March 22nd, 2025
Dr. Mulholland, Md
Unhappiness with breast size and shape is an all-too-common insecurity among many women. Many of these women turn to cosmetic breast augmentation to help them feel more confident in their bodies.
Our Toronto breast augmentation specialists at Toronto Plastic Surgeon Wellness Centre utilize breast augmentation to treat various issues, from increasing cup sizes of smaller breasts, decreasing the size of larger breasts, filling out and lifting breasts that have sagged, and more. Because of the variety of things it can treat, there isn’t just one type of breast augmentation. Fat transfer and breast implants are both ways that can be used to improve the appearance of the breasts. But when talking about fat transfer vs. breast implants, you may have some questions.
This post will discuss all things related to fat transfer vs. implants.
What is a Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation?
A fat transfer breast augmentation is a surgical procedure performed at our clinic that can enhance the appearance of the breasts without the use of implants. During this procedure, liposuction removes fat from a designated donor area on the body (usually where the patient has unwanted fat, such as love handles or thighs) and transfers it to the breasts. This procedure increases the shape, symmetry, and size of the breast.
While breast implants have never been safer to use and have improved in their durability and safety over the years, there are still those who may feel hesitant about receiving them, making the fat transfer breast augmentation a great alternative to implants.
Those who receive a fat transfer in Toronto can rest assured that the procedure is performed using fat cells from their own body, rather than foreign implant material being surgically inserted.
Another reason this procedure is so popular is that the donor fat comes from an unwanted area of the body. This means not only will the breast size and shape be improved by this procedure, but the donor area will also have an improved appearance and body contour.
Finally, a fat transfer breast augmentation is great because it lasts. Unlike implants, which should be replaced every 10-12 years, a fat transfer is a permanent procedure that lasts indefinitely, as long as the patient’s health and weight remain within ranges similar to those at the time of surgery.
A fat transfer breast augmentation does have a drawback, however. It is less effective at increasing breast size, usually only increasing it by half a cup to 1 cup.
Can I Combine Fat Transfer and Breast Implants?
Of course! Many patients often opt for the combination of fat transfer and breast implants, as they can enhance the overall appearance of the breasts. In this case, the fat is transferred above the implants, serving as a layer between the implants and the skin. This allows for a more natural-looking and feeling breast at the surface and can help prevent rippling.
Some women opt to use this procedure to “top off” or enhance their saline or silicone breast implants to give a more natural layer between their skin and their implants. This combination of fat transfer and breast implants can also reduce the appearance of ripples from the implants.
Two Types of Breast Implants
Our clinic offers two styles of implants: Saline and Silicone. Both implants come in a vast array of shapes and sizes.
Saline Breast Implants
The first implant we offer is the one most are familiar with: the saline breast implant. This type of implant is filled with a sterile saltwater solution known as saline. The implant casing is inserted empty during the procedure, positioned, and filled with saline solution until it reaches the desired size.
There are many reasons why saline implants are such a popular choice. For starters, they’re less invasive. Because implant casings are inserted empty, the incisions are smaller than those for silicone implants. This also allows us to have more direct control over the size and placement of the implant.
Another reason saline breast implants are so great is that the saline solution inside them is less expensive than silicone. Typically, saline implants cost a few hundred to just over a thousand dollars less than silicone implants.
Finally, another main reason that one might favour these types of implants is that their contents are safe. Saline is a sterile solution, and in the event of a rupture, it can be safely absorbed by the body. A ruptured saline implant will be noticeable almost right away, with a rapid “deflation,” allowing you to seek removal and replacement almost instantly, whereas silicone ruptures may take longer to detect.
There are a few drawbacks to saline implants, however. Firstly, the saline filling of the implant is a liquid and thus can slosh around during activities involving movement, such as exercise. The movement of saline can cause a “rippling” texture during these times, making it easier to determine that an implant exists beneath the skin. Saline breast implants also don’t strictly feel like authentic natural breasts, which can be an undesired effect if a patient is trying to be discreet about their implants.
Enter fat grafting. Fat transfer breast augmentation can be performed in conjunction with saline implants to create a thicker layer between the implants and the skin’s surface, allowing for a more natural feel to the breasts and minimizing any rippling effects.
Silicone Breast Implants (Gummy Bear)
The successor to saline breast implants, silicone breast implants, are also known as gummy bear implants. The gummy bear breast implants get their name from the dense silicone gel that fills them, which has a texture similar to a gummy bear.
Being filled with denser material reduces the risk of rupture, as the material is form-stable if the outer shell casing is broken.
The material also feels and looks more natural to the touch than saline implants and does not ripple under the skin, as it does not move with the body.
This isn’t to say that silicone implants are perfect, however. While the event of a silicone implant rupturing is less likely than that of a saline implant, the possibility for leakage still can occur. Because the material is much denser and more cohesive, the silicone can leak out gradually, making the rupture hard to notice until it has been going on for some time. As silicone is a foreign material to the body, it cannot be absorbed like the saline solution and requires surgery to remove it from the tissue. This is why it is recommended that patients with this implant have an MRI every few years to check the status and integrity of the silicone implant. Also, it is important to report to your surgeon any new discomfort or sensations in the area of the implant as they occur to ensure they are not related to potential leakage.
Fat Transfer vs Breast implants — Which Should I Get?
Which is better, fat transfer or implants? While a common question, unfortunately, there’s not really a concrete answer, as there is more than one difference between breast implants and fat transfer. When debating between fat grafting vs. implants, it’s best to consider your goals and desired outcome for the procedure.
If increasing cup size alone is your overall goal for the procedure, implants may be a better fit for your needs. On the flip side, if your breasts are augmented with your natural fat rather than a foreign material, a transfer would be more suitable.
If you desire both a cup size increase and an authentic feel, a combination of implants and fat transfer is recommended for optimal results.
Directly Comparing Breast Implants vs Fat Transfer
For a more direct comparison between breast implants and fat transfer, let us break these types of breast surgery into three categories: costs, recovery, and benefits.
Fat Transfer
Fat Grafting Costs: Pricing begins at $9,999
Fat Grafting Recovery: Discomfort subsides within 48 hours; recovery takes 2-7 days, though swelling can last a few weeks.
Fat Grafting Benefits:
- Unwanted fat is removed from another designated area
- Uses natural fat from your own body
- Results are long-lasting and do not require replacement.
Breast Implants
Breast Implants costs: Pricing begins at $9,999. Silicone breast implants usually cost slightly more.
Breast Implant Recovery: The discomfort subsides within 48 hours, 2-3 weeks before a more natural appearance, and 6 weeks for a nearly complete recovery.
Breast Implants Benefits:
- Improved Breast Symmetry, Improved cup size
- Choices between two types of implants with a wide array of sizes and shapes
- Let’s talk Breast Lifts.
While we’ve now thoroughly discussed fat transfer breast augmentation vs implants, another procedure should be mentioned when it comes to breast surgeries.
Breast Lifts
Breast lifts are a separate procedure from fat transfer or implants. The main difference when comparing breast augmentation vs. breast lift is the intent of the surgery.
While the intent of a fat transfer and breast implant surgery is to increase the overall size of the breast, a breast lift’s main goal is to repair the signs of breasts that have lost their fullness and have begun to sag. Sagging breasts that have lost fullness can appear to be flatter or look “deflated.” This can happen during natural aging or after pregnancy and breastfeeding.
After a breast lift is performed, the firmness, perkiness, and fullness are restored to the breast, but the cup size of the breasts is generally left unaltered, and the breasts are merely returned to their former state.
Several types of breast lift methods are available at our clinic, used for treating different requirements and goals for the breasts.
Our clinic performs several types of breast lift procedures, including the following:
Crescent Lift
This is the least intrusive of the crescent lift options, intended for breasts with only minor sagging. The name comes from the single, small crescent-shaped incisions made by the areolas to remove excess skin, allowing the nipples to be raised.
Donut Lift
A donut lift is similar to a crescent lift, using a single incision around the areola. However, this incision goes all the way around, forming a circle. This method, while more extensive than a crescent lift, is still a reasonably minimal lift.
Lollipop Lift
Lollipop breast lifts are the most performed breast lift procedure. During this procedure, a vertical incision is made from the areola to the under-breast area, removing the excess skin and tissue. The name comes from the “lollipop” appearance of the vertical line connecting to the circular areola.
Anchor Lift
This is a far more extensive lift than other breast lift procedures. Anchor lifts are typically only performed on breasts with excessive sagging. The incisions used here are for intensive procedures, extending vertically from the areola to the under-breast area, then curving along the under-breast area to allow maximum lifting results or enable reshaping.
Can I Combine a Breast Lift with Implants or Transfers?
One common misconception patients sometimes have is that they must choose between a breast lift, implants, or fat graft, but this is not the case. Yes! Breast fat transfers can be used to help fill out the restored breast and increase the feel and appearance after a breast lift.
Likewise, many implant breast augmentations utilize breast lifts for optimal results. For example, donut lifts are excellent for achieving symmetry between the nipples and reducing areola size.
When combining fat transfer and breast implants, the process usually looks something like this:
First, the initial breast lift is performed, raising the breasts into their desired position. Next, the excess skin and tissue are removed. Finally, the desired implants are inserted into position. If fat transfer and breast implants are combined in the same procedure, the grafting is performed at that time.
Book With Us Today
If you have concerns about your breasts and are ready to make a change, or if you have more questions about fat grafting vs. implants, give Toronto Plastic Surgeons Wellness Centre a call today. You can call us at 647-723-3739 or book a consultation with us online.
During your consultation with a member of our team, we will help you decide between fat transfer vs implants, or if a combination of both will best suit your needs.
Dr. Stephen Mulholland, Md
Dr. Stephen Mulholland has been practicing plastic surgery for over 20 years. He is one of Canada’s most renowned and best plastic surgeons in Toronto with his wealth of experience, artistry, and humbleness towards his patients.
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