Francois J Duminy

PLASTIC & RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGEON

BREAST RECONSTRUCTION BY MICROFAT GRAFTING

Once the Tissue Expansion growth has completed, the Tissue Expander is replaced with the patient's own fat. This fat is harvested by special liposuction techniques that are gentle enough to preserve the integrity of the fat cells and their accompanying stem cells. Fat is taken from places where its presence is undesirable and used to good effect where it is needed.

The fat grafting procedure, in our practice, is most commonly done under Local Anaesthetic and Conscious Sedation as an ambulatory case. the patient goes home after the procedure and is able to return to work or normal life one to two days later.

Usually, complete reconstruction takes 3 to 4 of these small procedures.

At each Fat Grafting, the Tissue Expander is deflated by the commensurate amount of volume so the breast stays the same size while it is slowly being replaced with living adipose tissue.

At the final procedure, the totally deflated tissue expander is removed.

When the new breast has settled, it is sometimes necessary to make an adjustment to the other breast to obtain better symmetry.

Once the breasts are symmetrical in shape and size, a new Nipple and Areola are made to get the best possible symmetry and appearance.

 

Benefits experienced by most patients:

1. Limiting of the Physical impact of mastectomy

2. Limiting the Psychological impact of mastectomy

3. Restoring symmetry - making clothing easier to wear comfortably and confidently

4. Restoring Confidence

5. The procedures re minimally invasive. Recovery is normally quick and simple.

6. The final breast is completely natural, made of living tissue.

7. The patient loses fat in places where fat is undesirable.

8. There is usually no need for future prosthesis changes or for further touch-up surgery occasioned by increasing asymmetry as the breasts age. This is because they are essentially made of the same tissues and therefore, aging is symmetrical.

9. The scars required for fat harvesting are minute and unobtrusive.

10. The stem cells in fat grafts tend to soften irradiated tissues.

11. Sensation often returns to breasts that have been reconstructed by Micro Fat Grafting

12. Surgical complications are less than in other forms of reconstruction.

13. Each procedure provides a further opportunity for sculpting the breast into the desired shape

14. Future complications of prostheses, such as Capsular Contractures, are completely avoided.

 

 

Negative Aspects:

1. There may be substantial initial swelling and bruising in both the breast and the donor site.

2.. There may be some artefacts such as oil cysts and areas of microcalcification after fat necrosis, but these are usually easily recognised by radiologists and they dont normally need any treatment.

3. It requires a few small procedures rather than one large operation.Some patients would prefer to get it over in one fell swoop (however, all methods commonly require some form of touch-up procedures)