Maria Katrina Paras

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Breast Fat Transfer Procedure

<p>Fat has always been a little misunderstood. When it hides deep in the abdomen, wrapped around organs, it’s a villain; visceral fat, after all, is linked to heart disease, diabetes, and metabolic problems. But just beneath the skin, fat tells a different story. It’s softness, it’s contour, it’s shape. And in the right hands, modern aesthetics has learned to transform that jiggle, taking it from where it’s not wanted, and gifting it to places where fullness is most desired, like the breasts.</p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1760427938481Breast Fat Transfer 1.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded"/></div><div><br/></div><p>This shift is rewriting the rules of <strong>breast augmentation</strong>. For decades, implants dominated the conversation. They still do–but alongside implants, another approach is quickly rising: <strong>autologous fat grafting</strong>, or <strong>breast fat transfer</strong>. According to Data Intelligence, The Asia Pacific region is also the fastest growing market for breast augmentation, with fat transfer making up nearly half of the augmentation type.</p><p>In the Philippines, <a href="https://luminisce.com/?srsltid=AfmBOop_7PLZUXQNvEqjQ0gXmeb0rlw8id8vm2Wmmvb89zV2gsuoJnt9" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Luminisce</strong></a> is one of the few clinics to offer <strong>liposuction, fat transfer, </strong>and<strong> post-op care</strong> under one roof. Starting out as a boutique dermatology and laser center when it opened 13 years ago, the practice expanded as patients asked for solutions beyond noninvasive treatments and injectables. On average, its Bonifacio Global City clinic performs 15 to 20 liposuction procedures each month, with nearly half of those patients choosing to reinvest their own fat through grafting. “Breast is one of the top uses for the fat, second perhaps only to buttock augmentation for those who want curves,” reveals founder <a href="https://www.instagram.com/drkayceereyes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Dr. Kaycee Reyes</strong></a>, who has over two decades of experience and upskilling in medicine, clinical dermatology, and cosmetic surgery. She is an associate fellow of the Philippine Society for Cosmetic Surgery. </p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1760428494181Breast Fat Transfer 2.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded"/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>A two-in-one solution</strong></div><p>The biggest draw of fat transfer is that<strong> it’s entirely natural.</strong> “It’s 100% your own tissue. The breasts simply feel like normal breasts–because they are normal breast tissue, just with a bit more fat added,” she says. While implants remain the go-to for major size jumps, fat transfer is carving out its own space for patients who don’t want a foreign object in their body. It feels and moves like you–because it is. Even with advancements in above-the-muscle implants (like the new <strong>Preservé by Motiva</strong>), fat transfer means there’s no implant to potentially cause a reaction or require maintenance or replacement after a decade.</p><p>“Surgeons can also sculpt with precision, filling indentations and correcting asymmetries in ways preset implant shapes can’t,” Dr. Reyes notes.</p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1760428895400Breast Fat Transfer 3.png" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Beyond the chest, fat transfer offers a two-in-one benefit. “It’s not just about the breast. It’s also a body contouring procedure,” she says. By slimming the tummy, thighs, or arms, proportions shift overall: “My waist is snatched and my breasts are fuller—win-win!” as one delighted patient put it.</div><p>It’s not uncommon for patients to combine goals. “A mom might come in for a mommy makeover type contouring: lipo her tummy and flanks, and we’ll split the fat to put maybe 60% to her breasts and 40% to her buttocks for a full body reshape,” she shares.</p><p>Compared to the Brazilian Butt Lift–fat grafting’s more popular (and higher risk) counterpart–breast fat transfer is gentler and lower-volume. While BBLs may require hundreds of milliliters per buttock, breast fat transfer typically uses a fraction of that.</p><p>The catch, however, is that fat transfer is not for everyone. Dr. Reyes explains, <strong>“The ideal candidate is someone who has enough donor fat to spare and prefers a natural, subtle finish. It’s not the right fit for those craving dramatic enlargement, or for patients with significant sagging who may need a lift instead.”</strong></p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Just like beauty alchemy</strong></div><p>First, fat is gently harvested using liposuction–but the usual lipo won’t do. <strong>“We prioritize fat survival,”</strong> Dr. Reyes points out. “We treat fat like an organ transplant: delicately and with respect. Every step matters, from harvesting to processing to injection.”</p><p>The process starts with gentle, low-pressure liposuction to preserve cell viability. “Harsh methods can reduce viability by 20–30%,” she notes. Technique varies for every practitioner, but <strong>Luminisce’s signature Lumi Lipotight Full Circle</strong> approach uses ultrasound-assisted liposuction (VASER) or water-assisted lipo to loosen fat with minimal trauma, combined with manual or power-assisted aspiration at low vacuum settings. Studies show that ultrasound-harvested fat not only survives as well as traditional methods but may even stimulate new blood vessel growth.</p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1760429094036Breast Fat Transfer 4.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded"/></div><div><br/></div><p>Excess fluids and damaged cells are then removed until only the healthiest fat remains, while kept in a sterile closed system, never over-handled. Once purified, the fat may be enriched with stromal vascular fraction (SVF) stem cells, which have been shown to improve retention by 17% on average. “We ensure our harvested fat is rich in stem cells naturally because fat is inherently a great source of stem cells. We handle it gently to preserve those.” It’s something they already have experience in through their regenerative medicine program, where they use SVF stem cells for other indications like treating injuries and stimulating hair growth. “The knowledge carries over in how we treat harvested fat as a precious resource.” </p><p>And then the injections begin. Luminisce uses the Coleman technique, a gold-standard method of layering fat with microcannulas for natural, lasting results. <strong>“We inject fat in tiny micro-droplets–like planting seeds in fertile soil–so each parcel can quickly connect to the blood supply and thrive,”</strong> Dr. Reyes explains. With this combination, “we create a graft that quickly revascularizes and integrates with the recipient breast tissue.”</p><p>The result doesn’t end with fuller breasts and natural curves. Fat grafting also has a regenerative edge. As stem cells improve blood vessel growth, enhance tissue quality, and even make skin more supple, patients note how breasts and the skin around it feel softer and more supple after transfer, not just fuller. That’s something no implant can match. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>For those with implants or considering an explant</strong></div><p>Fat transfer isn’t just for women going implant-free. It’s also become a “touch-up” for those who already have them. According to Dr. Reyes, by feathering fat along the inner borders of the breasts, surgeons can “fill in the valley” for more cleavage, or layer it over implant edges to camouflage rippling. The result? “Implant looks fuller with a natural feel.”</p><p>This technique, called composite breast augmentation, is widely recognized as safe when performed properly. The implant provides structure, while fat softens the transitions and hides tell-tale signs, often with less downtime than a full revision. Think of it as blending makeup seamlessly over a contour: the implant gives shape, the fat makes it believable.</p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1760429613357Breast Fat Transfer 5.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded"/></div><div><br/></div><p>For women parting ways with implants altogether, fat grafting offers a natural alternative. Many cite health concerns (like Breast Implant Illness or ALCL worries), lifestyle changes, or simply wanting to “feel like themselves again.” During explant surgery, surgeons often inject fat immediately to restore contour. Volume won’t match a large implant in one go, but staged sessions can build up results.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>The GLP-1 Effect</strong></div><p>The Ozempic era and the rise of GLP-1 medications have surprisingly boosted interest in breast fat transfer. “Paradoxically, even after losing a lot of weight, some pockets of fat can remain. We all have stubborn areas that resist even medication and diet, or the patient might still have, say, a bit of lower tummy pooch or flank fat left,” Dr. Reyes shares. “These patients come in saying, ‘I finally lost weight, but now my boobs disappeared and look droopy—and I still have these bits of fat here and there. Can we put that fat where I actually want it?’</p><p>Timing is key. Dr. Reyes recommends hitting a stable weight first, around 3–6 months at goal, so grafted fat isn’t lost to further weight loss. For those with sagging skin, a lift may be paired with fat transfer for the best results. </p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1760429974554Breast Fat Transfer 6.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded"/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>Patience is part of the process</strong></div><p>“Over the weeks and months after the procedure, the transferred fat cells will ‘take’ to the new area,” Dr. Reyes says. With the swelling, they will be larger than you’d expect and would require you to keep compression garments to help the fat stay in place as they develop a blood supply and become living tissue in the breast.</p><p>“Not all the injected fat survives,” she clarifies. While Luminisce employs every technique to ensure a higher percentage, “On average, about 50–70% of the fat will remain long-term, while the rest may be naturally metabolized by the body.”</p><p>Similar to Dr. Reyes’ findings, a 2025 three-year prospective study, “Long-Term Volume Retention of Breast Augmentation with Fat Grafting Depends on Weight Changes: A 3-Year Prospective Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study,” tracked 28 women in the US who underwent breast augmentation with fat grafting, using MRI scans to measure how much of the transferred fat lasted over time. The researchers found that grafts reached what they called a “volumetric steady state” at around 253 days—just over eight months—“with a volume retention of 46%.”</p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://metro.style/beauty/2025/9/18/non-invasive-fat-melting-treatments-1800" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">READ: 5 Non-Invasive Fat-Melting Treatments Worth Exploring All-Year-Round</a></div><div><br/></div><p>Weight changes after surgery proved critical. “Patients who lost just one point on their body mass index (BMI) after surgery retained only 22 percent of the grafted fat, while those who gained one BMI point retained 57 percent. When weight gain increased to two BMI points, retention rose dramatically to 85 percent.” In short, weight loss after grafting “leads to significantly lower volume retention,” while modest weight gain helps protect and even enhance it. As the authors put it, “slightly less than half of the grafted fat typically remained long-term,” but individual results depend heavily on postoperative weight shifts and surgical planning.</p><p>Dr. Reyes emphasizes that factors that influence this include tissue quality (better blood supply equals higher survival), patient lifestyle (non-smokers fare better), and careful surgical planning (overfilling risks necrosis). Safe volumes are usually 200–300 cc per breast per session (or one to two bra cups increase according to this author’s experience). The final result is typically assessed at around three to six months post-op, once swelling has subsided and the grafted fat has stabilized. What ‘takes’ becomes living tissue in the breast–soft and responsive to your body like any other fat. What lasts, though, lasts for good, as long as weight and lifestyle remain stable, just like with your own, natural breasts. </p><p>Breast augmentation is no longer a one-size-fits-all story. Implants remain powerful tools, but fat transfer is redefining what natural enhancement looks and feels like. In the end, fat–once the most maligned of tissues–is being recast as beauty’s most precious resource. A little liquid gold, moved from where you don’t want it, to where you do.</p><div><br/></div><div><em>Log on to the Luminisce <a href="https://luminisce.com/?srsltid=AfmBOopq0qp3BgfNqtkvsGL4SPTZ0VAoPd9uTlE5g_1Kv4tcx8q3jStL" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">website</a> for inquiries.</em></div>

<p>Implants are no longer your only option. Surgeons are turning unwanted fat into soft, natural curves, moving it from the belly to the breasts with results that look and feel like your own–because they are.</p>

Implants are no longer your only option. Surgeons are turning unwanted fat into soft, natural curves, moving it from the belly to the breasts with results that look and feel like your own–because they are.

Fat Transfer Signals A ‘Natural’ Era In Breast Enhancement

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Fat Transfer Signals A ‘Natural’ Era In Breast Enhancement

Marbbie Tagabucba

Published Oct 14, 2025 04:00 PM PHT

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Updated Oct 14, 2025 04:22 PM PHT

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