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[Column] Restoration of Sunken Breasts After Implant Removal Possible with 'Stem Cell Breast Fat Grafting'

By 2019-07-04No Comments

Shin Dong-jin, Director of SC301 Clinic


Many women live with concerns about the abnormally deformed shape of their breasts after implant removal. Statistically, it is known that about 20 to 40 percent of women who have had breast implants undergo implant removal surgery about 10 years later due to capsular contracture, rupture, or aesthetic issues.

Implants have the advantage of allowing breast volume to be increased to the desired level regardless of body type. However, despite advancements in materials, it is unavoidable that the artificial appearance is more pronounced compared to autologous fat grafting or stem cell breast augmentation. Furthermore, the potential for various medical problems, such as capsular contracture or rupture, remains.

In particular, the empty space remaining after the implants are removed causes breast sagging. When implants are inserted into the breasts, the human body recognizes them as foreign substances and forms a hard capsule to protect body tissues from them. Over time, this capsule hardens, which can lead to capsular contracture.

Meanwhile, even if the implants are removed, the capsule remains. In particular, the capsules adhere to each other to fill the empty spaces between the implants, causing the breasts to become flattened over time. If the hardened capsule were to disappear, the breast tissue would soften and the flattened breast structure would be alleviated; however, once formed, the capsule does not easily vanish, causing concern for many women.

Currently, the only way to resolve the aesthetic damage to the breasts resulting from implant removal is through revision surgery. Revision surgery is performed by re-implanting implants or injecting autologous fat to restore lost volume.

Most women who have had breast implants removed due to rupture or capsular contracture likely feel reluctant about reinsertion. From a medical perspective, reinsertion is also not recommended as it can worsen symptoms caused by the implants. Therefore, if you have had implants removed, I recommend using your own fat whenever possible to naturally restore lost volume.

In particular, stem cell breast augmentation using adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) can be effective when considering autologous fat grafting, as it can soften the capsule and maximize the survival rate of the transplanted autologous fat.

Stem cells produce new somatic cells through heterogeneous differentiation that can replace body tissues that have lost their function due to damage, aging, or deformation caused by external stimuli. They also induce the healing and activation of existing somatic cells by secreting various growth factors such as SDF-1α, PDGF, TGF-β1, and VEGF.

In particular, when stem cells are mixed and injected during breast autologous fat grafting, they induce the growth of blood vessels between separated fat cells, thereby aiding in the reorganization of fat cells. According to three international papers published by the author, the survival rate of fat cells in stem cell breast augmentation is known to reach an average of 76%, compared to 10–20% in simple fat grafting.

Therefore, stem cell breast augmentation can be an effective alternative for breast revision surgery after implant removal.

Of course, there may be limitations in expanding breast volume as significantly as with implants, but for women who are determined to safely and naturally reclaim their own breasts, stem cell breast augmentation offers the potential benefits of restoring an appropriate level of volume and reconstructing deformed breast capsules.

However, for successful stem cell breast augmentation, it is essential to properly extract fat cells and stem cells using proven specialized equipment, and then inject an appropriate level of stem cells in a single procedure using a cell counter. Furthermore, since the procedure requires the know-how to transplant fat evenly while considering blood circulation in the recipient area, it is crucial to find a hospital equipped with the necessary specialized equipment and medical staff possessing the necessary expertise.

Written by: Shin Dong-jin, Chief Director of SC301 Clinic

Source: NewsPoint (http://www.pointn.net)