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Subject Area

Dermatology

Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

Objective The aim was to assess the results of autologous fat graft to the breast through the rate of fat necrosis, cyst formation, and calcification patterns to avoid unnecessary breast biopsies. Background Autologous fat transfer is widely used in plastic surgery for both reconstructive and esthetic purposes. Patients and methods This study included 30 patients, from September 2015 to February 2018. Baseline mammography was done for patients 40 years or older and ultrasound scans for those younger than 40 years and then repeated at 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Results The age of the patients ranged 19–51 years. The mean amount of the fat transferred to each breast was 252.17 cm3 with range of 100–410 cm3. No major complications were recorded. Six months after breast lipofilling, six (25%) patients of 24 patients younger than 40 years showed multiple small anechoic and hypoechoic lesions (solid nodules) with disruption of surrounding normal breast tissue. Three patients showed cystic lesions of variable size. Microcalcifications were detected in four mammograms (66.6%) of the six patients older than 40 years. One year after breast lipofilling, cystic lesions increased to five. Microcalcifications were detected in three patients. The microcalcifications in the fourth patient had an increased amount of calcifications and progressed to macrocalcification. Conclusion Fat grafting to the breast can be associated with complications such as fat necrosis, liponecrotic cysts, and calcifications. The high incidence of these complications is associated with improper technique of fat grafting.

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