.

The average cost of this fat transfer procedure is several thousand dollars more than the average price of breast implants (the more traditional breast augmentation surgery). That’s because it’s a combination of two procedures:

• Liposuction to harvest your own fat from other areas of the body (such as thighs or belly)
• Carefully injecting tiny drops of body fat into the breasts with a cannula, to add volume and improve contours

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

Some surgeons also recommend pairing fat grafting (or “over grafting”) with breast implants to enhance 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 an elective cosmetic procedure. However, it is covered by insurance for breast reconstruction patients following breast cancer.

Read on to find out why the cost of this breast enlargement 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

What to look for in your price quote

During your initial consultation with a surgeon, you’ll discuss the details of their recommended treatment plan. This is the time to ensure you’re a good candidate for the procedure (i.e. you have fat to spare) and ask for a detailed, personalized cost quote that includes:

• The surgeon’s fee, which may be applied to the cost of your procedure
• Anesthesia fees
• Facility fees for the hospital or plastic surgery center
• Follow-up appointments

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

Is breast augmentation with fat transfer 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, rather than foreign objects.

The procedure also comes with body contouring benefits: during the harvesting process, unwanted fat is removed from other areas of the body, such as the abdomen, flanks, back, thighs, arms, knees, or buttocks.

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

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

• Those with very little excess body fat may not qualify.
• 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.”

Augmenting your breasts with living fat from your own body means that future weight loss will reduce the size of your breasts, and weight gain will increase their size. It may also lead to contour irregularities in the areas where fat was harvested. Talk to your surgeon about how best to maintain a healthy, consistent weight after surgery.

5 factors that impact the cost of fat transfer breast augmentation

These are the biggest factors that affect the price of this cosmetic surgery.

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 than a less experienced provider.

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 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 overhead costs typically have to pass that on to patients in the form of higher prices.

In San Francisco, for example, which boasts one of the highest costs of living in the country, fat transfer breast augmentation costs start around $10,000, according to plastic surgeon Dr. David Sieber.

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—or in less expensive cities. 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

As we mentioned, a fat transfer breast augmentation procedure starts with liposuction to harvest excess fat.

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 includes:

• the anesthesia provider fee
• 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 at least one board-certified plastic surgeon. We make it easy to find qualified doctors in your area.

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