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Autologous fat grafting improves aesthetic outcomes in breast reconstruction

Researchers support fat injection as an adjunct to breast reconstruction, as it exhibited a low complication rate compared with most surgical interventions of the breast, according to research in Plastic and Aesthetic Research.

This analysis included 124 patients who underwent autologous fat injection in 187 breasts, performed by a single surgeon.

Fat was harvested from the flanks, medial thighs, abdomen, trochanters, medial knees and medial thighs and flanks.

All breasts were lipo-infiltrated during the second stage of breast reconstruction and 13 were previously radiated.

A total of 118 were reconstructed with expanders to implants, 45 had deep inferior epigastric perforator flaps, nine had latissimus dorsi flaps with implants and four had transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flaps.

Thirteen breasts in 12 individual patients were injected several years after undergoing lumpectomy and radiotherapy.

Researchers noted six complications in the entire population, for a rate of 3.2%. All complications occurred in previously radiated breasts.

With accurate planning and technique, properly assessing the recipient site and limiting injection volumes, surgeons can achieve aesthetic results with low complication rates, according to the researchers.-by Abigail Sutton

Disclosures: The researchers reported no relevant financial disclosures.