Blurring Boundaries in Breast Reconstruction with FAT

Reconstructive surgery following a previous breast augmentation or even a mastectomy due to breast cancer can obviously seem alarming. However the surgical techniques used to perform reconstructive surgery has been perfected over the years creating beautiful breasts. In fact, a woman’s appearance is often enhanced following the procedure, blurring the lines between what is cosmetic and what is reconstructive!

by Daniel Del Vecchio, MD
and Beverly Brooks
The Plastic Surgery Channel

When good isn’t good enough:

Enter FAT. Fat smooths contours, hides (or masks) implants, and thickens soft tissue. Dr. Daniel Del Vecchio says when breast reconstruction is done with fat it enhances the results by 99%. When breast tissue is removed on cancer patients, the skin becomes very thin making fat even more desirable for an overall natural appearance.

“If I have a patient with a previous breast reconstruction – and they are coming to me and say my breasts look okay, I can guarantee I will make them look even better by using fat,” says Del Vecchio. Del Vecchio doesn’t settle for mediocre results.

How Can We Put Our Fat to Good Use?

Microfat grafting can be used to increase breast size or enhance a previous augmentation. The return on investment is pretty amazing. For example, liposuction would be used to remove a pocket of fat in one area and then used to enhance another area, such as the breast or buttock.

Trained at Harvard Medical School, Yale University, and Mass General Hospital, Dr. Del Vecchio has some of the finest credentials in the field of plastic surgery. As a double board certified plastic surgeon with 20 years of experience, he has performed live surgery and is an invited speaker in many parts of the world, including China, Singapore, Russia, Europe, Australia, and North and South America.

Fat Transfer Results

“Fat does everything good, it smooths and thickens soft tissue,” says Del Vecchio. The methods for harvest and injection have also been refined over time. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS) says in the hands of board certified plastic surgeons there are many successful techniques for removing the fat and re-injecting it. The process may require multiple sessions to increase breast size and you will need an adequate supply of fat for the procedure. But don’t let an adequate supply of fat worry you, Del Vecchio says he can find excess fat on even the thinnest patients.

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery recognizes the growing interest in fat grafting for breast enhancement, and continues monitoring clinical evidence which documents the safety and efficacy of this procedure. Fat grafting to the breast is showing promising results and may become a popular breast augmentation procedure. It’s recommended that women seek the advice of a board certified plastic surgeon such as Dr. Del Vecchio to discuss the most recent research and options.