Lipofilling is currently used as a secondary method for reconstruction

Hisham Seify, PhD, MD answers: What is Lipofilling and how is it used for breast reconstruction?

Can fat transfer techniques be successfully applied for breast reconstruction? Or are there better methods out there?


Hisham Seify, MD, PhD
10 months ago

The classic methods for breast reconstruction include expanders/implants ,implants only or using your own tissues (abdominal tissues, back tissues etc.)

Lipofilling (microfat) proved to be a safe and effective technique in other areas of the body (face, buttocks etc.)

When used in the breast there are some concerns in the plastic surgery community regarding the secondary effects. In my practice i found it very helpfull as a secondary method of reconstruction. In revision cases ,in minor deformities.

A complete breast reconstruction using only fat grafting is still not a practical option. There are few clinical studies on the way for this technique. We are conducting one clinical study for this usage but it will not address full reconstruction.

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A: Lipofilling for breast reconstruction: Good or bad idea?

Lavinia Chong, MD
2 months ago

There has recently been increased interest in the use of structural fat grafts for breast reconstruction to camouflage chest wall anomalies.  Anecdotal reports of "lipofilling" have been reported to improve lateral rippling and wrinkling in saline breast implants, however there isn't a uniform consensus on how it should be done and what consequences, if any may result, in the long term.  Dr. Roger Khouri, M.D. (Miami, FL.) is a national expert on this technique and has spectacular results for post mastectomy reconstruction, using the BRAVA system (an external tissue expander) with multiple cycles of fat grafting.  For every woman who has additional fatty padding, the concept seems intriguing, however important questions must be first answered:

a) How long does the fat remain; b) does the fat melt, become firm, cause cysts, which will make subsequent radiographic and clincal surveillance difficult; c) will grafted fat thicken and/or loose volume as a patient's weight changes, etc. 

So stay tuned, just as the Plastic Surgery community is.  good luck.

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