Fat grafting in preparation for implant

08172016

Hi all,

I am about to begin my reconstruction journey. I had a unilateral mastectomy in April 2017 followed by 30 rounds of radiation.

So far I’ve visited 2 plastic surgeons. The first told me that I would need either DIEP flap + possible reduction on non affected breast or a lat flap + implant (after expander). The second told me that we could fat graft the radiated area over a series of 3 sessions (3 months apart) to prep it for implant without a flap. They said that the fat grafting could reverse the effects of radiation and make the skin soft and pliable.

There seems to be a lot of information available regarding the flap procedures and fat grafting after lumpectomy or fat graftwith BRAVA, but I cannot find much fat grafting prior to an implant.

Has anyone had fat grafting for the specific purpose of reversing the impact of radiation, providing a good area for implant?

Thanks in advance for sharing!

Lorraine

SpecialK

I lost my implant after an allograft replacement surgery, my skin was damaged from repeated surgery and necrosis after mastectomy, and I was flat on that side for 18 months. This was my prophy side and did not receive rads, but the skin behaved much like it had. During that 18 month period I had two fat grafts to the flat areato attempt to provide skin integrity and vascularity, much as what helps radiated skin. I feel this made all the difference and allowed me to have a new expander and successful exchange to a new implant. Here is a link to fat grafting for post-rads from this site:

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/70/topics/744891?page=1

08172016

Special K,

Thank you for sharing your personal experience with me and for the link. It has been very informative

Lorraine