Liposuction Used By Cancer Patients For Breast Reconstructive Surgery
October 8th, 2009 | 
Author: Cancer patients are now able to have breast reconstruction after surgery with a new form of liposuction. Ten cancer patients at Singleton Hospital in Swansea located in Wales are the first to benefit from this new procedure.
Fat is taken from around the stomach or thighs and processed with a new machine, which uses stem cells to help the fat survive.
The fat is then re-injected into the body where the original tumour was removed from the breast.
The new procedure is only available at a few centers in the UK. This new liposuction procedure is less invasive than traditional breast reconstructive surgery which is a major operation involving a stay of several days in the hospital.
Samantha Ward Jones first patient to use liposuction for reconstructive breast surgery
Samantha Ward-Jones, 39, who wanted to repair damage from the removal of a tumour from her breast two years ago, was the first of the patients at Singleton to have the treatment.
“To be able to be part of something so new and so revolutionary was just very exciting,” said Ms Ward-Jones. “I felt it was the end of a bad period in my life and something positive.”
“It was a very hard thing to have breast cancer and have the operation and have the tumour removed,” she adds.
“To feel whole again and feel back to normal like I was two years ago is incredible.”
According to consultant oncoplastic surgeon Nader Khonji, the new technique has a higher success rate because of the innovative use of stem and regenerative cells from the fat.
“The fat that’s removed is put into the machine for processing,” Mr Khonji explained.
“This machine uses a special enzyme to break down the tissue and spins it to concentrate the stem cells – the crucial cells that contain growth factors for the new growth of blood vessels.”
Those cells are then mixed back in remaining fat and re-injected into the breast a far quicker procedure than conventional breast reconstruction, which involves moving muscle tissue from the patient’s back.
Shirley Redden, who also underwent the procedure, said: “It’s about self-esteem.”
Mrs Redden, who wanted breast reconstruction following a lumpectomy two years ago, said: “I might be older, but I’ve still got pride.
“I’m hoping this will help make me feel better and get over the trauma of treatment. When it is done, I’ll feel like a woman again.”
If treatment of the first 10 patients continues to be successful, it is hoped that the new procedure can be developed in the future for patients needing whole breast reconstruction after mastectomy, instead of using conventional implants.
Hywel Griffith BBC Wales health correspondent contributed to this story.
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Hi there
my mum had a masectomy 4 years ago.
and is wanting to have a reconstruction, she is book in to have the procedure that is most common, channeling the stomach fat up to the breast.
But has heard about this procedure and is very interested as it is less invasive and a shorter recovery period, so i was wandering if there is any way she can find out more information, or if there is anyone she cant contact to ask about the procedure?
many thanks
sophie
I had double mastectomy 2007 with implants but had loads of problems after. I have just had surgery to remove implants and have tissue from my back to make breasts this was three months ago. I am very upset at the moment because i am still not very even i am putting a bit of padding in the left side to make me look more normal in clothes. I saw my surgeon last week and he doesn’t think there is any more he can do for me. I had this done because i have a brca2 gene and i know i will not get breast cancer but i still feel this gene has ruined my life i am 52 years old my husband is a great person and i love him to bits but i can not sleep naked any more he does not understand that it is because of me and not him. is there any way of finding out more about liposuction to see if this would help me.
My sister-in-law underwent a breast removal surgery after being diagnosed stage 2 borderline 3. Initial lumpectomy followed by bilateral mastectomy, 4 rounds chemo , oophorectomy, delayed reconstruction (tissue expanders replaced with saline implants), Arimidex. Can she now have a breast reconstruction surgery without any on-time and future complications?