Fat transfer (lipomodelling)
Lipomodelling (fat transfer) involves a doctor injecting fat from elsewhere in your body into your reconstructed breast to improve the look and shape of it.
About fat transfer (lipomodelling)
Lipomodelling is sometimes called fat transfer or fat grafting. It involves taking fat from another part of your body and injecting it into the breasts.
Fat is usually taken by liposuction from the front of your thighs or your tummy. Transferring fat to the breast this way is called lipomodelling. It is also called lipofilling, fat transfer or grafting.
Fat injections usually need to be repeated a few times. This is because of the fat loss from the breast reconstruction. Injecting fat more than once also helps to smooth out any uneven areas.
When is lipomodelling used?
After breast reconstruction
It may be used after breast reconstruction if there are any dents or unevenness in the outline of the new breast. If the breast still looks uneven a few months after the reconstruction, your surgeon can inject fat into your breast to improve the outline. Surgeons can also use lipomodelling to enlarge reconstructed breasts.
You do not usually have lipomodelling until the reconstructed breast has fully healed. This usually takes about 6 to 12 months. Your reconstructive surgeon can give you more information and explain the risks and benefits of lipomodelling.
Before breast reconstruction
Some people have lipomodelling before breast reconstruction. If you have a mastectomy and radiotherapy, lipomodelling can improve the skin before reconstruction.
Delayed LD flap with lipomodelling following radiotherapy
If you have an implant
After reconstruction with implants, you may have lipomodelling to make the reconstructed breasts look and feel more natural. You may have it to cover the appearance of any rippling. Lipomodelling may also make breasts reconstructed with implants feel warmer to touch.
Lipomodelling may be recommended if you have an implant removed. It can help to thicken the tissues before the implant is replaced.
Bilateral mastectomies with implants and lipomodelling
Early result of a bilateral implant reconstruction following a breast uplift (mastopexy) and lipomodelling
Having lipomodelling
You usually do not need to stay overnight at hospital for lipomodelling. This means you can go home the same day. You usually have a general anaesthetic, but it can sometimes be done with a local anaesthetic to numb the area. The area where the fat is taken from is likely to be bruised, sore or numb afterwards. This will get better within a few weeks.
If you have lipomodelling surgery many times, you may also get uneven areas around where the fat is taken from. If this happens, let your surgeon know, as they may be able to even out the areas affected. But this may not be available on the NHS.
Left delayed LD flap breast reconstruction after a mastectomy and radiotherapy with lipomodelling
Goldilocks mastectomy with lipomodelling.
The dots are needle marks on the skin. These will fade with time.
After lipomodelling
About half (50%) of the fat injected into the breast will be absorbed into the body. After the operation, you will be advised whether to wear a supportive bra or not. You may be told to wear supportive underwear to reduce swelling and bruising in the areas the fat is taken from.
You should avoid exercise that is too energetic. This will help reduce fat loss from the breast reconstruction.
About our information
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References
Below is a sample of the sources used in our breast reconstruction information. If you would like more information about the sources we use, please contact us at cancerinformationteam@macmillan.org.uk
European Journal of Surgical Oncology. Oncoplastic breast surgery: A guide to good practice A. Gilmour et al. Published 5th May 2021. associationofbreastsurgery.org.uk/media/359061/abs-oncoplastic-guidelines-2021.pdf (accessed April 2023)
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Early and locally advanced breast cancer: diagnosis and management. Guidelines. July 2018. Last updated: April 2023. Available from: www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng101 (accessed April 2023)
European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Early breast cancer: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow up. Last updated 2019. Annals of Oncology 30: 1194–1220, 2019. Available from: www.annalsofoncology.org/article/S0923-7534(19)31287-6/pdf (accessed April 2023)
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Reviewers
This information has been written, revised and edited by Macmillan Cancer Support’s Cancer Information Development team. It has been reviewed by expert medical and health professionals and people living with cancer. It has been approved by Senior Medical Editor, Professor Mike Dixon, Professor of Surgery and Consultant Breast Surgeon.
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