Fat Grafting Improves Long-Term Outcomes in Post-Mastectomy Breast Reconstruction with Implants
A recent study conducted by the Plastic Surgery team at Sant’Anna Hospital, part of Asst Lariana, demonstratesโ the meaningful benefits of autologous fat โgrafting (lipofilling) inโ improving the longevity โand reducing complications โof โbreast reconstruction using implants, notably following radiotherapy. Published in the Journal โof Clinical Medicine (impact factor 3.3),the research,leadโค by Dr. Alessia De โCol โand Dr.Francesco Buttarelli, followed 32โ women who underwent two-stage prosthetic reconstruction after both oncological surgery and radiation therapy between 2010 and 2021.
The โฃstudy โคfocused onโ the impact of at least one lipofilling sessionโค – a procedureโ involving the removal andโ re-introduction of a patient’s own fat to enhanceโค tissue quality – on long-term outcomes. After an average follow-up periodโข of 7.7 years, researchers observed a capsular contracture โฃrate of just 18.8%, with no instances of โsevere contracture. Importantly, no oncological recurrences were โฃdetected during the study period. All patients retained their original implants, reporting high levelsโ of satisfaction with the softness and aesthetic results achieved.
“Our findings confirm that lipofilling is a safe and effective strategy โfor maintaining prosthetic breast reconstruction in patients who have undergone radiotherapy,” explains โฃDr. Anna Scevola, Head of Plastic Surgery atโค Sant’Anna Hospital. “In this long-term series, fat grafting was associated withโค a lower incidence of capsular contracture โขcompared to previously โreported data, and crucially, no seriousโฃ contractures or oncological events occurred. Forโค carefully selected patients who are not candidates for autologous reconstruction, lipofilling offers a valuable option โto preserve implant โviability, improve tissue quality, and minimize theโฃ need for further surgical intervention.”
The Asst Lariana Plastic Surgery โdepartment, under Dr. Scevola’s direction,has also recently presentedโ innovative work at โฃboth the Italian Congress of Microsurgery and the National Congress โคof Plasticโฃ andโ Reconstructive Surgery (Sicpre). Presentations highlighted the team’s โคexpertise in reconstructing bone โคloss inโ limbs using vascularized fibula flaps – a complexโ but highly effective โคtechnique โfor restoring limb functionality after trauma or cancerโ surgery.
Dr. Melissa โAkuma, โa specialist from theโ university of Naples Federico II currently training at Sant’anna,โฃ also contributedโฃ to the โขnationalโข congress, focusing on the frequently enough-underestimated โissue of chronic neuropathicโค breastโ painโ following mastectomy and axillary surgery.”Understanding the characteristics and causes โof thisโ post-surgical pain isโ crucial for developing more effectiveโฃ prevention and treatment strategies,” Dr. Scevola โขemphasized.
This dual recognition underscoresโข the growingโค nationalโฃ prominenceโฃ of โคthe Como facility’s clinical and research contributions to โขthe fieldโข of plasticโ andโ reconstructive surgery.
(For further information, please refer to the โฃoriginal โarticle in the Journal ofโ clinicalโค Medicine: โ”Long-Term Outcome โขin Implant Breast reconstruction and Radiotherapy: The Role of Fatโ Grafting” by Alessia de Col, Francescoโข Buttarelli, Melissa โคAkuma, Ferruccio Paganini andโข Anna Scevola: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/2/241)