Melbourne surgeons have made a breakthrough in attempts to regrow breast tissue for women who have undergone cancer surgery.

The research team at the Bernard O'Brien Institute of Microsurgery have managed to regrow tissue for a patient using fat cells.

Doctors are monitoring the woman to see if she retains the regrown tissue.

Team chief Professor Wayne Morrison says the team transferred fat cells to an acrylic chamber implanted in the patient's chest.

"We transfer a piece of their own tissue from a point in the armpit area into the site of the breast," he said.

"We put it inside this chamber, so that it's in a space.