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. 2016 Nov 28;4(11):e1059.
doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000001059. eCollection 2016 Nov.

Primary Fat Grafting to the Pectoralis Muscle during Latissimus Dorsi Breast Reconstruction

Jeremy Niddam  1 , Luciano Vidal  1 , Barbara Hersant  1 , Jean Paul Meningaud  1
Affiliations

Primary Fat Grafting to the Pectoralis Muscle during Latissimus Dorsi Breast Reconstruction

Jeremy Niddam et al. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. .

Abstract

Background: Latissimus dorsi flap is one of the best options for immediate and delayed breast reconstruction. However, this technique is limited by the tissue volume provided by the flap. To improve breast volume while reducing complications, fat grafting is now very often used in addition to latissimus dorsi flap. To the best of our knowledge, fat grafting was always performed as a second-line surgery, at least a few months after the flap procedure. We aimed to report our experience with an associated breast reconstruction technique combining musculocutaneous latissimus dorsi flap with intrapectoral lipofilling for totally autologous breast reconstruction.

Methods: Between September 2014 and January 2015, 20 patients underwent this technique for unilateral autologous breast reconstruction (14 delayed and 6 immediate breast reconstructions). A mean harvested fat volume of 278 ml (range: 190-350 ml) and a mean injected fat volume of 228 ml (range: 170-280 ml) were used.

Results: None of the patients experienced complications, such as flap necrosis, breast skin necrosis, hematomas, or infection. One of the patients developed a seroma, which was treated with 3 drainage punctions. Only 2 patients underwent delayed fat grafting procedure.

Conclusion: Totally autologous breast reconstruction combining latissimus dorsi flap and intrapectoral fat grafting in the same procedure is a new technique allowing increased breast volume in a single surgery.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Fat graft in the major pectoralis muscle.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Fat graft in the serratus anterior muscle.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
A 45-year-old woman who underwent skin-sparing right mastectomy and immediate major pectoralis fat graft associated with latissimus dorsi flap reconstruction. Preoperative frontal view.
Fig. 4.
Fig. 4.
Eight-month postoperative frontal view.
Fig. 5.
Fig. 5.
A 57-year-old woman who underwent right mastectomy and delayed breast reconstruction with major pectoralis fat graft combined with a latissimus dorsi flap. Preoperative frontal view.
Fig. 6.
Fig. 6.
Six-month postoperative frontal view.
Fig. 7.
Fig. 7.
Lateral view.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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