What's the best breast filler for a breast reconstruction? my surgeon is going to use a lat flap for my breast reconstruction, and he said i'll also need either implants or fat grafting to fill out the breast. is one better than the other?

Fat : Fat grafting can be used to improve the results of breast reconstruction with flaps and implants. There are really no other fillers that would be indicated for this treatment. Dr. Edwards.

Fat or implants: To add volume to a breast, you need to use either tissue from your body or an implant. The fat can be taken with its own blood supply like a flap or without blood supply like fat grafting. Fat grafting sometimes needs multiple procedures if a large volume is needed. One isn't necessarily better than the other, it comes down to patient preference and the volume needed.

Depends: In your situation- a latissimus flap always requires a implant to create a breast. Fat grafting can be done around the reconstruction to fill in concavities or improve shape. Reconstruction can be done with fat only - however it is unpredictable and requires multiple procedures. Flaps such as diep or sgap are great procedures that borrow your own tissues. Consult with your plastic surgeon.

Several options: Skin and tissue from the back (latissimus dorsi flap), from the abdomen ( tram or diep flaps), buttock (gluteal flap) and other more obscure flaps are options. The best option is determined by an exam and discussion with your plastic surgeon who knows all the options and can inform you why one is the best option compared to the other options.

Many options: Options for breast reconstruction are vast today. And there is no single "best" reconstructive procedure. All of the individual details of a patients circumstances need to be evaluated to determine the best procedure. Many times a flap or an implant based recon can be improved with the addition of fat transfer.