Breast Reconstruction - lipotransfer

['lizbeth]

Thanks Roseamy,

The procedure is just gaining acceptance in the US. Europe has been utilizing the transfer of fat for many years without pediculing (spelling?) a muscle to support the blood flow.

Until recently this procedure did not have the ASPS approval as a breast enhancement techniques - so not very many US doctors have offered the procedure. I'm hoping in the next couple of years more & more surgeons in San Diego will learn and use a fat transfer technique for reconstruction without repositioning a major muscle.

I wish my original surgeon would adopt the technique. I would have happily volunteered to be his first patient for the surgery. But he says the procedure is too contraversial.

I'm looking for women such as yourself who have had some experience with the procedure - so that I can make a good decision for myself.

I'm hoping to lose some weight before my final decision and I just got a call from the ENERGY study to help me do that! The study is to help breast cancer survivors over a 27BMI lose weight and see if this helps them prevent breast cancer reocurrences.

Yeah, I hope they accept me!

[roseamy]

My surgeon did say that there is no evidence to support either way whether there is or is not a risk of encouraging a reoccurence, but to be sure they do not do the procedure within 2 years of mastectomy/lumpectomy. There is of course all the usual risks of surgery.
As I had had 2years ned he was happy to do this.
Where I am they have only just introduced this technique and it is so far looking successful.
he also said that they hope in the future to be able to use this instead of implants under the muscle to give a better more natural result but I believe this is still in the early stages.
I did originally have a large tumour that was locally advanced and was considered high risk of reoccurence, I know my surgeon would not have done this on me if he felt I was at undue risk.
good luck with the weight loss.

Rose