Plastic Surgery Societies Issue Caution On Fat Grafting For Breast Augmentation

Main Category: Cosmetic Medicine / Plastic Surgery
Article Date: 01 May 2007 - 7:00 PDT

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The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) have announced that fat grafting for breast augmentation is not recommended at this time based on the lack of safety and efficacy data, and amid concerns that the procedure may interfere with accurate detection of cancer. Fat grafting or lipoinjection is a process in which fat cells from one area of the body are transferred to another area of the body, and is commonly used for enhancement of the face or hands. Despite increasing consumer interest in this technique, there is little clinical evidence to suggest that fat grafting for breast augmentation is safer or better than saline or silicone implants, and long-term complications, including tissue scarring and calcification, can obscure or mimic breast cancer during breast cancer screening by self examination, mammography, ultrasound, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Fat grafting has been around for more than twenty years, but many plastic surgeons have been skeptical of using it for breast augmentation because of safety issues such as distinguishing calcifications caused by fat grafting as opposed to those associated with breast cancer," said Foad Nahai, MD, President Elect of ASAPS. We advise caution to women seeking fat grafting for this purpose and strongly support the ongoing research efforts that will establish the safety and efficacy of the procedure.

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons urge consumers considering fat grafting over saline or silicone implants for breast augmentation to proceed cautiously, since the temporary benefits of fat grafting may be offset by low survival rates of the transferred cells (which are frequently absorbed by the body), development of cysts, calcification and tissue scarring, as well as long-term problems with breast cancer detection. Tissue calcification, in particular, can make accurate detection of cancer difficult, since it is difficult to distinguish mammographically between calcifications associated with breast cancer and calcifications associated with fat transfer.

"Patients considering breast augmentation need to know that fat grafting for this indication is not recommended at this time, unless one is part of an ongoing clinical research study," said Roxanne Guy, MD, President of ASPS. "Even though fat grafting techniques have become more refined and breast cancer detection methods have become more sophisticated with time, creating a great deal of excitement about the potential of fat grafting, we simply need more data before we can recommend that this procedure be generally used to augment breasts."

More information for women about fat grafting for breast augmentation is available on the websites of The Aesthetic Society (http://www.surgery.org) and ASPS (http://www.plasticsurgery.org).

ASAPS and ASPS recommendations

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, in the interest of patient safety, do not recommend fat grafting for breast enhancement at this time. Because there is little clinical evidence available to document efficacy, the societies urge patients to consider the procedure as one undergoing continued evaluation.

About ASAPS

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) is the leading organization of board-certified plastic surgeons specializing in cosmetic plastic surgery. ASAPS active-member plastic surgeons are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. http://www.surgery.org.

About ASPS

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) is the largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons in the world. With more than 6,000 members, the Society is recognized as a leading authority and information source on cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. ASPS comprises 90 percent of all board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States. Founded in 1931, the Society represents physicians certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. http://www.plasticsurgery.org

The 2400-member American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) is the only plastic surgery organization devoted entirely to the advancement of cosmetic surgery. ASAPS is recognized throughout the world as the authoritative source for cosmetic surgery education. U.S. members are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Canadian members are certified in plastic surgery by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.Toll-free referral line: 888.ASAPS.11 (272.7711). Web site: http://www.surgery.org.

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