Breast reconstruction using fat

A surgeon removes fat by liposuction from a donor area, prepares it, and injects small amounts into the breast tissues. The method may supplement an implant or tissue reconstruction, or form part of a fat-only plan for selected patients.

Transferred fat needs a blood supply from the surrounding tissue to remain in place. Some of the injected volume can be reabsorbed, so the surgeon may recommend staged sessions rather than placing a large volume at once.

The donor area may be the abdomen, thighs, or another site with suitable fat. This creates liposuction swelling and bruising as well as healing in the breast. Fat grafting can soften contour dips, improve transitions around an implant, or add volume after mastectomy, but the available donor tissue and chest skin influence what can be achieved.

Tell the surgeon about previous breast operations, radiotherapy, medicines, smoking, clotting problems, and changes in body weight. Ask which donor sites are suitable, where the small access scars will be, and whether an implant or tissue expander is part of the wider reconstruction plan.

Arrange help for transport and household tasks, then follow instructions for compression garments, dressings, bathing, activity, and pain medicine. Avoid placing pressure on the treated breast unless your surgeon says otherwise. Attend follow-up so the team can distinguish expected firmness from fat necrosis, an oil cyst, infection, or another change that needs imaging.

Promptly contact the surgical team for spreading redness, increasing warmth, worsening pain, cloudy drainage, fever, an opening wound, or swelling that is becoming tense. A new firm area should be assessed, particularly if it grows or persists, rather than assumed to be transferred fat.

Go to emergency care for chest pain, severe shortness of breath, collapse, uncontrolled bleeding, or sudden painful swelling in a leg. Sudden major swelling or a marked colour change in the breast or donor area also requires urgent surgical advice.

Ask whether fat grafting is intended to correct a contour, add general volume, or support another reconstruction method. Clarify how the planned donor site may look and feel afterward and what compression or movement restrictions will apply.

Find out how the team handles fat that does not remain, how future breast imaging may be affected, and which lumps or skin changes should trigger an earlier appointment.