Are there complications with fat transfer for a person with breast cancer in family history?

I appreciate your question

I perform a natural breast augmentation with fat. This can be removed from any unwanted areas including the breast itself as part of my lipo-lift procedure. I perform the fat grafting in multiple planes including under the muscle to give the best, most natural enhancement. Fat grafting is a great solution for someone who wants to bring their breast size up a cup or so and use natural tissue vs an implant. However, it can also be combined with an implant or used as a secondary procedure to fill in areas that are flat or thin. It should not affect nipple sensation, mammograms, cancer risk or breast feeding. It can be a little lump or hard at first but tends to soften over time.

The best way to assess and give true advice would be an in-person exam.  Please see a board-certified plastic surgeon that specializes in aesthetic breast plastic surgery.

 

Best of luck!

   

Dr. Schwartz

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

#RealSelf100Surgeon

#RealSelfCORESurgeon

A fat transfer itself does not increase the risk of breast cancer since fat cells, not breast cells, are transferred. However, not all fat transfers survive. Sometimes an oil cyst may develop and sometimes small areas of scar tissue from fat necrosis can occur. All these do show upon mammagram. If too many are present, a developing cancer might be obscured. With fat transfers, you may find you are getting more X-rays and even biopsies. There will be much less chance of confusion and misreading the X-ray with implants. I would recommend implants.

Woman who have a very strong family history of breast cancer are treated differently for a few reasons. First. you are correct that the fat transfer can contribute to "abnormal" or "worrisome" findings on your future MMGs that can lead to unnecessary biopsies. The other reason why I would avoid this surgery in a patient with a history like yours is that fat transfer means that we liposuction multiple areas of your body to harvest fat. If in the future you do get dx with breast cancer, the favored way to reconstruct the breasts is to use autologous tissue specifically your abdomen (or thighs). If these areas are liposuctioned, you will then not be a candidate for this type of reconstruction. I always ask if patients have a family history of breast cancer when they come in for cosmetic liposuction or a tummy tuck.

In your case you are raising three issues: the risks of fat transfer to the breast, the consequences of fat transfer to breasts of women with a strong family history of cancer and the ability of fat transfer to correct tuberous/constricted breasts. Not all the fat transferred survives in the breast. As the dead fat is absorbed it may result in calcifications which on mammogram to the untrained eye may resemble those associated with early cancer. However, the vast majority of breast radiologists can differentiate between the microcalcifications of fat grafting and those of cancer. Fat grafting may be associated with larger fat necrosis and hardening of the breasts. But most importantly requires 2-4 or more operations of fat transfer. To assure maximal survival, large amounts of fat cannot be placed in the Brrast. Instead, grafting is done in incremental stages. As regards tuberous breasts, the key to achieving a natural attractive result is the reduction of the large Areolas and the complete release of the constricting bands giving the breasts their shape. This is usually done easier through a periareolar approach during a Breast Augmentation but can be done by hundreds of stab wounds in the breast (i.e. Rigottomies).  Finally, there is no reason why you cannot have both: a breast augmentation supplemented by fat grafting to better cover the implant and soften the look of the breasts. Dr. Peter A. AldeaMemphis, TN