About fat transfer (lipomodelling)Lipomodelling is when a surgeon removes fat (lipo) from one area of the body to another. It can be used after breast reconstruction or sometimes before it to improve the look and feel of the breast. Lipomodelling may also be called lipofilling or autologous fat grafting. Show
When is lipomodelling used?Lipomodelling can be used in different situations. Your reconstructive surgeon can give you more information and discuss the benefits and risks of lipodmodelling. It is not usually done until the reconstructed breast has fully healed, which takes about 6 to 12 months. After breast reconstructionAfter breast reconstruction, there may be dents or unevenness in the outline (contour) of the new breast. This unevenness may improve over a few months. But if the breast still looks uneven, your surgeon can inject fat into it to improve the appearance. If you have an implantWomen who have a breast implant may have lipomodelling to make the reconstructed breast (s) look and feel more natural. It can also be used to cover the appearance of rippling sometimes seen over implants. Lipomodelling may also make a breast reconstructed with an implant feel warmer. Lipomodelling may also be recommended if you have lost an implant. It can help thicken the tissues before the implant is put back. Before breast reconstructionIn some women, lipomodelling is used before breast reconstruction. If you have had a mastectomy and radiotherapy, lipomodelling can improve the skin before reconstruction. Having lipomodellingLipomodelling is done as a day-case, which means you can go home the same day. It is usually done under a general anaesthetic. But sometimes it may be done with a local anaesthetic to numb the area. The surgeon removes fat from another part of your body and injects it into the breast. For example, fat from the thigh, tummy or occasionally the lower back can be used. The area where the fat was taken from is likely to be bruised, sore or numb afterwards. This will get better within a few weeks. If you have lipomodelling done many times, you can also get irregularities in the area where the fat is taken from. If this happens, let your surgeon know as these can be smoothed out. After lipomodellingSome of the fat injected into the breast will be absorbed into the body. For a few weeks after the operation, you should wear a non-wired, supporting bra 24 hours a day. You should also avoid strenuous exercise. This will help reduce fat loss from the breast reconstruction. You may also be advised to wear supportive underwear to reduce swelling and bruising in the areas where the fat was taken from. Fat injections usually need to be repeated a few times. This is because of the fat loss from the breast reconstruction. How many times varies from person to person. Injecting fat more than once also helps to make sure any uneven areas are smoothed out. About our information
Macmillan Cancer Support Line The Macmillan Support Line offers confidential support to people living with cancer and their loved ones. If you need to talk, we'll listen. At Tandon Plastic Surgery, achieving natural results is one of our primary concerns. Whenever we strive to meet the needs of the patient, that is when we feel that we have done the best possible job. This is particularly important to consider during procedures such as breast reconstruction surgery, when results should appear as natural as possible. Metairie, LA plastic surgeon Ravi Tandon M.D. works closely with each patient to tailor the procedure to their needs.To achieve the most natural results, various treatment options may be considered. For some patients, using breast implants in combination with fat grafting yields excellent outcomes. Let’s consider this breast reconstruction procedure briefly below. Using breast implants is just one option for rebuilding a woman’s breast during the breast reconstruction procedure. Whether performed at the time of a mastectomy or delayed for after the mastectomy, the surgery involves placing a breast implant into the breast pocket in order to restore the shape and fullness of the breast. Tissue expanders may be needed to create space for the implant. While the technique is effective, it can lead to problems with breast asymmetry and results that don’t quite look natural. That is where fat grafting can help. How Fat Grafting WorksAlso known as fat transfer and microlipoinjection, fat grafting involves the extraction of body fat from one part of the body to be placed into another part of the body. This is achieved through liposuction. The removed fat is run through a centrifuge to purify and isolate fat cells. These fat cells are then injected into the treatment area to add volume and fullness. By using a patient’s own body fat to fill out injection sites, more natural body contouring results can be achieved. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) notes that among members who perform fat grafting, 88 percent of these surgeons have used the technique for breast reconstruction procedures. Ideal Candidates for Fat GraftingGood candidates for fat grafting tend to have some extra fat that they would like to have removed from some part of the body. Typically this means the abdominal area or the buttocks. If a patient is very thin or does not have sufficient excess body fat, they are not an ideal candidate for this procedure. Combining Implants and Fat GraftingWhen combining breast implants and fat grafting, surgeons will use the transferred fat to help fill out the reconstructed breast. This helps achieve more natural breast contour as well as natural breast texture and feel. The amount of fat used will depend on the need of the patient and the implant used during the reconstruction procedure. Fat Reabsorption and How to Deal with ItFollowing fat transfer, some of the body fat will be naturally and harmlessly reabsorbed into the body. While this has no adverse health effects, it might impact the appearance of the breasts following breast reconstruction. If this occurs, an additional fat transfer can be performed to help add more volume and shapeliness to the breast following fat reabsorption and maintain initial results. The Results of Implants and Fat GraftingThe results of combining implants and fat grafting during breast reconstruction can be exceptional. Patients will have a more natural breast contour thanks to the fat grafting, and the overall appearance of the breasts will be quite natural. In addition, the fat transfer can help add greater volume and improved aesthetics to skin and breast tissue that may have been damaged during radiation therapy. Contact Tandon Plastic SurgeryTo learn more about breast reconstruction surgery and how it can benefit you, be sure to contact Tandon Plastic Surgery. We are here to help you. You can reach our practice by phone at (504) 455-1000. Related to This
Can you have fat transfer after mastectomy?Using an external expansion for the enhancement of fat grafting is a suitable technique for breast reconstruction after a mastectomy. It produces soft and natural feeling breasts in fewer operative sessions, with a minimal risk of complications.
How long does it take to recover from fat grafting for breast reconstruction?Recovery from Fat Grafting for Breast Reconstruction
Most swelling in the region should subside within three weeks. The donor sites will be bruised, swollen and sore, and swelling there can last longer – up to six months. For the first three weeks, we advise not putting too much pressure on your breasts.
How long does fat transfer to breast last?How long does a fat transfer breast augmentation last? The results from a fat transfer breast augmentation are lifelong. It can take up to six months to see the final results. During this time, the fat cells settle into their new places, where they remain for life.
What is the reason for not using fat grafting during breast reconstruction?However, in 1987, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons cautioned the use of autologous fat grafting due to its suspected interference with cancer surveillance and oncogenic potential for breast cancer.
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