Breast reduction
Would you like a fuller décolleté? But you refuse to have breast implants out of conviction or because you have had (repeated) problems with them in the past? Breast augmentation with autologous fat offers a gentle alternative.
Instead of the usual silicone implants, Dr. Nichlos uses excess fatty tissue in a procedure also known as lipofilling. He takes this from areas of the body with sufficient fat reserves (the classic problem areas) to moderately enlarge and sculpt your breasts. The result is very natural – both visually and haptically – and typical discomfort, which can rarely occur with implants, is virtually eliminated.
Dr. Nichlos will be happy to advise you personally on breast augmentation with autologous fat at our practice in Frankfurt am Main. It is best to make an appointment now.
The principle of lipofilling is quite simple: Dr. Nichlos removes some fatty tissue from an area of your body where you would perhaps like to get rid of it anyway. This donor fat is then carefully prepared (e.g. blood and tissue fluid are removed) and injected into your breast using a special technique. This allows your breasts to be shaped and enlarged by around half to a full cup size. Foreign bodies are not used as in breast augmentation with implants.

Dr. Emmanouil Nichlos has specialized in breast augmentation with autologous fat for over 17 years and has extensive experience in natural breast contouring.
By combining liposuction with the precise processing of autologous fat, Dr. Nichlos achieves particularly natural and harmonious results. During the recovery phase, patients who have recently undergone surgery receive personalized care, and Dr. Nichlos is available at any time if needed.
Breast augmentation with autologous fat is suitable for women who want a natural shape and volume enhancement but would like to consciously avoid silicone implants. The procedure is particularly suitable for moderate volume requirements, slight asymmetries or a loss of fullness after pregnancy or weight changes. At the same time, unwanted fat deposits in other parts of the body can be reduced so that two areas of the body benefit. As only the body’s own fat is used, the result is very natural and the risk of intolerance is low.
With classic breast augmentation and the alternative with autologous fat, we have two very safe plastic surgery procedures at our disposal to increase your breast volume and shape your breasts according to your wishes. However, the two are fundamentally different. This applies to both the operation and the end result. To make your decision easier, we have compared the advantages and disadvantages of the two methods for you here.
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| Breast augmentation with autologous fat | Breast augmentation with silicone implants | |
| Look & feel | Very natural. Your breast feels soft and authentic because we have augmented it using only your own body tissue. | Also natural with the right implant. However, the implants can sometimes be felt. |
| Possible increase in volume | Limited. Experience has shown that an augmentation of around ½ to 1 cup size is possible with the patient’s own fatty tissue. | Very large. It is possible to gain several cup sizes with just one breast operation. |
| Scars | Minimal. After breast surgery, tiny puncture marks – if any – remain from the fat removal and injection. | Visible. Surgery with implants results in scars in the underbust crease, areola or armpit. |
| Durability | Permanent. If the fatty tissue has grown into the breast, it remains there, but can of course change as you lose weight. | Long-lasting. Modern silicone implants can remain in your body for 15, 20 or more years. |
| Compatibility | Very high. Rejection reactions are practically impossible as it is your body’s own fatty tissue. | Good. Today, breast implants are well tolerated, but remain a foreign body (keyword: capsular fibrosis). |
| Prerequisites | You must have sufficient fat deposits from which we can remove the fatty tissue for your breast. | None. There just needs to be enough breast tissue to cover the implant. |
| Additional effects | Yes, unwanted fat deposits on the stomach, hips or thighs are reduced by fat removal. | None. When enlarging with implants, we concentrate exclusively on your breasts. |
Unfortunately not. For breast augmentation with autologous fat, sufficient donor fat must be available forliposuction. In this case, the one or other fat pad on the stomach, hips, thighs or arms pays off and is significantly reduced as a positive side effect of the treatment.
If, on the other hand, you are very slim and athletic (this applies to women with a BMI of around 20), your fat reserves are generally too small for an autologous fat graft. In this case, the only option is classic breast augmentation. Furthermore, breast augmentation with autologous fat transfer is only suitable if you are looking for a moderate increase in size or would like to optimize the symmetry of your breasts, for example after pregnancy or weight loss.
Instead of having to choose between implants and autologous fat, the two methods can also be combined in some cases. In what is known as hybrid breast augmentation, Dr. Nichlos combines the strengths of both procedures while compensating for their respective weaknesses.
In the hybrid approach, the implant provides the volume and ensures a stable basic shape. Dr. Nichlos uses autologous fat to refine the result. He carefully injects the fat around the implant, which primarily conceals the transitions to the chest wall. This makes a visible difference, especially in very slim patients. Above all, it conceals the implant edges that are often visible when there is very little native breast tissue and prevents the occurrence of rippling (wavy implant folds). The feel is also more natural than with a breast implant alone.
What is often overlooked during the consultation: With hybrid breast augmentation, you can choose an implant one size smaller. Thanks to the autologous fat, you will still achieve the desired size, as it contributes some volume. Less weight from the implant also means less strain on the breast tissue and a lower risk of long-term breast sagging.
Whether a standard implant, autologous fat, or the hybrid method is the optimal solution for your needs is best determined by Dr. Nichlos during a personal consultation with you.
We lay the perfect foundation for successful lipofilling surgery and a breast according to your wishes during a personal consultation in our practice. As an experienced specialist in plastic and aesthetic surgery, Dr. Nichlos is initially very interested in finding out more about your motivation. What exactly is it about your breasts that makes you think about breast augmentation? Is it the breast size or shape? What result do you hope to achieve with autologous fat injections? More volume or compensation for asymmetries?
Be open and honest during the consultation. Dr. Nichlos will listen to you carefully and, after a physical examination of your breasts and checking for suitable fat deposits, will give you a realistic assessment of whether your ideas can be realized with the autologous fat method. Feel free to discuss your concerns and ask any questions you may have about the operation.
If you decide to have a breast augmentation using autologous fat grafting and have no pre-existing conditions or allergies that would prevent the procedure, Dr. Nichlos will take before photos after the consultation for documentation and later comparison and will inform you about the exact procedure and associated possible risks. He will then draw up an individual treatment plan and arrange a fixed date with you for the autologous fat breast augmentation.
Good to know: To ensure that you know what you are getting into financially, we will of course provide you with a transparent cost breakdown following your consultation.
You will come to the Berger Klinik in Frankfurt am Main for the operation. Here, our team will make your stay as pleasant as possible right from the start. After a brief preparation, Dr. Nichlos will mark the areas where he would like to remove fat and where it is to be injected, as discussed with you beforehand. The anesthesiologist present will then induce anesthesia and monitor your circulation and breathing throughout the procedure.
As soon as the anaesthetic has taken effect and you are deeply asleep, Dr. Nichlos begins to remove the fat using fine cannulas. This is then filtered and processed directly in a sterile system. The pure fat cells are then injected milliliter by milliliter into the breast tissue in a fan shape until the desired shape is achieved. Finally, Dr. Nichlos closes the injection sites with plasters or fine sutures. Drains are not necessary.
After the operation, we will dress you in a support bra for your breasts and compression garments for the donor sites. If you feel fit, you can go home afterwards. A stay in hospital is not usually necessary. Allow about 2 to 3 hours for the entire procedure. Bring someone with you to drive you home afterwards or have someone pick you up at the clinic.
In the first few days after the operation, you should give yourself and your body plenty of rest. Avoid any pressure on the operated breast at all costs and it is best to sleep in an elevated supine position. Continue to wear the compression garments according to our instructions. Immediately after the operation, it is quite normal for your breasts and the donor sites to feel sore and slightly achy. A mild painkiller such as paracetamol will ease this.
For the first 6 weeks after the operation, please do not lift heavy weights, do any sport or engage in any other strenuous physical activity. However, short walks will not do any harm. On the contrary, to avoid complications such as thrombosis, you should take moderate exercise.
In order for the transplanted fat cells to heal well and be supplied with blood and nutrients, you should also avoid the following:
If acute problems arise, you can of course contact us by telephone at any time. Otherwise, we will see you at the agreed check-up appointments at our practice in Frankfurt. We will inform you of the exact dates for the check-ups after your operation.
Every operation carries certain risks of complications. Breast augmentation with autologous fat is no different, although it is comparatively very low-risk. However, with the surgical techniques available to us today and the experience of a specialist in plastic and aesthetic surgery like Dr. Nichlos, these can be kept to a minimum. In rare cases, side effects can still occur, for example:
By following our instructions for aftercare, you can help to minimize complications and optimally support the ingrowth of fat cells.
Many patients want to know the costs associated with a breast augmentation using autologous fat before undergoing treatment. Since each procedure is planned individually, the exact price may vary depending on the initial assessment and the desired volume.
At our practice in Frankfurt, the cost of breast augmentation with autologous fat typically starts at:
The exact costs depend, among other things, on which areas of the body the fat is harvested from and how much fat tissue needs to be processed and transplanted to achieve the desired result. Following a personal consultation, Dr. Nichlos will create a customized treatment and cost plan that transparently lists all services.
The total cost of breast augmentation with autologous fat consists of several components. These typically include:
In addition, the surgery incurs anesthesia costs and clinic fees, as the procedure is performed under general anesthesia in a specialized clinic. An overnight stay at the clinic can also be scheduled depending on your individual recovery or personal preference.
To help you plan your desired treatment flexibly, even for breast augmentation with autologous fat, you have the option to conveniently finance the treatment costs in monthly installments.
Financing is provided by an experienced financing partner and can be individually tailored to your financial situation. This means you do not have to pay the full cost upfront but can settle the treatment through monthly installments.
We would be happy to inform you about the requirements and the financing process during a personal consultation.
Yes, once the fat cells transplanted by Dr. Nichlos have healed in your breast, the result will be permanent. However, you should be aware that not all of the fat cells removed survive the transplant. Experience has shown that 20 to 30 % are broken down by the body. The remaining 70 to 80 % grow firmly into your breast tissue and remain there for the rest of your life. The only exception is if you lose weight. In this case, the fat cells introduced into the breast during the operation are broken down naturally, just like other fat cells.
This depends, among other things, on the amount of fat that we need to remove and prepare to achieve your desired breast volume. Following your consultation in our practice, you will of course receive an individual cost estimate that takes all of this into account.
Yes, the ability to breastfeed is usually completely preserved after breast augmentation with autologous fat. The reason for this is the very gentle surgical technique. Dr. Nichlos only injects the previously harvested and carefully cleaned body fat into the breast tissue. There is therefore no risk of cutting the milk ducts, as is the case with silicone implants. This makes this procedure ideal for women who have not yet completed their family planning.
The good thing about liposuction is that once fat cells have been removed by liposuction, your body can no longer regenerate them. Therefore, they will not return to the removal sites. However, if you gain weight, the surrounding fat cells can increase in size. Therefore, if possible, try to maintain your ideal weight.
Dr. Emmanouil Nichlos, MD, is a board-certified plastic and aesthetic surgeon in Frankfurt who has specialized for over 17 years in breast augmentation using autologous fat as well as minimally invasive breast contouring procedures.
All content on this page has been personally reviewed by him and reflects the current state of medical knowledge in plastic and aesthetic surgery.
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Are you thinking about breast augmentation but are not yet sure whether a traditional operation with implants or autologous fat is the best solution for you? Dr. Nichlos will listen to your wishes and give you a specialist assessment based on your medical history and anatomical requirements. Make an appointment directly for a non-binding consultation!
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