The breasts can also be enlarged with fat grafting (lipofilling), provided the patient has enough fat in donor areas and does not want a large increase. The fat can be taken from the abdomen, thighs, knees or outer thighs, and must be washed and prepared before being re-injected. Women who are good donors usually already have fairly full breasts.
For a larger increase, breast implants are still needed. The length and cost of the operation depend on the amount of fat to be harvested and grafted. Patients should know that some of the fat is always reabsorbed, in a proportion that is hard to predict, and that about 25% of them may need a touch-up.