Can Belly Fat Be Used for Breast Reconstruction?

Woman pinching excess belly fatInstead of using implants, autologous breast reconstruction procedures take a flap of tissue from another part of the body to rebuild a breast mound. Historically, surgeons have relocated skin, fat, and sometimes muscle from places like the inner thigh (TUG Flap), the back (Latissimus Flap), or the buttock area (SGAP Flap).

Today, the most common donor site is the lower belly. Excess belly fat can be used for breast reconstruction to create results that look and feel natural.

Many patients have sufficient excess fat in this area to use for the procedure. And when the fat is removed, in a similar manner to a tummy tuck, patients experience the added benefit of a slimmer waistline.

This method of autologous breast reconstruction is known as DIEP Flap. It is a muscle-sparing technique that, compared to other flap methods, preserves the integrity and strength of your abdominal wall. It also requires a shorter recovery.

For these reasons, DIEP Flap is our preferred technique at The Breast Center Park Meadows Cosmetic Surgery. We recommend it to all eligible patients who are interested in autologous reconstruction.

Why You Should Choose Our Breast Reconstruction Surgeons

DIEP Flap takes a high degree of skill to complete. This means that very few surgeons offer it.

Roughly 60 surgeons (less than 5% of all plastic surgeons) in the United States perform this procedure. We are proud to have two surgeons on our team who are well versed in the DIEP Flap approach.

Our team works hard to make the entire process easy on you. At The Breast Center Park Meadows Cosmetic Surgery, 95% of our patients are discharged from the hospital two days after their procedure. This is shorter than the four or five day stay that is standard elsewhere. Additionally, our DIEP flap failure rate is less than 1%, well below the national average.

Schedule a Consultation in Lone Tree

Many women choose to use belly fat for their breast reconstruction. Learn if this approach is right for you during a consultation. Call 303-706-1100 today to schedule a visit to our office. We serve patients from Denver and Lone Tree, Colorado, as well as across the nation.

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