PhD conferral Mr Jan-Willem Groen, MSc.

Keywords: breast reconstruction, fat transplantation, scarring, cosmetics

"Effectiveness and Safety of Autologous Fat Transfer in Various Treatment Protocols"

Despite previous misconceptions, lipofilling is a safe and effective alternative in breast reconstruction surgery. This study explores the efficiency and safety of lipofilling as an addition or alternative to existing forms of breast reconstruction following breast cancer, which is still the most common form of cancer among women worldwide.  

Restoring the shape of a breast as best as possible following full or partial removal can considerably improve quality of life. There are many types of breast reconstruction, with the vast majority of surgeries relying on a silicone prosthesis or body tissue. These procedures are not without risk (due to the foreign objects involved and the duration and complexity of the operation itself), which is why the field of plastic surgery is always looking for new and patient-friendly alternatives. 

This promising technique – which involves harvesting, processing and transplanting the patient's own body fat – can be used for different purposes. The clinical trials found that lipofilling does not increase the recurrence risk of breast cancer.

The research was sponsored in part by the VieCuri MUMC Science Grant.