Fat Transfer to the Breast
Procedures to transfer fat for breast augmentation purposes have been used for over twenty years with liposuction, but the basic concept has been used for close to one hundred years in the surgical field. This process, called lipofilling, has stirred a large amount of debate and criticism since its conception. Many people believed that the procedure caused damage to fat cells, which would leave cysts and calcification in the breasts. These masses are visible on a mammogram, which raised concern that it copied the appearance of cancer. The ideal breast augmentation and reconstruction procedures will always be those that use tissue from the patient. However, historically speaking, these procedures have always required complex surgery such as microsurgical techniques. In addition, these procedures have almost always resulted in extensive visible scars. It is important to compare the advanced surgical procedures available in today's medical field.
While silicone continues to be the plastic surgery industry standard for breast implants, this type of procedure still comes with its own risks and possible mixed results. Patients with thin skin risk the possibility of the having the edges of the implant visible through the skin. In addition, wrinkles in the silicone implants can be seen in some patients. Silicone implants can cause the body to react much as it would to any other foreign object. The breast implants can cause hardening and capsule formation, possibly distorting the breasts in a handful of patients. More serious damage can be done to the body in cases where the silicone implant ruptures. This causes various symptoms in a patient as the silicone leaks slowly into the body. Often, the first sign a patient may see is a change in the size of shape of the breasts. However, there are many cases where a rupture is not found in an implant for many years.
Lipofilling techniques have evolved and improved drastically since they were first used. The procedures are continuously updated to give the best results. In addition, new processes are regularly developed to use the fat transfer procedure to augment and reconstruct the breasts most effectively. In fact, it has been discovered that fat cells placed under the skin in open tunnels and not in the breast tissue itself can actually help the breasts to grow and increase in volume. This new technique works best for patients who desire to increase their bra size by one cup or those who need increased volume in the upper area of the breast. This procedure also works well for patients that have undergone conservative breast cancer surgery.
While techniques and procedures have advanced rapidly in the fat transfer process, visible changes continue to show on mammogram imaging when fat transfer procedures are used for breast surgery. However, over five hundred procedures have been performed in Italy and France that have revealed positive results in this area. The final conclusion of these findings show that experienced radiologists and diagnostic technicians are able to differentiate the cysts and calcification spots that show up as a result of the fat transfer from cancer masses and changes.
Candidates for the surgery that transfers fat to the breasts must be screened by a mammogram examination as well as an ultrasound imaging test prior to the patient being cleared for surgery. In addition, surgery must be followed up with regular mammograms and ultrasounds for several years after the procedure. These guidelines, set by the American Society of Aesthetic Surgeons, will help to ensure that fat transfer procedures are used appropriately. If the guidelines are not followed, patients may suffer from complex breast problems or more serious complications.
