How much does a fat transfer cost in Turkey?
The average cost of a fat transfer in Istanbul, Turkey is £2,470. Depending on your needs, prices range from £1,150 to £3,350. In the UK, a fat transfer costs between £2,500 and £6,000, depending on the area treated (face, breasts or buttocks) and the volume of fat reinjected.
| Procedures | Price Turkey | Price UK |
|---|---|---|
| Fat transfer | £1,150 - £3,350 | £2,500 - £6,000 |
| Breast fat transfer | £1,950 - £3,100 | £4,000 - £6,500 |
What is a fat transfer?
Fat transfer surgery, also known as fat grafting surgery or fat injections, or fat transfer, is a type of plastic surgery that involves transferring fatty tissue from areas with excess fat to areas lacking volume.
Men and women from around the world undergo this type of procedure to improve their aesthetic appearance. It is also a minimally invasive technique that can be used to correct a wide range of deformities in the face, trunk and limbs.
During fat transfer surgery in Turkey, the volume of fat in the donor area must be sufficient. Fat is usually harvested from the abdomen, thighs and buttocks.
It is then reinjected into the body through a process called fat injection. Fat is typically injected into areas such as the breasts, face, hands or buttocks.
There are several types of autologous fat transfer or fat grafting surgery, depending on the areas where the fat is injected into the body:
- Facial fat transfer - Fat transfer is a good choice for patients with laughter lines, smile lines, facial folds, acne scars, under-eye hollows, cheeks, deep lines between the nose and mouth, forehead wrinkles or other skin depressions.
- Breast enlargement by fat transfer or breast fat transfer - This technique is recommended for patients who want a small increase in breast size.
- Fat grafting breast reconstruction - Fat transfer surgery is useful for patients with breast defects or deformities. It can also be used for total breast reconstruction after a mastectomy.
- Buttock fat transfer - This technique is also known as Brazilian butt lift.
- Hand rejuvenation with fat transfer surgery - patients can improve the appearance of their hands through fat transfer.
- Lip fat transfer - The harvested fat can be injected into the patient’s lips to make them naturally fuller.
- Leg or calf fat transfer - This surgery creates shapely thighs, knees and calves.
Patients with folds or defects in the buttocks, face, bust or hands can benefit from fat transfer surgery in Turkey.
Not recommended for fat transfer
Cosmetic surgery involving fat transfer or fat grafting is not recommended for underweight patients, as they may not have enough fatty tissue for fat harvesting. Patients must therefore have sufficient fat reserves for this surgery. Patients must also be in good health and stop smoking before undergoing the operation.
Hospital discharge
An overnight hospital stay may be necessary.
Duration of the operation
1 to 2 hours
Minimum stay
1 week
Preparation
Heavy smokers must stop smoking at least one month before fat transfer surgery, as it can have a negative effect on the outcome. Anticoagulants, aspirin, certain food supplements and anti-inflammatory medicines are also prohibited for at least two weeks before the procedure.
How does the operation work?
Fat transfer surgery in Istanbul requires local or general anaesthesia. Once anaesthesia is applied, the surgeon begins to harvest excess fat from the patient’s body using liposuction.
The harvested fat is then reinjected into the patient’s treated area, such as the face, hands, buttocks or bust, depending on a pre-established goal. Once the desired result is achieved, the surgery is complete and the fat graft recovery period can begin.
Recovery
The recovery period from fat grafting surgery depends on where the fat is harvested, the area where it is reinjected and the amount of fat used. The treated area is likely to show bruising and swelling for a week or two. Patients may need to take a few weeks off work.
Risks
The risks and complications of fat grafting surgery can include:
- A negative reaction to anaesthesia.
- An infection in the area where the fat is harvested.
- Changes in sensation.
- Scar formation.
- Damage to the tissues of the liposuction area.
- Revision surgery due to unsatisfactory results.
Side effects
After the first week, these post-operative side effects, such as swelling and bruising, will gradually subside. However, in some cases, during the second week, some swelling may persist. Sport and intense activity must be avoided for two weeks after the procedure, and smoking is strongly prohibited for at least one month after the operation.
How much of the fat stays in place?
Some of the injected fat is reabsorbed. In a review of 45 studies on temporal fat grafting, 42.11% of the injected volume remained in place at 12 months on average, ranging from 32.6% to 65.7% depending on the study[1].
Before and after
The volume retained after fat transfer surgery varies from patient to patient and can only be judged after several months. It is important to note that patients must maintain a stable weight in order to preserve the results of the operation.
FAQ - Frequently asked questions
How long does it last?
The result is not permanent in the strict sense: some of the grafted fat is reabsorbed. In the buttocks, the thickness of the fat layer decreased by 18.16% on average over 12 months in 50 patients[2]. A stable weight helps preserve the result.
Will the skin around the donor site become loose once the fat is removed?
Skin laxity at the harvest site depends mainly on its elasticity: less elastic skin retracts less well after liposuction. The amount of fat harvested is adapted to the available reserve, assessed during consultation.
Are there alternatives to fat transfer surgery?
Yes: injectable fillers, such as hyaluronic acid for the face, and implants for the breasts. They avoid liposuction but introduce a foreign material, whereas fat grafting uses the patient’s own fat.
How much does breast fat grafting cost in Turkey?
Breast fat grafting costs from £1,950 to £3,100 in Turkey, compared with £4,000 to £6,500 in the UK. It aims for a moderate increase in volume: to gain more, breast augmentation with implants is the other option.
Does facial fat grafting carry any particular risks?
Bruising is the most common effect: 43.68% of cases in a review of temporal fat grafting[1]. The same review reports rare but serious embolisms, with damage to vision or the nervous system, and sometimes death.
What precautions should be taken for buttock fat grafting (BBL)?
Ask for injection into the subcutaneous plane, never into the muscle: according to a survey of Brazilian surgeons, the risk of death is 16 times higher with intramuscular injection[3]. BAAPS also recommends ultrasound guidance[4].
What should I do if there is a complication after returning to the UK?
For buttock fat grafting, BAAPS considers patients operated on via medical tourism to be more exposed to inadequate management of complications[4]. Before a medical tourism trip to Turkey, arrange follow-up in the UK.
Sources & References
- Friedmann DP, Hinchee-Rodriguez K, Verma KK. Temple Volumization With Autologous Fat: A Systematic Review of the Literature. Dermatologic Surgery. 2025. View source
- Cansancao AL, Conde-Green A, David JA, Vidigal RA. Subcutaneous-Only Gluteal Fat Grafting: A Prospective Study of the Long-Term Results with Ultrasound Analysis. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2019. View source
- Cansancao AL, Conde-Green A, Gouvea Rosique R, Junqueira Rosique M, Cervantes A. Brazilian Butt Lift Performed by Board-Certified Brazilian Plastic Surgeons: Reports of an Expert Opinion Survey. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2019. View source
- Tillo O, Nassab R, Pacifico MD. The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) Gluteal Fat Grafting Safety Review and Recommendations. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2023. View source
