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Fat Transfer

Although fat transfer has been used for a variety of different reasons (mainly facial surgery) for many years, it is a relatively new technique in breast surgery. It is used in an increasingly wide range of breast operations and is a valuable additional tool to have.

Put simply, it involves taking some fat from the thigh or tummy by liposuction, processing this fat and then injecting it into the breast. This is performed under general anaesthetic usually as a one night stay, sometimes a day case. The main indications for fat transfer currently are:

  • Adding volume to a breast reconstruction
  • Correcting "dents" or deformities to the breast
  • Improving the quality of the tissues after radiotherapy
  • Improving the quality of tissues over an implant breast reconstruction

The main limitation of fat transfer is absorption of the injected fat. This will always happen to some degree and it is reckoned that about 20 - 50% of the injected fat will be absorbed over the first few months / year after the operation. Hence, if a large volume of fat is required this will be transferred over 2 or 3 operations and if a small volume is required, the deficit may be slightly over-corrected initially.

Recovery time

This is usually quick, with the main adverse effect being some bruising and tenderness in the areas where liposuction was performed. Most women find it helpful to wear some form of cycling shorts for 2 or 3 days afterwards to help provide support to these areas ("Fat Pants" have also been recommended!). Overall, fat transfer is very well tolerated and you are back to full normal activities within a few days.

Complications

Apart from some bruising to areas where liposuction was performed and absorption as mentioned above, other rare but possible complications are: anaesthetic problems, infection, small fat cysts and some lumpiness either in the breast or at the site of liposuction. If fat is injected into breast tissue it can occasionally cause little specs of calcium to appear on mammograms. This does not interfere with screening.

See examples