What are the chances of fat necrosis with fat transfer to breasts?

Question

On average, how many people experience this complication with this surgery? Are there any precautions I can take to avoid it, other than choosing a board certified surgeon who specializes in this procedure?

Ronald J. Edelson, MD · Answer

Even the most optimistic surgeons estimate that maybe fifty percent of the fat that is transferred takes. So the other half necroses and resorbs. Sometimes the fat necrosis forms lumps and other times not.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

Fat necrosis is more common in women with very large breasts.  I am not sure that the data has been collected on rate of calcification, and then the issue becomes whether that is clinically significant. The calcification lumps are usually not an issue.  It is reasonable to expect  lumps to improve or soften with time. This process may take several months. Fat necrosis and oil cysts usually don’t need to be treated. Sometimes fat necrosis goes away on its own. If a needle aspiration is done to remove the fluid in an oil cyst, it can also serve as treatment.  In general, the abdomen and thighs are preferred donor sites but fat from other areas can be used.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear BigDreams6147,
Fat viability depends a lot of surgeon technique. The fat has to be placed back into the buttocks as soon as possible so that it has a greater chance of survival. It has to be placed carefully so that not too much fat is placed in only one area.
If you are considering a surgery, I would suggest you to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

Not all the fat transferred survives, however, not all women get hard lumps. Find a surgeon who has had experience with fat transfers, and be realistic about what size you can achieve.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

all patients will develop some level of fat necrosis from fat transfer procedures. This is because not all the fat survives fat transfer in the fat that doesn’t survive necrosis.I think what you’re asking for is what’s the chance of having a problem with this procedure such as hard possibly painful lumps.In my practice I’ve seen it a couple of times and I probably perform this procedure 75 times a year.The way to minimize symptomatic fat necrosis is to not inject a lot of fat in one space.if the fat is evenly injected in small amounts throughout many different layers than none of the necrotic fat becomes symptomatic Or palpable.There is nothing you can do other than to be healthy and not be too obese to have a great outcome From this procedure.The only variable that matters for you is who does the procedure. It’s really that simple. Find the right plastic surgeon and everything falls into place including making an accurate assessment, setting expectations correctly then delivering the results that were promised.In the hands of someone who has the skill and experience the procedure Is highly predictable and consistent.Every once in a while I get a result that is a little different than what I had anticipated. Typically more impressive than I had hoped for but for the most part results are highly consistent both for the liposuction and fat transfer part of the procedure.Personally I think people should be more worried about the liposuction aspect then the fat transfer. Liposuction is more likely to cause real problems than the fat transfer.again the problems are directly related to the skill of the surgeon. Granted some patients are better candidate than others but a talented provider knows who’s going to get a good result and who isn’t.there’s no longer any guesswork in this procedure once you get to a certain point in your career.Once upon a time liposuction and certainly fat transfer we’re not like that for me.Best, Mats Hagstrom MD

James McMahan, MD (retired) · Answer

Thank you for your inquiry.  When fat transfers are performed, on average only about 35-40% of the fat survives the transfer.  Therefore, most of the fat dies, which is called fat necrosis.  This is why most patients who get fat transfers to the breast require two or more procedures to obtain a substantial change in breast size.  This reason, and the fact that fat necrosis can leave calcifications making breast cancer detection via mammograms difficult, is why most patients who want a significant change in breast size opt for a single procedure with an implant.

What are the chances of fat necrosis with fat transfer to breasts?

Answers (6)

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