Using Fat Grafting for Breast Reconstruction

For women who want natural tissue breast reconstruction but cannot or do not want to undergo flap surgery, another option is fat grafting. One reason a woman might not be a candidate for flap surgery is due to a clotting disorder that will cut off the blood supply to the flap. Or she may be a smoker or a user of nicotine in another form, which significantly increases the risk of flap failure, wound healing problems, and infection. Other recreational drugs, such as cocaine, will also prevent a successful flap surgery. Or a woman may have significant medical comorbidities that can make a long operation unsafe such as obesity, diabetes, or heart or lung issues. Finally, some women may simply not want the extensive scars that come with cutting out tissue from one part of the body and transferring it to the chest to create a breast.