What is fat grafting?
This surgical technique takes fat from one part of a patient’s body using a form of liposuction. This fat is prepared and then injected into another part of the patient’s body that requires filling, correction of a contour abnormality, or increased tissue volume. Only the patient’s own fat can be used (a friend or relative cannot donate some of their fat).
How is it done?
The procedure can be done under local anaesthesia, (freezing) if the area of fat grating is small or, under general anaesthesia if the area is too large to freeze properly.
Fat is removed from an area in the body (tummy, thighs, or hips) using a liposuction technique.
The fat is then prepared and then loaded into small syringes for injection into the desired area using a very small cannula (this is like a small injection needle with a blunt end)
The desired amount of fat is then injected into the area to be treated.
There are minimal, if any, sutures and virtually no scarring
The patient is allowed to shower the following day and often can return to work the next day unless a large area of fat harvesting and grafting was done. Then, a week off work would be advisable.
Strenuous exercise should be avoided for 4 weeks
What areas of the breast can be treated with fat grafting?
Breast reconstruction following cancer:
Fat grating is most commonly used as one of the ancillary techniques in breast reconstruction. Areas of asymmetry or deficiencies in the breast mound that may occur from the previous cancer surgery or radiation can be filled using fat grafting. This reduces asymmetry between the breasts and helps to smooth out any tissue irregularities.
Breast cosmetics:
In patients who have requested a breast lift (and do not want a breast enlargement), the upper pole of the breast may remain under filled (only a breast augmentation can fill the upper pole of the breast). In order to provide some degree of fullness in this area of the breast, fat grating can be used to fill this area of breast tissue deficiency in the upper half of the breast.
Recently, fat grafting has been used as a substitute for a breast implant enlargement of the breast. This is not the standard of care, and is at its infancy stages. Long term results and long term risks have yet to be defined.
*Dr. Giuffre does not recommend this procedure to replace implant augmentation of the female breast.
RISKS:
What are the risks of Fat grafting to the breast?
With any surgery there are surgical and anesthetic risks.
Aside from the rare risks of an anesthetic event, some of the general and specific surgical risks for this procedure would include:
Infection
Bruising
Bleeding (hematoma)
Swelling
Sensation change to the breast
Discomfort
Rejection:
when fat is removed as a fat graft, it no longer has a blood supply and is essentially dead. If it does not get a new blood supply, the fat cells will die and turn to oil. Your body will remove the oil as waste. When the fat graft is injected into the breast (recipient site), it must survive by being nourished by a new blood supply from the surrounding breast tissue. The area in the breast being injected with fat graft that is healthy and minimally scarred will grow blood vessels into the fat graft and keep the fat alive. Only the fat graft that has a blood supply will remain and provide the contour fill correction desired.
Asymmetry:
if more fat graft survives on one side of the breast compared to the other side, then some degree of asymmetry will result.
The donor site, where the fat is taken from with liposuction will be reduced in size. If a large amount of fat is removed, some degree of skin looseness may result. This area may be bruised and swollen after surgery for a number of weeks.
Time off work and exercise
*This list is not complete.
During the consultation with the patient, Dr. Giuffre will outline and explain each of the risks in detail.
THE FOLLOWUP:
How often do I need to come back for a checkup after the surgery?
Postoperative visits include:
A 1 week post operative visit
A 6 week visit in the office to review the preoperative photograph and the surgical result. The patient is allowed to shower the following day. Aggressive sports activity should be avoided for 4 weeks.
If there are any patient concerns, Dr. Giuffre provides his home phone number for patient's direct access.
After the 6 week visit, if there are any future requests for an appointment, they are made directly with Dr. Giuffre office and an expedited visit is arranged.
FINANCING:
Will AHS (Alberta Health Services) cover Fat Graft surgery?
Fat graft surgery, for breast reconstruction following breast cancer, is covered by Alberta Health Services.
Fat graft surgery solely for breast cosmetics surgery, with no previous breast cancer surgery is not covered by Alberta Health Services.
Can I finance the costs of the surgery? How do I do this?
Dr. Giuffre does not provide in house financing for cosmetic procedures.
There are a number of companies across Canada that will finance cosmetic surgery, similar to car financing or mortgages.
Please refer to the links provided on the Home Page for this information.
Dr. Giuffre has no financial or business relationship or affiliation with any of these companies.