Fat Transfer for Contour Correction

The autologous fat transfer is one of several techniques used for facial contour correction. The advantages of using autologous fat over other commercially available fillers include low supply cost, abundant supply source, secondary contour improvement at the donor site, lack of immunogenicity, and the potential for long-term improvement. In this article, we discuss our autologous fat transfer technique for the correction of facial contour irregularities.

BACKGROUND:
Patients who were diagnosed with symptomatic capsular contracture or with safety concerns for the implant would be often reluctant to accept the operation of implant exchange, choosing instead removal without exchange or taking other options to rebuild their breasts. These patients may benefit from augmenting the overlying soft tissue of the breasts with autologous fat grafting after removing the prosthesis.

OBJECTIVES:
A retrospective analysis of the patients receiving fat grafting for breast augmentation after implant removal was performed in this study.

METHODS:
Between March 2011 and November 2013, 27 patients receiving autologous fat grafting after breast implant removal. Objective evaluation was made by measuring the change in breast thickness with ultrasonography taken before and after the treatment. The aesthetic evaluation was performed using a 5-point Likert scale for patient satisfaction and comparing preoperative and postoperative digital photographs for physician satisfaction.

CONCLUSION:

Autologous fat grafting is beneficial for the correction of deformed breasts after implant removal. With its preferential fill qualities, the wide cleavage and excessive upper pole fullness associated with existing implants can also be corrected.