27
July
2010

Dr. Sydney Coleman Introduces Dramatic Improvements to Fat Grafting0

Sydney Coleman, a plastic surgeon in New York City, continues to improve fat grafting methods

Dr. Sydney Coleman is recognized as the world’s leading expert on fat grafting.  It has been through his perseverance and insight over the last 22 years that fat grafting is becoming an important part of medicine.  In the last four years, Dr. Coleman has improved dramatically the method he uses for fat grafting. The advanced methods he now uses for fat grafting not only increase the predictability of fat graft survival; but also, more importantly, the new techniques maximize the reparative effect of grafted fat on the tissue around which it is placed.  Using his newly developed method, fat grafted under sun damaged and aging skin repairs the overlying skin.  The eyelid of the patient below demonstrates the dramatic change that grafting fat in one procedure can have on overlying wrinkles.

Before (above) and two years after one procedure to lower eyelids in a 76 year old with no other treatment to her lower eyelids

Fat grafted under skin in the lower eyelid repairs the skin to a more radiant, youthful appearance

Probably through the same mechanism of repair, grafted fat has been shown to repair the tissue damage caused by radiation from cancer treatment.  Dr. Coleman has been actively participating in laboratory research at NYU Medical Center, which has enabled him to verify his new advances in grafting fat.  This new way of grafting fat increases the predictability of the volume of fat grafted, but more importantly, it maximizes the effect of grafted fat on the tissues around which it is placed.

Dr. Coleman has been speaking at meetings worldwide over the last few months to relate the advances that he has made in the last five years in fat grafting.  In June alone he has given lectures in Manchester, UK; Ghent, Belgium; Aachen, Germany; Iceland; and Halifax, Nova Scotia.  Earlier this year, he gave a series of lectures at a maxillofacial/craniofacial meeting in Baltimore, at the Egyptian Society of Plastic Surgery meeting outside of Cairo, at an international hand meeting in Paris, at a meeting in Los Cabos in Baja California, at a symposium of the Plastic Surgery Education Foundation meeting in Snowbird, Utah, at a breast meeting in Miami, at the American Alpine Workshop in Plastic Surgery meeting in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and at a Regenerative Surgery meeting in Rome.

And Dr. Coleman continues to travel to Pittsburg monthly to use fat grafting on soldiers with facial war injuries.  This is part of an Armed Forces project at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center supervised by the US Department of Defense.

.                           Written by the office staff at TriBeCa Plastic Surgery

To read the Cosmetic Surgery Times article on the use of fat grafts with stem cells for rejuvenation, please click here.

For further articles about this subject

2
December
2009

New York Times Reports on Fat Grafting to the Breast0

Catherine Saint Louis wrote an article in the Style Section of the New York Times on fat grafting to the breasts on December 2009.  Please click on this the following URL to take you to the article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/03/fashion/03skin.html?_r=1&ref=fashion

Ms. Saint Louis did a great deal of research and spoke to me for close to two hours over three different conversations.  She also interviewed one of my patients who has an eleven year follow-up (last paragraph of the article).

Patient mentioned in New York Times article after one fat grafting procedure in 1998 by Sydney Coleman

Patient mentioned in New York Times article after one fat grafting procedure in 1998 by Sydney Coleman

Check out these links for more information on fat grafting to the breasts:

Combining the BRAVA system with Fat Grafting to the Breast

Fat Grafting to solve problems with Breast Implants

Safety concerns with fat grafting to the breast

The American Society of Plastic Surgery’s Position of Fat Grafting to the Breast

Dr. Sydney Coleman demonstrates Breast Reconstruction with LipoStructure on The Doctors

Coleman lectures on fat grafting for breast reconstruction at the American College of Surgeons

Lipofilling: a role in breast reconstruction surgery From “Behind the Medical Headlines” produced by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow

Breast Augmentation Via Fat Grafting From “Plastic Surgery Practice”

Breast Implant Problems Solved with Coleman Fat Grafting

Fat Grafting to the Breast Revisited: Safety and Efficacy. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. 119(3):775-785, March 2007. Coleman, Sydney R. M.D.; Saboeiro, Alesia P. M.D.

© Coleman 2009asps_surgeon_logo_color_rgb

20
October
2009

Fat Grafting to the Breast by Sydney Coleman of New York City, New York4

Description of Dr. Sydney Coleman’s Method of Fat Grafting to the Breast including Consultations, Procedure, and Pricing

My office has received many inquires about the cost and the procedure of fat grafting to the breast.  I have therefore written up the following description of my consultation, some important points of my procedure and some explanations of the cost.

Planning Consultation: The most important first step for fat grafting to the breast is for you to help me design a procedure that will give you the shape and size that you desire for your breasts.  I do that by first examining and photographing your body. Then I study the photographs with you. Together we design an individualized plan to change both your breasts and to enhance your body with the harvesting of fat.  I draw out blueprints of your unique procedure using pencil tracings that depict your specific body and the changes you seek.  I like to color code the blueprint to indicate where I plan to remove the fat, where you desire specific changes in size or shape, and where the tiny entrance sites will be placed (see below).  I use the same sheet to make notations as I review your informed consent.

Blueprint illustrates planned removal of fatty tissue (purple) and tiny incisions through which I harvest fatty tissue (red).

Color-coded blueprint aids the patient in her understanding the procedure and enables the patient to help design the procedure. (Click on the image for a larger version)

Special Considerations: The decision to use the BRAVA system should be made weeks before the procedure.  Please refer to my last post for comments.

Marking: On the day of the procedure, I follow the blueprint to mark your body with a color-coded system (see below).  This lets you understand from where I am removing fatty tissue and how I am placing it into your breast to improve your shape and increase your breast size.

On the day of the procedure, Dr. Coleman marks the patients with the patient actively participating in the harvest areas as well as the design of her breast augmentation.

On the day of the procedure, Dr. Coleman marks the patients with the patient actively participating in the selection of harvest areas as well as the design of her breast augmentation.

Harvesting & Refinement: The procedure for breast augmentation with fat involves first harvesting fat from the body.  Some women have enough fat in one location (outer thighs or lovehandles), which makes removal much simpler.  However, many women have had liposuction to their outer thighs and lovehandles, or simply do not have enough fat in one area.  In those women, I consider numerous areas for harvesting (abdomen, flanks, inner thighs, knees, calves, arms, et cetera). Obviously, this is an important part of the procedure, and you and I will want to design the removal so that your body shape is enhanced and problems are avoided.  Because of the amount of fat tissue that needs to be removed, I usually perform the procedure under general anesthesia.  However, for much smaller procedures, I use local anesthesia with sedation.

Grading the fat for selective placement: After the fat is harvested, I refine and concentrate the fat tissue using a centrifuge to remove any non-living components (oil, water, blood, et cetera).  My experience has taught me to grade the fat into different qualities, depending on density and other factors. I use the graded densities to attain different effects. This is one of the keys to successful fat grafting.

Sculpting while layering in the graded fat: I use the concentrated fat tissue to meticulously sculpt the breast.  The technique I developed alters the shape and size of the breast by placing miniscule amounts in thousands of passes through three or four tiny entrance sites located in the lower fold of the breast and the areola.  The sculpting requires a three dimensional vision that must happen while the fat is being placed into the breast.  Many surgeons place fat then try to move it around.

Price: How is the price determined?  First of all, price varies depending on the difficulty of removing fat from select parts of your body, processing and concentrating the fat.  If it is going to take me one hour to harvest the fat, then I am able to charge much less than if it will take me two or three hours.  Then the difficulty of the meticulous placement into the breast needs to be considered.  Previous scarring from implants or surgery will make the procedure more difficult.  The more fat I harvest and place, the more that I need to charge.  Simple, uncomplicated augmentations start at $20,000.  Treating the problems of breast implants with fat grafting is usually less depending on the amount of fat needed to be placed and the amount of scarring present.  Reconstructive procedures after breast cancer or from birth defects can often be covered at least in part by insurance.

If you call my office at +1 212 571 5200 my office staff can give you a better idea of the cost if you describe your breasts and body.  If you send photographs with a description of your goals, we can give you an even better estimate of the cost.

Check out these links for more information on fat grafting to the breasts:

Combining the BRAVA system with Fat Grafting to the Breast

Fat Grafting to solve problems with Breast Implants

Safety concerns with fat grafting to the breast

The American Society of Plastic Surgery’s Position of Fat Grafting to the Breast

Dr. Sydney Coleman demonstrates Breast Reconstruction with LipoStructure on The Doctors

Coleman lectures on fat grafting for breast reconstruction at the American College of Surgeons

Lipofilling: a role in breast reconstruction surgery From “Behind the Medical Headlines” produced by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow

Breast Augmentation Via Fat Grafting From “Plastic Surgery Practice”

Breast Implant Problems Solved with Coleman Fat Grafting

Fat Grafting to the Breast Revisited: Safety and Efficacy. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. 119(3):775-785, March 2007. Coleman, Sydney R. M.D.; Saboeiro, Alesia P. M.D.

© Coleman 2009asps_surgeon_logo_color_rgb

22
September
2009

Dr. Sydney Coleman of New York City combines the BRAVA system with Breast LipoStructure12

Dr. Sydney Coleman presented his experience with using the BRAVA system before and after fat grafting to the breast at three conferences in the last week:

Dr. Coleman showed examples of breast augmentation and reconstruction using autologous fat combined with the BRAVA system.  He felt that the BRAVA system of reverse tissue expansion has been improving the excellent results he has already been obtaining with fat grafting to the breast.

Before (left) and after (right) Dr. Sydney Coleman placed about 200 ml of fat into each breast

Before (left) and after (right) Dr. Sydney Coleman placed about 200 ml of fat into each breast

Breast Augmentation with only one session of Structural Fat Grafting

Breast Augmentation with only one session of Structural Fat Grafting

The patient in these photos presented for an enhancement in the shape of her breast, and an improvement in the size of her lower breasts. Before and after about 200 ml of refined fat into each breast.  She wore the BRAVA before the procedure, but not afterward.

Patient's primary goal was increasing the size of her lower breasts

Patient's primary goal was increasing the size of her lower breasts

For more detailed information about fat grafting to the breast, please refer to LipoStructure.com.

For information on the consultation, procedure and pricing for Dr. Coleman’s fat grafting to the breast CLICK HERE.

Check out these links more information on fat grafting to the breasts:

Dr. Sydney Coleman demonstrates Breast Reconstruction with LipoStructure on The Doctors

Coleman lectures on fat grafting for breast reconstruction at the American College of Surgeons

Lipofilling: a role in breast reconstruction surgery From “Behind the Medical Headlines” produced by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow

Breast Augmentation Via Fat Grafting From “Plastic Surgery Practice”

Breast Implant Problems Solved with Coleman Fat Grafting

Fat Grafting to the Breast Revisited: Safety and Efficacy. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. 119(3):775-785, March 2007. Coleman, Sydney R. M.D.; Saboeiro, Alesia P. M.D.

© Coleman 2009asps_surgeon_logo_color_rgb

30
March
2009

Safety Concerns with Fat Grafting to the Breast2

The new ASPS Guiding Principles for Fat Injection to the Breast discusses the risks and complications based on a review of all published scientific information.  They conclude that complication rates for fat grafting in general is not high compared to other procedures, and serious complications are “extremely rare.”  Specific concerns about fat grafting to the breast interfering with cancer detection is not supported by any studies.

However, using some techniques for fat grafting to the breast can result in increased complications and a poor result.  Therefore, the ASPS has emphasized, “The safety, efficacy and final outcome of any given case is dependent on the technique used.”   They go on to say “studies indicate that results of fat transfer remain dependent on a surgeon’s technique and expertise.”

A patient should try to choose a physician who is an expert at fat grafting and has a long record of success.

This 55 year old woke up to find her silicone gel plant had ruptured.  She had both removed along with the surrounding scarring four months before these photographs

This 55 year old woke up to find her silicone gel plant had ruptured. She had both removed along with the surrounding scarring four months before these photographs

6 1/2 years after the last of 2 fat grafting sessions.  Her breasts now feel and look completely natural after only two sessions of fat grafting.  In addition, her body has improved from the removal of fat from her abdomen and waist.

6 1/2 years after the last of 2 fat grafting sessions. Her breasts now feel and look completely natural after only two sessions of fat grafting. In addition, her body has improved from the removal of fat from her abdomen and waist.

Patient has completely natural appearing breast 6 1/2 years after second fat grafting.

Patient has completely natural appearing breast 6 1/2 years after second fat grafting.

Subsequent posts over the next weeks will address the other findings of the American Society of Plastic Surgery’s task force on fat grafting to the breast.  Stay Tuned!

For more detailed information about fat grafting to the breast, please refer toLipoStructure.com.

For information on the consultation, procedure and pricing for Dr. Coleman’s fat grafting to the breast CLICK HERE.

Check out these links more information on fat grafting to the breasts:

Dr. Sydney Coleman demonstrates Breast Reconstruction with LipoStructure on The Doctors

Coleman lectures on fat grafting for breast reconstruction at the American College of Surgeons

Lipofilling: a role in breast reconstruction surgery??From “Behind the Medical Headlines” produced by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow

Breast Augmentation Via Fat Grafting?From “Plastic Surgery Practice”

Breast Implant Problems Solved with Coleman Fat Grafting

Fat Grafting to the Breast Revisited: Safety and Efficacy.?Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. 119(3):775-785, March 2007.?Coleman, Sydney R. M.D.; Saboeiro, Alesia P. M.D.

© Coleman 2009

18
March
2009

Fat Grafting to the Breast Has New Guiding Principles15

In a new statement by ASPS entitled Fat Transfer/Fat Graft and Fat Injection ASPS Guiding Principles, fat grafting to the breast has been cautiously approved by the ASPS for use in breast reconstruction, breast shaping and breast augmentation.

Before (left) and 8 years 9 months after one fat grafting procedure of 332 ml to the right and 297 ml to the left.  Patient had 10 pound weight loss between procedures

Before (left) and 8 years 9 months after one fat grafting procedure of 332 ml to the right and 297 ml to the left. Patient had 10 pound weight loss between procedures

After ten years of experience with fat grafting to the breast using his specific technique, Dr. Sydney Coleman began presenting his results at plastic surgery meetings in 2005.  Perhaps the most pivotal presentation by Dr. Coleman was in 2006 at the American Association of Plastic Surgery.  His impressive long-term results resulted in an active discussion in the Plastic Surgery world on the use of fat grafting in the breast.

The American Society of Plastic Surgery had previously directed plastic surgeons to avoid placing fat in the breast due to safety and outcome issues.  Dr. Coleman and others demonstrated that the original concerns were not based in any scientific evidence, and instead the evidence was in support of fat grafting to the breast.

As a result of Dr. Coleman’s many presentations, he was able to persuade Roxanne Guy, then president of the American Society of Plastic Surgery, to form a task force of plastic surgeons to revisit the issue of fat grafting to the breast.  The task force began meeting in September 2007.  “The task force reviewed the scientific literature, critically appraised the information available, and developed evidence based practice recommendations.  The findings of the task force were then submitted to an approved without significant change by the American Society of Plastic Surgery and the Plastic Surgery Educational Foundation executive committees.

The recommendations indicated that “Fat Grafting may be considered for breast augmentation and correction of defects associated with medical conditions and previous breast surgeries.” The society also indicated that people should proceed cautiously because “results are dependent on technique and surgical expertise” as in every other surgical procedure.

Subsequent posts over the next few days will address the other findings of the American Society of Plastic Surgery’s task force on fat grafting to the breast.  Stay Tuned!

Before (left) and seven years after (right) one fat placement of 190 ml on the right side and 245 ml on the left.  Note the filling of the "cleavage" area and the very natural appearance (and feel) of the breast

Before (left) and seven years after (right) one fat placement of 190 ml on the right side and 245 ml on the left. Note the filling of the "cleavage" area and the very natural appearance (and feel) of the breast

For more detailed information about fat grafting to the breast, please refer to LipoStructure.com.

For information on the consultation, procedure and pricing for Dr. Coleman’s fat grafting to the breast CLICK HERE.

Check out these links more information on fat grafting to the breasts:

Dr. Sydney Coleman demonstrates Breast Reconstruction with LipoStructure on The Doctors

Coleman lectures on fat grafting for breast reconstruction at the American College of Surgeons

Lipofilling: a role in breast reconstruction surgery??From “Behind the Medical Headlines” produced by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow

Breast Augmentation Via Fat Grafting?From “Plastic Surgery Practice”

Breast Implant Problems Solved with Coleman Fat Grafting

Fat Grafting to the Breast Revisited: Safety and Efficacy.?Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. 119(3):775-785, March 2007.?Coleman, Sydney R. M.D.; Saboeiro, Alesia P. M.D.

© Coleman 2009

26
February
2009

Dr. Sydney Coleman demonstrates Breast Reconstruction with LipoStructure on The Doctors0

THE DOCTORS television show followed a patient of Dr. Sydney Coleman’s through her breast reconstruction after breast cancer. She had already had a lumpectomy, radiation therapy and multiple reconstructive procedures. Dr. Coleman reconstructed not only the hard, scarred area of the lumpectomy but also placed fat around her hard implants in an effort to soften them. He also treated the opposite breast that had been left with an abnormal shape after a breast lift.

In the segment, Dr. Coleman explains how LipoStructure differs from liposuction and then he simulates the steps of the procedure live on the show. Liposuction is the procedure in which fat is removed from beneath the skin through hollow tube connected to a source of suctioning. On the other hand LipoStructure is a type of fat grafting procedure in which the fat tissue is removed from one area and placed back into an area in which there is something missing.

LipoStructure is a trademarked word, which describes the procedure Dr. Coleman developed.

The first step of LipoStructure is to harvest the fat using a syringe. On the set of The Doctors, Dr. Coleman demonstrated the first step of LipoStructure by placing a blunt needle connected to a syringe into simulated fat. Then by placing a gentle suction on the syringe with his hand, Dr. Coleman was able to suction the simulated fat up into the syringe.

Dr. Coleman then demonstrated the placement of fatty tissue using a clear plastic model. Through one entrance site in the plastic mold, the audience can clearly see Dr. Coleman move the blunt needle back and forth fanning over a large area to demonstrate the method in which he normally places fat into the human body.

After the demonstration of fat grafting, The Doctors reenacted the life of one patient “Kathy” from the time she discovered her breast cancer through multiple cancer and reconstructive surgeries that she said left her horribly scarred and disfigured. After extensive research she was able to find Dr. Coleman. The Doctors television show filmed Kathy’s preparation for surgery and then the entire surgery by Dr. Coleman in New York City.

A brief excerpt from the show can be viewed on The Doctor’s website if you click here.

Patient Kathy with pixilated nipples

Toward the end of the television segment, Kathy sat in the procedure room two weeks after her operation and updated Dr. Ordon and Dr. Coleman on her recovery. She said that in a short amount of time she was able to perform routine chores, go shopping and lift her grandchildren. She announced that her scars had faded dramatically and she feels great.

Dr. Coleman’s LipoStructure technique not only changes the shape and size of your breast, but it can take years off your face! On the show, Dr. Travis shows before-and-after photos of another patient. Nearly four years after her surgery, she still retains an amazingly youthful appearance. LipoStructure also can restore a youthful appearance to your hands Dr. Travis says. He displayed a picture of a gnarled hand. The same hand eight years after LipoStructure had a youthful, smooth texture.

This technique is used not only for breast reconstruction, but also creating a bigger buttock or treating liposuction deformities. On the face it can be used for strengthening a jaw-line, making pouty lips, correcting nose surgeries, and even treating birth defects.

__________________________________________________________________________

For more detailed information about fat grafting to the breast, please refer to LipoStructure.com.

For information on the consultation, procedure and pricing for Dr. Coleman’s fat grafting to the breast CLICK HERE.

Check out these links more information on fat grafting to the breasts:

Coleman lectures on fat grafting for breast reconstruction at the American College of Surgeons

Lipofilling: a role in breast reconstruction surgery??
From “Behind the Medical Headlines” produced by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow

Breast Augmentation Via Fat Grafting?
From “Plastic Surgery Practice”

Breast Implant Problems Solved with Coleman Fat Grafting

Tuberous Breast Deformity Corrected with Coleman Structural Fat Grafting

LipoStructure for Breasts

Fat Grafting to the Breast Revisited: Safety and Efficacy.?
Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. 119(3): 775-785, March 2007. ?Coleman, Sydney R. M.D.; Saboeiro, Alesia P. M.D.

And just published…
Fat Injection: From Filling to Regeneration

© Coleman 2008

16
October
2008

Coleman lectures on fat grafting for breast reconstruction at the American College of Surgeons0

Sydney Coleman presented his experience with breast reconstruction using LipoStructure® at the American College of Surgeons Annual Meeting this week in San Francisco.  In the section Reconstruction & Breast Cancer:  Techniques & Approaches to Optimize Outcomes in Reconstruction after Partial & Total Mastectomy, Dr. Coleman gave a lecture “Fat Grafting in Breast Reconstruction.”  During the lecture, he recounted his twelve-year experience with fat grafting in breast reconstruction.  Of particular importance, the effect of grafted fat to reverse the problems of therapeutic irradiation and hard breast implants was presented.

Dr. Coleman began his lecture by discussing a lumpectomy patient (above leaning forward) who had a lumpectomy on her left breast followed by six weeks of therapeutic radiation.  A few months after the treatment, she developed severe pain and hardening of her breast.  Her treated breast became so hard that mammograms were not possible, and she had to have MRI’s instead.  She could barely raise her arms over her head without encountering shooting pain.

When the patient returned at 2 weeks (above) she was amazed at how rapid her recovery had been.  She also commented that her shooting pains in the site of the radiation were notably less.  When she returned at 6 weeks, she said that the pain had almost completely disappeared, and the hard areas of her breast were much softer.  At 13 weeks, she went to see her surgical oncologist, who was so impressed by the softness of her breast that she went ahead and ordered a mammogram, which was now easy on a soft, painless breast.  She returned at 7 months ready now for a second procedure this procedure aimed this time at adjusting the contour of the breast.

Dr. Coleman explained that after conservative breast therapy for cancer (lumpectomy followed by irradiation), a woman is left with a defect that is often difficult to reconstruct.  Therapeutic radiation is a critical component of breast conservation treatment to decrease the possibility of the cancer returning near the site of the original cancer. Unfortunately, radiation combined with a saline or silicone gel-filled implant remarkably increases the incidence of scarred or hard breasts (breast capsular contracture), infection and rejection of the silicone implant.  Therefore, placement of an implant in these conditions often results in a poor cosmetic result.  Putting fat to a breast after lumpectomy and irradiation not only restores the breast by adding volume and reshaping the breast, but also promotes the in creation of a blood supply and the healing of the radiation damaged breast. This effect also occurs in the face after treatments with radiation (see facial reconstruction) and may also be similar to the effect of fat grafting on sun damaged skin (see progressive improvement in skin quality after fat grafting).

Dr. Coleman concluded his lecture with the comment that long-term studies still need to be completed. He is currently working with other plastic surgeons, oncologists and radiologists at NYU to develop a multi-center prospective study examining the use of fat grafting in the breast.

For more detailed information about fat grafting to the breast, please refer to LipoStructure.com.

For information on the consultation, procedure and pricing for Dr. Coleman’s fat grafting to the breast CLICK HERE.

Related articles:

Lipofilling: a role in breast reconstruction surgery?
From “Behind the Medical Headlines” produced by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow

Breast Augmentation Via Fat Grafting
From “Plastic Surgery Practice”

Breast Implant Problems Solved with Coleman Fat Grafting

Fat Grafting to the Breast Revisited: Safety and Efficacy.
Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. 119(3):775-785, March 2007.
Coleman, Sydney R. M.D.; Saboeiro, Alesia P. M.D.

© Coleman 2008

20
August
2008

Stem Cells and Breast Surgery0

Rhonda Rundle of the Wall Street Journal today wrote an article entitled “Stem Cells and Breast Surgery” in which they discuss the process of “super-charging” fat grafts with stem cells and other factors by a special processing method. This process has been developed for commercial use by Cytori Therapeutics. Ms. Rundle does a nice job of explaining the process and the controversy.

She used the diagram below from Peter Rubin of the University of Pittsburgh, recent recipient of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE).   I think that the diagram is helpful in understanding this process. Click on the image to open up the diagram in another window.

More discussion of this the impact of stem cells on fat grafting and breast surgery will appear in future posts.

13
August
2008

Tuberous Breast Deformity Corrected with Coleman Structural Fat Grafting0

The degree of sculpting possible with structural fat grafting to the breast is particularly advantageous in the challenging correction of tuberous breast deformity.  The tuberous breast is a deformity in which the lower skin of the breast (the lower pole) is abnormally constricted (tight) and short.  In addition, the normal fold of the breast (the inframammary fold) is higher that it would be under the normal breast.  These two combined make the breast shape distinctly abnormal, and prevents the fluid roundness of a normal breast.  In the more problematic cases, the tightness of the lower breast makes the nipple and areola appear much larger and more puffy than in a normal breast.  treatment for this problem using structural fat was first described in the journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery last year by Coleman.

In the case below, the skin envelope of the breast was selectively expanded with fat placed immediately beneath the skin. No fat was placed under the central breast (the nipple-areola complex).  This changed the relative proportions of the breast creating a natural appearing and shapely “A cup” after one procedure (see below).  The patient desired larger breasts after the first correction, so further augmentation with fat grafting was performed (see below) to bring her up to a “B-cup.”

The time requirement of such a fat grafting procedure should not be underestimated.  The time to harvest, refine, and place fat into the breasts in this fashion will take many hours.  In the patient shown placement of fatty tissue into the breasts took about seven hours for the first procedure and five hours for the second. The reward of the time and effort is a dramatic change, which is much more natural than if implants had been used.  Fat grafting for correction of tuberous deformity leaves the patient with natural appearing, normal breasts.  As with any breast procedure, patients must be aware of the potential risks and complications of fat grafting to the breast.

Tuberous Breast corrected with fat grafting profile view

28-year old woman with a bilateral tuberous breast deformity before any procedures(left ).  Result after first fat grafting procedure with placement of 370cc on left and 380cc on right (middle).  Photo on the right was taken at almost 5 years after the second fat grafting procedure in which 300cc was placed into the left breast and 340cc into the right.

Long-term studies still need to be completed. Dr. Coleman is currently working with other plastic surgeons, oncologists and radiologists at NYU to develop a multi-center prospective study examining the use of fat grafting in the breast.

For more detailed information about fat grafting to the breast, please refer to LipoStructure.com.

For information on the consultation, procedure and pricing for Dr. Coleman’s fat grafting to the breast CLICK HERE.

TO SEE ANOTHER TUBEROUS BREAST RECONSTRUCTION BY DR. COLEMAN, PLEASE CLICK HERE.


For more details about fat grafting to the breasts, please refer to the article in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

© Coleman 2008