Breast reconstruction with your own fat
In a total breast reconstruction with your own fat, I build up a new breast over a number of treatments, layer by layer. No implant is needed and there are no large new scars. I worked on the BREAST trials I and II, the Dutch research into this technique, and I am now involved in the follow-up studies.
Where:Alexander Monro Hospital, Bilthoven
At a glance
- Duration
- 1.5 to 2.5 hours per session
- Anaesthesia
- General anaesthetic
- Hospital stay
- Day surgery
- Stages
- Several sessions, a few months apart
- Insurance
- Basic health insurance in certain situations
Who is it for?
- You have had a mastectomy and would like a reconstruction without an implant
- You have fat somewhere on your body that can be used
- You can fit several smaller procedures into your life
- You do not smoke, because the fat does not take well in smokers
The procedure
Before each treatment, the skin is sometimes prepared with a suction device that gently stretches it. This creates room for the fat.
I then remove fat, purify it and inject it in thin layers where the breast will be.
After each round, part of the fat takes. That is why several sessions are needed, a few months apart.
Recovery, step by step
After each session
A few days of rest. Bruising where the fat was removed, and compression garments.
Week 2
Moving normally again. Preparing the skin for the next round, as agreed.
Between sessions
The fat takes. After a few months, the next round follows.
Final result
A soft breast made of your own tissue, where sensation often recovers better than with an implant.
This is a general guide. We will discuss your own recovery time in the consultation.
Risks and complications
Care matters in every surgical treatment. Complications cannot always be prevented, but we do everything we can to keep the risks as small as possible.
In the consultation I take the time to explain what you can expect from the treatment and which risks may be involved. That way you can make a well-informed, confident choice that is right for you.
- Bleeding after the operation or bruising
- Wound infection
- Slow wound healing
- Scars that stay thick or red
- Firm lumps or oil cysts in the fat
- More sessions needed than planned
- Not suitable if you have too little fat or after certain types of radiotherapy
You can also read the official information from the Dutch Society for Plastic Surgery (NVPC). It is only available in Dutch:
In the consultation I always explain this further, in English if you prefer.
Insurance cover
Partly thanks to the BREAST trial, reconstruction with your own fat is covered by the Dutch basic health insurance (basisverzekering) in certain situations. I will discuss with you whether that applies to you.
Frequently asked questions
What did the BREAST trial show?
In this Dutch study of 193 women in 7 hospitals, women who had a reconstruction with their own fat had a higher quality of life than women with implants. No evidence was found that the technique is unsafe.
How many treatments will I need?
That varies from woman to woman and depends on the size of the breast and your skin. After the first consultation I can give you an estimate.
Will I have feeling in the new breast?
Research from the BREAST trial shows that sensation often returns better after a reconstruction with your own fat than after one with implants.
A good conversation is the first step.
In the consultation I take the time to answer your questions. You go home with honest advice and no obligation.