Scientists are testing a new procedure where fat taken from a person's stomach or behind may be used to regrow breast tissue. If the procedure is found to be reliable, it could prove to be a rival to previous methods of breast enhancement.

The concept is to remove fat from another part of the body and create a mixture of fatty tissues and stem cells which, when injected into the breast, appears to stimulate growth. The process itself takes only an hour and uses traditional liposuction to remove the fat which is then injected into the breast. The breast then fills out naturally over the course of six months.

The procedure is hoped to be of great benefit to cancer patients who have undergone mastectomies. The largest trial to date was of 19 women in Japan who had all had at least partial mastectomies. To date, they have all responded well to the treatment and have not suffered any major side effects. While trials are still continuing, the therapy is slated for release in Europe in 2008.