Fat jab that fills out any little flaws

WHILE the aim of breast reconstruction is for perfect symmetry with the other ‘natural’ breast, this isn’t always possible. Matching the two can be technically difficult for even the most experienced surgeons and some patients are left with a lack of ‘fullness’, or dents or hollows emerge.

A newish technique known as lipomodelling can rectify this. It involves harvesting fat from the woman’s stomach or thighs, which is then used to reshape any irregularities in the reconstructed breast.

It’s a straightforward procedure that most reconstructive surgeons can do — it’s usually performed by the original surgeon. ‘The fat is removed under general anaesthetic using liposuction [i.e. a needle],’ explains Steven Thrush, a breast surgeon at the Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

‘A rough estimate will have been made of how much is needed and slightly more will be taken. The fat is then washed to remove blood cells and transplanted using a second needle while the fat is still fresh and sterile. It’s put in thin strips, about a millimetre apart, until the area is filled in.’

The donor site won’t look different, adds Lester Barr, a breast cancer surgeon at the Genesis Breast Cancer Prevention Centre at Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester. ‘There won’t be enough fat taken to produce a flat stomach.’

In some cases about half of the transplanted fat cells will die or be reabsorbed into the body, but the procedure can be repeated a couple of months later (to allow healing from the first attempt).

Lipomodelling can also be used after a lumpectomy. It is not suitable for everyone, for instance patients with diabetes or those who smoke, as restrictions in blood flow mean the fat may not take as well.