If you have had a mastectomy, you may choose to have your breasts rebuilt. Fat grafting (autologous fat transfer) is one method for accomplishing this. A surgeon extracts fat from a donor location, liquefies it, then injects it back into the breast to shape it. Although East Windsor fat grafting is less invasive than other kinds of breast restoration, researchers have not been able to examine it for as long or as thoroughly as different types of breast reconstruction.
An overview of fat grafting for a breast reconstruction
Previously, surgeons employed fat grafting to contour the breast, filling in torn or dimpled regions. However, surgeons have lately utilized it in conjunction with other reconstructive procedures or as a stand-alone treatment to restore the complete breast. Fat grafting can be used for full breast reconstruction or in conjunction with breast conservation treatment. During the operation, the physician uses liposuction to remove fat from other body parts. The stomach, thighs, and buttocks are examples of such locations. Furthermore, the fat is then processed and injected into your breast region to form the contour of the breast. You may need many fat grafting treatments for months or years, depending on the size of the reconstructed breast.
Fat grafting procedures
The fat grafting procedure consists of three steps:
- Removal of the fat from the donor region with liposuction: Liposuction procedures are used to remove fat from a donor location in the initial stage. Manual techniques with tiny liposuction cannulas with small holes work well for this. Fat cells may be destroyed if laser or ultrasonic liposuction is utilized for extraction.
- Decanting, centrifugation, and processing of the fat: Decanting and centrifugation are used to eliminate debris, excessive fluid, and dead cells from viable adipose fat cells. Also, a sterile saline solution can be used to cleanse the fat. Fat cells that are eliminated are likely not to survive in the transplant and may cause issues for the healthy cells.
- Reinjection of the purified fat into the location needing enhancement: The fat is reinjected in tiny droplets throughout the recipient’s subcutaneous tissue. This is conducted to guarantee that every fat droplet receives adequate blood flow so that the fat transplant may survive. Additionally, the amount of fat injected is measured in cc’s and varies depending on your situation and the location of the body where the processed fat is injected.
Fat grafting for breast reconstruction is extracting fat from one region of the body and putting it into the breast, generally the stomach, thighs, or buttocks. Surgeons have utilized fat grafting as an adjunct treatment to other types of breast reconstruction. Fat grafting has lately been used as a stand-alone operation by surgeons to restore the whole breast. There hasn’t been enough long-term study to know how long the effects of this operation will persist. To select the best breast reconstruction path, you should consult a healthcare practitioner about the procedure’s advantages and hazards. Call Matthew J. Lynch, MD, or book your consultation online to learn more about various fat grafting for breast reconstruction techniques best for you.