Oil cysts after lipofilling & explant 3 years ago - is fat transfer to the breast safe?

Question

Hi, I had lipofilling after explantation 3 years ago. Unfortunately I developped oil cysts. What could be the cause? I went to another surgeon and he told me that fat transfer to the breast is not safe because it may cause cancer. Is that true? Another surgeon told me that research had proven that the fat disappears after Some time. What is your experience? Thanks

Ronald J. Edelson, MD · Answer

It’s not exactly that. Fat transfer as far as we know does not cause cancer. However it can cause lumps that may make it harder to detect breast cancer. Even that issue,though, is still a matter of debate

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

Fat transfer does not cause breast cancer. However, the transferred fat might develope fat necrosis or a hard ball of scar tissue which then might need to be removed so that it does not hide something under it that might develope.  When fat is transferred, it will do one of four things. It might stay and be happy. It might die and disappear. It might change into an oil cyst, which is benign. Or, it might turn into fat necrosis from too much pressure or not enough blood supply.  Not all fat transferred stays. If you lose weight, you will lose some fat.  In some areas, like hands, all the fat disappears within a few years because of too much motion.  For a more stable solution, implants will keep the same size, unless they are saline and deflate. However, with implants, there is always a potential next surgery.  We do not have the perfect solution to enhance small breasts.

Kamran Khoobehi, MD · Answer

The concern for fat grafting and breast cancer was proven to be false based on studies that followed patients post fat grafting. The cause of oil cyst is fat necrosis and they will not cause any issues.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

The development of oil cysts or palpable fat crosses is usually a sign. The procedure was not done correctly. This sometimes happens when too much fat is grafted close together. The complication is technique dependent.
Having had a previous fat transfer is not going to increase your chance of developing breast cancer.
Having fat grafting to the breast, can potentially be visualized on mammogram testing. So far to my knowledge radiologist I’m not concerned about the ability to differentiate the signs of fat necrosis compared to the appearance of breast, cancer, and mammograms. still, theoretically, anything that causes a change in your mammogram reading, could theoretically be viewed as an undesirable event. in reality, I’ve never heard of someone’s breast cancer being missed because they had breast fat transfer. I do know there are patients I may have ended up having breast biopsies because of mammogram changes or lumps, noticed after fat grafting.
Delivering consistent quality, liposuction and fat transfer results is much more difficult than most people realize. The number of plastic surgeons who truly mastered this procedure are in a small minority. Anybody considering breast fat transfer should be highly selective when choosing providers.This may require having a significant number of consultations to properly, vetting plastic surgeons regarding Skillin experience during those consultations
I generally encourage any patient seeking this or any other plastic surgery procedure to schedule multiple in person consultations before choosing a provider or scheduling surgery. During each consultation, ask each provider to open up their portfolio and show you their entire collection of before and after pictures of previous patients, who have similar body characteristics to your own name.
Look very carefully at both Liposuction and fat transfer outcomes.
Fat transfer can be a bit deceptive because early results can look very impressive but early results do not represent final results. Because of a drastic change in outcome patients see during the first three months after fat grafting they should always confirm that when reviewing before and after pictures, the after pictures were always taken a minimum of three months, but preferably six months or longer from the date of the procedure
Never is sermon when reviewing before, and after pictures of the after pictures represent mature, long-term outcomes.
It’s unfortunate providers would show early results as their outcomes for this procedure since doing so highly misleading, and creates a false sense of optimism in regards to what this procedure can, and cannot accomplish.
Oil cysts are not that difficult to manage and can be drained either by a plastic surgeon in their office or better yet by an interventional radiology.
Having oil cysts if they’re not causing problems for you isn’t all that big of a deal. When getting second opinions, make sure you’re consulting with plastic surgeons who have extensive experience with fat grafting.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom, MD

Oil cysts after lipofilling & explant 3 years ago - is fat transfer to the breast safe?

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