Women with breast cancer may undergo surgery as part of their treatment. Breast reconstruction surgery after a mastectomy or lumpectomy can restore a breast’s shape and appearance. In addition to more traditional reconstructive breast surgeries offered by UPMC’s Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, we offer structural fat grafting for breast reconstruction.
In structural fat grafting, a doctor harvests fat from one or more areas of your body and grafts it to another area. In this scenario, the doctor would move the fat to your breasts to create a smooth, more symmetrical, look. Because the procedure uses your own fat, it’s a more natural process than implants.
Structural fat grafting for breast reconstruction can improve the look left behind by previous procedures, including:
If you are healthy enough to undergo a surgical operation, you are most likely a candidate for this procedure. Structural fat grafting can create more symmetrical breasts and smooth over any scarring, dents, or other issues.
Before getting structural fat grafting for breast reconstruction, you will meet with the surgical team to learn about the procedure. A member of the team will examine you and take photos of your chest. Using the photos taken, the surgeon will work with you to create a tailored plan for your procedure. Part of this plan includes a color-coded blueprint of your procedure showing:
Your procedure will begin with the surgical team marking your body based on the agreed-upon blueprint. You will actively participate in this process.
Once all parties agree to the plan, the doctor will harvest fat from your body, from one or more areas including:
Your doctor will make sure the removal of fat leaves an enhanced area behind.
After harvesting the fat, the surgical team will put it through a centrifuge to refine and concentrate it. The process removes unwanted components like blood, oil, and water.
The doctor will then add the fat, little by little, to your breasts, sculpting to make sure you get the desired result.
Depending on the scope of the procedure, it can last anywhere from under an hour to five hours.
Most structural fat grafting takes place under general anesthesia. In more minor cases, doctors can use local anesthesia with sedation.
Your recovery will likely depend on how much fat the surgical team harvests and how many areas they harvest it from. In general, the more fat and more areas used, the more uncomfortable your recovery will be.
Your breasts will be swollen and bruised, but you should experience little pain in that area. 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. That means avoiding sleeping on your stomach or doing rigorous upper-body exercises.
We advise taking about 10 days off of work after a bigger surgery, so you can comfortably ease back into your routine. You can begin light exercise 10 days to two weeks post-procedure.
The end results of your surgery may not be seen until months after the procedure, and the positive effects can continue for years after.
While fat can be easily damaged, structural fat grafting places it close to a blood supply to give it the best chance for survival. The surgery can fix problems left behind by previous procedures to give your breasts a better look.
Structural fat grafting can:
Complications are rare with structural fat grafting, but those that can occur include:
Scarring and calcification can occur with structural fat grafting, just as it can with other breast procedures.
Breast reconstruction using structural fat grafting can fix scarring and other skin damage from various procedures. It can create a more symmetrical look overall.
Other benefits of using structural fat grafting include:
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