Anyone have fat necrosis after breast reconstruction?

@laparker, welcome. As you probably know, fat necrosis is a benign (not cancer) condition that most commonly develops after an injury or trauma to the breast tissue, like surgery or radiation. A lump can form if an area of fatty breast tissue is damaged, for example during a biopsy or surgery. Necrosis is a medical term that describes damaged or dead tissue. But heck, justing hearing the words lump, trauma and damage can send one into a tailspin, right?

As @tessspike shared, sometimes it will be removed to make sure the lump is fat necrosis. Oten no treatment is necessary because it will go away on its own. @trixie1313 and @char820 may have experiences to add.

Laparker, when did you discover the fat necrosis? Has the surgeon suggested observing it or removal?

@bluebird70, was necrosis mentioned as a possibility in your case?

Hi @colleenyoung. Yes he mentioned necrosis, mentioned could be something was left behind from surgery, and that it was suspicious enough to warrant the biopsy. They will do the needle first to see if they can draw fluid from it and if not then the biopsy. He said I would not have found it myself it was the ultra sound that picked it up. He said it was about 6 cm. My original cancer was 2 cm Invasive ductile cancer and very close to the chest wall and grade 3 with no lymph node involvement. My onco score was 51. I am still trying to keep a positive attitude here. Can’t do anything about it until it slaps you in the face🙂. I will keep you posted. Not sure how long it will take to get the results? I am in Canada 🇨🇦

I was diagnosed with far necrosis and haven’t had surgery or an injury? I was given antibiotics but they didn’t seem to work? Any advice? I did have a biopsy done and there thankfully no cancer! Will this eventually lead to cancer?

I have a large amount of fat necrosis in both breasts after my lumpectomy in the right one and the following reduction in both. I’m told they aren’t problematic but I’d like more information and assessment.
Jas

Yes, I had a diet flap surgery 4/30/24 and at my appt today that is what they determined it was in one breast. I was told to massage it and when I have phase 2 reconstruction the MD will try to remove it via cannula/suction vs re cut breast incisions to remove.

Yes I had it. I felt a small but hard lump just a week before my expander and implant exchange. Breast cancer surgeon did ultrasound the DAY of my surgery and asked my reconstruction surgeon to remove it.

Right now, months later, I feel sore lumps in my lympth node area. My onc thinks it's fat necrosis again. She must think it's somethibg i have to live w because she didn't give me any advice to help it feel better. I see breast surgeon in July so I'll be asking her about it. Hoping she will do ultrasound to put my mind at ease.

I had this also-onco and breast surgeon gave no solutions. Plastic surgeon told me to massage and use warm compresses. It finally started breaking up and now after a year and a half is gone. Hope this helps. Take car🌹

Hi I have it on my left upper breast area after fat grafting and implant exchange surgery end of February. So far I've been told not to massage it by my reconstruction team- it may break down by itself or if not they can remove it. My breast surgeon also checked it this week and said it's very common especially on the cancer side (left breast). So for now nothing to do. I have next review in August with plastics and I'm going to ask about getting a second fat grafting surgery to pump up left a bit and if we remove the fat necoris then.

I went to a traveling van ultrasound service (HerScan) on the one year anniversary of my surgery (1/27/2023). It found something. I was told to go to the oncologist and did and it was fat necrosis, which was a relief. Nothing more needed to be done.

I completed treatment for triple negative BC four and a half years ago-chemo, lumpectomy and radiation. I developed necrosis right away and it has not gone away so I don’t think it ever will. I am nearly 72 now and don’t mind the divot or lumpiness in my breast as far as aesthetics, but the concern is that it always feels like something could be wrong. I’ve expressed to my oncologist that I would be unable to determine if a lump is one that needs to be addressed. Many times the spots fell tender or sore.

I have a three D mammogram coming up and am always concerned at these times, mostly because of the fat necrosis.

Best wishes to all,
Cindy