Breast augmentation for gender affirmation
Breast augmentation for gender affirmation increases the volume of the chest and reshapes it, for a more feminine chest that suits the anatomy. Dr Manon Belhoste performs this procedure in Marseille for patients from France and abroad, from €4,700 to €5,900 depending on the technique.
The procedure
Dr Manon Belhoste performs two techniques of breast augmentation for gender affirmation: implant placement, augmentation by autologous fat injection, or a combination of both. The choice between these techniques and the option to combine them is decided during the consultation.
Breast implants
Silicone implants are placed in each breast to add volume in a single procedure. The implant is placed in front of or behind the muscle, and the scar is hidden under the breast, at the edge of the areola or under the armpit. The implant volume is decided with you during the pre-operative consultation.
€4,800 to €5,900
Fat grafting
Fat is taken from parts of the body that have enough of it, then prepared and finally injected into the chest.
€4,700 to €5,500
The procedure and recovery
Dr Manon Belhoste performs breast augmentation for gender affirmation in Marseille. A consultation with the anaesthetist comes before the procedure.
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Anaesthesia | General anaesthesia. |
| Duration | About 1 hour. |
| Hospital stay | Same-day discharge, sometimes with one night in clinic. |
| Drains and garments | Drains sometimes left in place for the first few days. Compression bra worn from discharge for about 6 weeks. After fat grafting, a compression garment is worn over the areas where fat was taken. |
| Exercise and strenuous activity | - Return to sport from 6 weeks to 3 months, depending on activity |
| Result | - Final after several months. - After fat grafting, the final volume may differ from the volume injected. - Volume and shape may change in the long run with weight, hormone treatment and time. - The breast, areola or nipple may be less sensitive after surgery. |
Frequently asked questions
Here is a visual and schematic representation of the breast augmentation for gender affirmation.
Breast implants give a more predictable volume in a single procedure, but they are implantable devices with their own complications and a risk of a further operation in the long term. Fat grafting avoids a permanent implant, but the volume achieved is less predictable and several sessions may be needed: part of the injected fat is reabsorbed, with an average retention of about 58% (the part of the volume that stays in place) and wide variation from one patient to another.
Before breast augmentation for gender affirmation, Dr Manon Belhoste and the anaesthetist give instructions on fasting and medication, which must be followed without any deviation. Complete cessation of smoking and nicotine is required, as both impair healing and, with fat grafting, the survival of the injected fat. Any fever, infection, skin lesion or recent abnormality of a breast must be reported before the procedure.
Having implants or a history of fat grafting does not exempt you from routine breast follow-up, including in gender-affirming surgery for gender affirmation. Regular clinical monitoring is recommended. Any unusual change in a breast should prompt a consultation. Always tell the radiologist about any implants and/or fat grafting. Implants may require adapted mammography views and an ultrasound or MRI, depending on the situation. After fat grafting, cysts or calcifications may appear and sometimes lead to further tests.
The transfeminine chest may show certain features: it is wider, with a large gap between the breasts, a crease under the breast that is high or not very marked, skin that stretches less, and areolas positioned more towards the sides. These features affect the choice of volume and shape, the placement of the implant and the limits of the result.
A breast implant does not have an unlimited duration. Regular clinical and radiological monitoring is needed. One or more second operations may become necessary during life. The device card is given to you after the procedure and must be kept.
The price of breast augmentation for gender affirmation includes Dr Manon Belhoste's fees, follow-up consultations after the operation, anaesthesia and clinic fees at La Phocéanne polyclinic or Phénicia clinic, and the implants.
Dr Manon Belhoste
Dr Manon Belhoste is a plastic surgeon, Doctor of Medicine and holder of the European Diploma in Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery.
Dr Manon Belhoste's background
The practice
Dr Manon Belhoste holds consultations at her practice, 1 Boulevard Lord Duveen, 13008 Marseille, from Monday to Thursday.
Operations take place at the La Phocéanne polyclinic and the Phénicia clinic, in Marseille.
The practice and the clinicsPage updated on 10 October 2026.