Early experience of immediate reconstruction using autologous free dermal fat graft after breast conservational surgery

Breast conservational therapy (BCT) has become a standard strategy for breast cancer, and ensures that local control with acceptable cosmetic results [Fisher B, Anderson S, Redmond CK, et al. Reanalysis and results after 12 years of follow-up in a randomized clinical trial comparing total mastectomy with lumpectomy with or without irradiation in the treatment of breast cancer. N Engl J Med 1995;333:1456–61] and immediate reconstruction after BCT has become increasingly popular even for early-stage breast cancer [Berrino P, Campora E, Santi P. Post-quadrantectomy breast deformities: classification and techniques of surgical correction. Plast Reconstr Surg 1987;79(4):567–72; Cooperman AM, Dinner M. The rhomboid flap and partial mastectomy. Surg Clin North Am 1978;58:869–73]. The breasts of Japanese women are sometimes too small to maintain symmetry, even after partial resection, and an insufficient resection margin may increase local recurrence if too much attention is paid to cosmesis. Use of an autologous free dermal fat graft (FDFG) for defect reconstruction has proven popular for some areas of the body [Lexer E. Free transplantation. Ann Surg 1914;60:166–94; Peer LA. The neglected free fat graft. Plast Reconstr Surg 1956;18:233–50]. Immediate reconstruction of the surgical defect was performed in seven Japanese women using autologous free dermal fat graft (FDFG) from the lower abdomen after breast-conserving surgeries for six malignant lesions and two benign masses located in the medial or central area of the breasts.

The mean amount of resected tissue was 56.4g (range, 28–108g), while mean FDFG weight was 78.3g (range, 35–148g). We obtained symmetry in the size of the whole breast, the position and level of the nipple, and shape.

Autologous FDFG was useful for reconstruction, with a good cosmetic effect. This technique achieves better cosmetic results than the transposition of residual breast tissue, is more convenient than muscle flap grafting, and safer than implantation of foreign materials. This report documents our early experiences with seven patients who underwent BCT and immediate breast reconstruction using autologous FDFG.