Calcifications After Fat Transfer to the Breast?

asked 2 years ago by fitnessgirl in Ohio
Latest answer by Samir Shureih, MD
Question viewed 903 times
Tags: breasts

What does it mean when people say that the fat may calcify after a fat transfer? Will it be able to be seen or felt by others? In general, will the breast be misshapen? or is the concern only in mammograms?? Should I trust a cosmetic surgeon as opposed to a plastic surgeon in this procedure? And for those who know about the procedure, is it ok to exercise after the procedure since I do alot of exercise normally? I have little body fat Ive been told, about 12% or 10 pounds of it. Is this enough for 1 cup?

6 answers to Calcifications After Fat Transfer to the Breast?

Fat transfer to breast

Fat transfer to the breast for cosmetic reasons is still under study and subject of major contraversy. There are still many questions to be answered before adopting the procedure. I have seen some results done in Europe which were suboptimal. In the U.S. the procedure is done by very few plastic surgeons and is under study. As for the difference between Plastic Surgeons and Cosmetic surgeons the following may help. PLASTIC SURGEONS undergo at least 6 years of training specific to Plastic... more

Samir Shureih, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

Fat grafting for breast enlargement - is it really safe?

Fat Grafting to the breast has been a controversial topic for over 20 years and still remains controversial. The main concern with Fat Grafting to the breast is that the fat cells which do not survive can result in calcifications which show up on Mammograms. This does not always happen, and in no way are they related to cancer, but they may make cancer detection on mammograms confusing or more difficult because they look similar to the calcifications that are a sign of cancer. Many... more

Daniel P. Markmann, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

Meaning of Calcifications after Fat Transfer to the Breast

One out of 11 American women will develop breast cancer. That is a HUGE number. Just look at your co-workers and imagine how many in that group will develop that disease. Next - the most commonly used method to TRY and pick breast cancer is a mammogram. Many breast cancers grow so quickly that portions of the tumor actually die and are replaced with small clumps of calcium surrounded by scar tissue. ONLY trained eyes of Radiologists can diagnose classic microcalcifications of the breast as... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Fat transfers to the breast and calcifications

I completely agree with everything Dr. Placik has said. All I will add is that there is a huge difference between a plastic surgeon and a cosmetic surgeon. Don't confuse the two. Even though the cosmetic surgeons want you to think they are the same, they have nothing of the training that a real plastic surgeon does.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Fat calcification

Fat calcification is a sign of fat death and loss. As fat cells dies, they are replaced by calcification. It is important to go to a surgeon who has experience with fat grafting since this procedure is very much surgeon and technique-dependent. I would personally recommend a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who has experience with fat grafting.

Siamak Agha, MD, PhD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

Fat death with calcification following injection and confusion with mammograms and cancer detection

The sign of a cancer on a mammogram is a calcification. The pattern of the calcification is very important. A powdery appearance in a star like pattern is very suspicious. When fat dies it generally causes calcifications win the form of large flakes. Usually they can be distinguished from the calcifications of cancer with the former being called macro-calcifications and the latter termed micro-calclifications. Generally, these are not palpable but if large areas of fat die (usually from a... more

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

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