Scientists from the Bernard O'Brien Institute of Microsurgery in Melbourne developed the revolutionary tissue engineering technology that uses a patient's own fat cells to regenerate a breast.

The procedure works by attaching fat cells to the end of a patient's blood vessel that is then directed into a chamber in the breast.

Successful clinical trials revealed the process encourages fat cells to grow and refill the chamber.

"In pigs, the fat in the chamber grew about five times the rate at which the animal itself grew so we are optimistic that something is going to happen in the human," Bernard O'Brien Institute director Wayne Morrison said in the company's internal magazine.

Scientists believe a patient could effectively regrow breast tissue in anywhere between three to five months, a spokesperson for the institute told Kyodo News.

Five women will participate in the first trial that begins early next year.

Initially, the women will have a removable chamber inserted into their breast, however, in a follow-up trial, scientists plan to insert a biodegradable chamber that would not require removal.

It is believed this is only the second time that tissue engineering is to be used on humans.

Following the three-year trial, scientists are optimistic the technology would simplify existing surgery and could also be applied to a range of other cosmetic procedures such as breast enlargement.