EXPERT ANALYSIS FROM WCD 2015
VANCOUVER, B.C. (FRONTLINE MEDICAL NEWS) – Serial small-volume fat transfer via liposuction is a novel, safe, and economical breast-augmentation procedure with high patient satisfaction, Dr. Barry A.S. Lycka said at the World Congress of Dermatology.
SVELT, an acronym for Serial Small-Volume Elective Lipo Transfer, offers women who are interested in breast augmentation but leery of silicone implants or other foreign materials the appealing prospect of removing unwanted fat from donor sites on their thighs, abdomen, and flanks and transferring it to their breasts, according to Dr. Lycka , a cosmetic dermatologist in private practice and at the University of Alberta, Edmonton.
He developed the office-based procedure together with Dr. Daryl K. Hoffman, a plastic surgeon at Stanford (Calif.) University.
The traditional criticisms of fat augmentation of the breasts are that it can result in fat necrosis, resorption, and/or calcification and that it makes mammographic detection of breast cancer more difficult. These complications, however, typically result from transfer of large quantities of fat, trauma inflicted upon the harvested cells, and imprecise placement of the transferred material.
SVELT sidesteps these issues by harvesting small volumes, typically 100 cc or less, under sterile tumescent anesthesia. The material is purified and then carefully injected into the dermal plane above the breast tissue. Downtime is brief. After several sessions spaced weeks apart, the result is a natural-looking and -feeling breast that is typically one cup size larger than pretreatment, according to the dermatologist.
Dr. Lycka reported on 130 patients who underwent SVELT performed by him or Dr. Hoffman. Fat resorption was minimal. Patients gave the procedure and its outcomes high marks. Complications were limited to three patients who developed small nodules that showed evidence of fat necrosis upon biopsy.
To dermatologists interested in adopting SVELT, Dr. Lycka emphasized that patient selection is critical: This is not a procedure for women who want to dramatically increase their breast size. Adequate viable fat at the donor sites is a must. Careful placement of the transferred material in the dermal plane above the breast tissue is essential. And the patient must always get a mammogram before undergoing SVELT.
