Fat injection to correct contour deformities of the reconstructed breast: a single surgeon experience

Introduction

Fat injection is a useful surgical modality to correct anatomic contour deformities.^[1-3] In 1987, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons published a report discouraging the use of autologous fat injections in the breast due to potential complications related to calcifications and detection of breast cancer.^[4] Improvements and technique have since enhanced the clinical utility of fat grafting, and autologous fat injection is now commonly used to correct breast defects.^[5,6]

To date, retrospective studies have shown that complications associated with fat injection markedly decreased with the evolution of fat grafting protocols.^[7,8] Calcification and fat necrosis have been shown to correlate with the volume, as well as the technique of fat injection.^[9-11] There is also evidence that the volume injected correlates with survival of the grafted fat.^[12] The minimally invasive nature of the procedure allows patients to benefit from autologous tissue rather than foreign materials. As such, fat grafting has evolved into a safe procedure to correct contour deformities in the reconstructed breast.^[7]

Although some controversy remains with regards to the benefits and risks of autologous fat injections, it is widely used by reconstructive plastic surgeons to correct contour deformities in breast reconstruction.^[6] Our experience suggests this is a safe procedure that provides significant improvement to breast contour following reconstruction. This study describes a Karl Schwarz (KS) experience with fat injection to correct contour deformities during breast reconstruction.

Methods

Technique

Autologous fat was harvested using previously described techniques.^[13] Donor sites included medial thighs, flanks, trochanters, arms, or abdominal subcutaneous fat. Under sterile conditions, fat was harvested using the Tulip liposuction system (Tulip Medical Products, San Diego, CA) with a 3 mm cannula. No donor site morbidity was observed in any of the patients enrolled in this study. The fat was then purified on large Telfa Pads (Covidien, Mansfield, MA) as previously described by Kanchwala et al.^[13] Once the fat reached a custard-like consistency, it was loaded into 10-mL syringes [Figure 1]. Based on preoperative topographic markings, fat was then injected into the breasts in 1 mL aliquots, distributing it evenly in multiple tissue planes, using multiple passes, to visibly correct the previously present contour deformity [Figure 2].

Figure 1. Fat is allowed to separate by gravity and then refined on a Tefla Pad until it reached a custard-like consistency. The refined fat was then transferred in 10-mL syringes

Figure 2. Relying on preoperative topographic markings, fat was injected on the breast in multiple tissue planes, through multiple passes

Results

One hundred and twenty-four patients benefited from autologous fat injection from January 2008 to November 2013, for a total of 187 treated breasts. The patients were on average 49.3 years old (± 8.9 years). Fat was most often harvested from the medial thighs (20.5%), flanks (39.1%), medial thighs and flanks (2.9%), trochanters (13.3%), medial knees (2.7%), and abdomen (21.9%). An average of 49.25 mL (ranging from 8 to 210 mL) of fat was injected into each reconstructed breast [Table 2].

A total of 174 breasts in 112 patients were injected with autologous fat during the second stage of breast reconstruction. Thirteen breasts (in 12 separate patients) were injected after having undergone lumpectomy and radiotherapy. Eight breasts (in 5 separate patients) underwent a second round of fat injection 6 months after the initial lipoinjection. Of the 187 treated breasts, 118 were reconstructed with expanders to implants, 45 with deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flaps, 9 with latissimus dorsi flaps with implants, 4 with transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flaps [Table 3]. Thirteen of the breasts had previously undergone lumpectomy and radiotherapy. Representative images of patients treated with autologous fat grafting are shown in Figures 3 and 4.

Figure 3. A 52-year-old female who had a left lumpectomy and radiation 3 years ago. She was treated with lipoinjection of the lateral contour deformity

Figure 4. A 62-year-old female with a history of bilateral mastectomy and radiation therapy on the left breast; followed bilateral deep inferior epigastric perforator flap reconstruction. She benefited from 2 rounds of fat injection of the left upper breast contracture and serial excision of breast skin paddle

Six complications in 3 separate patients were noted in the entire series, for a rate of 3.2%. All were in previously radiated breasts. One patient developed an isolated area of fat necrosis but also an occult pneumothorax treated conservatively. One patient developed a cellulitis treated successfully with antibiotics, and another patient developed an infection that was drained with a pig-tail catheter. Oil cysts were noted in 3 breasts.

Discussion

Our experience suggests that autologous fat injection is a safe and effective procedure for correcting contour deformities following breast reconstruction. Of the 187 treated breasts in our study, we identified complications in only 6 patients for a complication rate of 3.2%. It should be noted that each of these complications occurred in previously irradiated breasts, which have been associated with impaired healing secondary due to radiation damage.^[5] Although our reported rates of fat necrosis and oil cysts are low in nonradiated breasts, it must be noted that they only represent those discovered on physical exam. It is likely that radiographic evaluation would yield higher rates.

Assessment of the literature and the data presented in this article suggest that fat injection can be a safe procedure. Although the studies reviewed demonstrate significant variability among complication rates, our 6 complications in 187 treated breasts lies on the lower end of the spectrum.

Despite having experienced few complications, all patients with a suspicious lesion or nodule were encouraged to follow-up with their breast surgeon and oncologist.^[8,11] Fortunately, radiographic evaluation can reliably distinguish calcifications, fat necrosis and oil cysts from malignant lesions.^[4]

The complications identified in our patients occurred only in radiated breasts. Despite the paucity of data regarding fat injection in radiated breasts, there is evidence demonstrating the success of fat injection into radiated tissue.^[14] While prior radiation may be a risk factor for fat necrosis, it appears that lipoinjection alleviates the damage associated with radiation.^[15,16] Clearly, further studies are needed to elucidate the advantages and pitfalls of fat injection in radiated breasts.

It is important to point out that familiarity with the technical aspects of fat injection affects the incidence of complications.^[7,8] While the incidence of fat necrosis and graft resorption is reduced when small aliquots are injected in multiple tissue planes, there is evidence that the long-term viability is increased with greater overall injection volumes.^[10,12,17]

A discussion on the safety of fat injection would not be complete without addressing the potential effects of lipoinjection on local breast cancer recurrence. The increase in vascularity promoted by injected adipose tissue may present a theoretical risk for recurrence.^[17] A study by Petit et al.^[18,19] describes early follow-up data suggesting that fat grafting does not present an increased risk for cancer recurrence, however, a follow-up cohort study by the same author suggests that the risk for recurrence could increase in women with high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia under the age of 50. An additional study funded by The Plastic Surgery Foundation is ongoing to further evaluate the oncologic safety of fat grafting in breast cancer patients.

In conclusion, contour irregularities are common problems associated with breast reconstruction and can lead to suboptimal cosmetic results. Fat injection is a powerful tool that provides surgeons the ability to achieve esthetically superior results. Meticulous technique and proper planning, particularly assessing the recipient site and limiting injection volumes, allows surgeons to deliver results with low complication rates.