Clinical and radiological assessment of autologous fat transfer to the breast

Abstract

Autologous fat transfer is widely used in plastic surgery for both reconstructive and esthetic purposes. The aim of this study is to identify the results of autologous fat graft to the breast through the rate of fat necrosis, cyst formation, and calcification patterns to avoid unnecessary breast biopsies. This prospective study included 30 patients, from September 2015 to February 2018. Baseline mammography was done for patients 40 years or older and ultrasound scans for those under 40 years old then repeated at 6 and 12 months postoperative. The age of the patients ranged 19–51 years old. The mean amount of the fat transferred to each breast was 252.17 cc with range of 100–410 cc. No major complications were recorded. Six months after breast lipofilling: 6 (25%) of 24 patients show multiple small anechoic and hypoechoic lesions (solid nodules) with disruption of surrounding normal breast tissue. Three patients showed cystic lesions of variable size. Microcalcifications detected in 4 mammograms (66.6%) of the 6 patients over 40 years old. One year after breast lipofilling: Cystic lesions increased to 5. Microcalcifications detected in 3 patients. The microcalcifications in the 4th patient had an increased amount of calcifications and progressed to macrocalcification. Survival of fat cell grafts and the breast lipofilling complication depends on the techniques used to harvest and then injecting the fat into the receiver site. However, the preliminary results should be confirmed in larger series, and the radiographic follow-up of women undergoing breast lipofilling should be standardized to ensure reproducibility and improve patient safety. Level V, therapeutic study.