[Application of autologous fat grafting in breast reconstruction]

Objective: To observe the outcome of breast reconstruction with autologous fat grafting in the patients following treatment for breast cancer. Methods: The clinical data of 22 patients after breast cancer modified radical mastectomy with fat grafting for breast reconstruction from January 2012 to March 2015 at Department of Body Contouring and Liposuction Center of Plastic Surgery, Hospital of Peking Union Medical College were analyzed retrospectively. The age of 22 patients (all female) was 28 to 54 years. Fifteen patients were performed breast modified radical mastectomy 5 to 16 year ago without radiotherapy, 7 patients were performed breast modified radical mastectomy following regular radiotherapy 2 years ago. Low negative pressure liposuction technical was applied to harvest fat tissue for 400 to 800 ml which was filtrated and purified by cotton pad method in low temperature environment. Fat grafting was performed with multi-level and multi-tunnel and in multi-point injection ways. All patients were followed up by regular imaging evaluation with MRI or ultrasonography after operation every 3 months. Results: All breast reconstruction were successfully performed in 22 patients, no severe complications occurred. Among 15 patients without radiotherapy, 12 patients were performed with autologous fat grafting for breast reconstruction, 3 patients with prosthetic implantation for breast augmentation after autologous fat grafting. Among 7 patients with radiotherapy, 6 patients were performed with autologous fat grafting for breast reconstruction, 1 patient with prosthetic implantation for breast augmentation after autologous fat grafting. The volume of fat grafting was 104 to 380 ml. It took 2.5 hours to finish the operation including 1.0 to 1.5 hours for liposuction and 40 minutes for fat grafting. Next fat grafting were performed after 3 months. The fat of the breast were survived well detecting by MRI, only 1 patient had a cystic nodule which had been resected during nipple reconstruction. Ultrasonography screened several cystic nodules with the major axis of 0.1 to 0.2 cm in the breast, which couldn't be found by palpating in 18 patients. The patients were followed up for 18 to 36 months, the outcome were satisfactory. Conclusion: Autologous fat grafting for breast reconstruction simplifies the operation program with satisfied results and avoids the complications of breast reconstruction with skin flap.