Breast Fat Transfer Gone Wrong

November 25, 2025

When Breast Fat Transfer Doesn’t Go as Planned

Breast fat transfer (also called autologous fat grafting or fat injection breast augmentation) has become a popular alternative to implants. When performed correctly, it creates soft, natural-looking volume using your own fat.
However, if the procedure is done improperly — often at low-cost, high-volume clinics — the results can be uneven, lumpy, or even painful.

Korea is known for advanced revision breast surgery, specializing in correcting botched fat transfers, hard lumps, asymmetry, and fat necrosis. This guide explains what can go wrong and how Korean surgeons fix it safely and naturally.

Common Problems After Breast Fat Transfer

1. Fat Necrosis (Dead Fat Lumps)

One of the most common complications.

Symptoms include:

  • Hard lumps
  • Oil cysts
  • Firm, rubbery masses
  • Pain or tenderness
  • Visible irregularities

These form when fat was over-injected or poorly handled.

2. Severe Asymmetry

Happens when fat:

  • Settles differently
  • Is unevenly placed
  • Doesn’t survive evenly in both breasts

This creates clear size and shape differences.

3. Lumpy or Irregular Texture

Poorly distributed fat can create:

  • Bumpy contours
  • Visible ridges
  • Rippling
  • Uneven upper pole fullness

4. Low Fat Survival

If too much fat dies, the final result may look:

  • Smaller than expected
  • Flattened
  • Uneven

Low-survival rates often come from rushed procedures.

5. Infection

Rare but serious.

Symptoms include:

  • Redness
  • Warmth
  • Fever
  • Increasing pain
  • Pus or drainage

Immediate treatment is required.

6. Overfilling or “Over-Injected” Breasts

Aggressively injecting too much fat leads to:

  • Necrosis
  • Cysts
  • Droopy shape
  • Stretched skin

These cases commonly need revision in Korea.

How Korea Fixes Botched Breast Fat Transfer

Korean plastic surgeons are known for precision, symmetry correction, and natural shaping using advanced revision techniques.

1. Removal of Fat Necrosis or Cysts

Korea uses methods such as:

• Ultrasound-Guided Aspiration

For soft oil cysts.

• Micro-Excision

Tiny incision to remove firm lumps.

• Surgical Removal

For large or deep necrotic masses.

This restores comfort and smooth contour.

2. Corrective Fat Grafting (Secondary Fat Transfer)

Once the breast is stable, surgeons may perform:

  • Layered micro-fat grafting
  • Nano-fat smoothing
  • Symmetry reshaping

Korean techniques focus on small-volume, precise placement to avoid future necrosis.

3. Stem-Cell or PRP-Assisted Fat Grafting

Used to:

  • Improve fat survival
  • Reduce irregularities
  • Enhance skin quality
  • Boost long-term volume retention

This is a specialty trend in Korean clinics.

4. Conversion to Implants (If Needed)

In severe cases with:

  • Very low fat survival
  • Drooping
  • Major asymmetry
  • Repeated necrosis

Switching to implants gives stable shape.
Combination approaches (implant + micro-fat graft) can improve natural results.

5. Fat Redistribution / Fat Liposculpture

Used when fat was injected unevenly.

Correction includes:

  • Removing excess in bulging areas
  • Adding fat to hollow areas
  • Smoothing edges and transitions

6. Skin Tightening for Overstretched Skin

Treatments may include:

  • Radiofrequency tightening
  • Laser tightening
  • Surgical lift (rare but sometimes needed)

Especially helpful if overfilled fat stretched the breast tissue.

When to Consider Revision in Korea

You may be a candidate for revision if you have:

  • Hard lumps
  • Painful nodules
  • Cysts that won’t go away
  • Poor shape or contour
  • Visible asymmetry
  • Excessive shrinkage of volume
  • Droopy shape after fat transfer
  • Repeated infections

Most Korean surgeons recommend waiting 3–6 months after the original surgery, unless there is infection or severe necrosis.

What to Expect During a Revision Consultation in Korea

A typical evaluation includes:

  • Ultrasound imaging
  • MRI (if needed)
  • Examination for lumps
  • Skin thickness assessment
  • Symmetry analysis
  • Discussion of goals and expectations

Korea’s imaging-based assessments help plan precise correction.

Recovery After Revision Fat Transfer

Typical Timeline

  • Swelling: 1–2 weeks
  • Return to work: 3–7 days
  • Exercise: After 3–4 weeks
  • Final shape: 2–3 months

Revision is usually smoother than the first procedure when done correctly.

How to Prevent Future Complications

Choose a clinic that uses:

  • Micro-droplet fat injection
  • Low-pressure harvesting
  • Layered placement
  • Proper purification
  • Conservative volumes
  • Imaging before injection

Korean surgeons are known for these refined protocols.