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Breast Cancer... Breast Cancer... Breast Cancer... Breast Cancer...

A New Approach to Post-Cancer Breast Reconstructive Surgery

Fat grafting combined with abdominal etching gives women confidence after cancer

BY JOANNA NARVAEZ JAMA Surgery, nearly half and pulled from other areas of the the appearance of one’s waistline and cre-
of women diagnosed with patient’s body such as the stomach, ate “six-pack” abdominal muscles.
The last thing Rachelle early-stage breast cancer thighs, arms, and love handles to help “Abdominal etching is actually a very
Duchatelier expected to consider having a double recreate the breasts to look and feel as simple procedure to perform, especially
hear from her doctor when mastectomy and one in natural as possible. for someone like Rachelle since we were
she went for a routine six – about 17% - follow “The one thing many patients like already working in that area anyway,”
gynecological exam was through with the surgery. about fat grafting is that the fat harvest said Dr. Lampert. “With abdominal etch-
that she had a lump in one For Rachelle, it was site often allows for body contouring ing, we remove fat deposits in an
of her breasts. At 38 years peace of mind and her similar to liposuction,” said Dr. Lampert. advanced and strategic way to mold and
old, breast cancer was the then 18-year old son that “Unlike some other reconstructive pro- shape the abdominal wall so that your ab
furthest thing from her motivated her to go this cedures, the fat donor site often looks muscles look more prominent.”
mind. She had no family route. better afterwards.” “I am someone who likes to exercise so
history of the disease and “I didn’t want to have to “The fat is artistically injected into the the etching, for me, was just a plus,” said
was feeling fine; but that wear a prosthetic bra,” areas of soft tissue that we want to add Rachelle. “It was something exciting for
day would change her life. Dr. Joshua Lampert, recon- says Rachelle. “I wanted volume to,” Dr. Lampert explained. “It is me to look forward to and another way
After having a mammo- structive and plastic sur- to turn a negative situa- also very useful to inject the fat under to help me feel like I was looking my best
gram performed, Rachelle geon in Aventura, Florida. tion into a positive one.” scar depressions after tumor excision after having gone through breast cancer.”
received the news that she, Like most if not all surgery. Rachelle underwent three surgeries to
indeed, had cancer in her left breast. women who experience a double mastec- “Out of all the doctors I had spoken to correct her prior botched implant sur-
“It was at that moment that I said to tomy, Rachelle then underwent recon- before I found Dr. Lampert, none of them gery, undergo the fat grafting, injecting of
myself, I will be the survivor,” says structive breast implant surgery. How - were able to do the fat transfer to the fat to create natural-looking breasts, and
Rachelle. “Fortunately, I was able to ever, the initial procedure she had was breasts,” said Rachelle. “With him, I saw the abdominal etching.
catch this early and avoid chemotherapy not done correctly. that I had the possibility to have my “My recovery time was optimal. I was
and radiation.” “My breasts came out uneven and were breasts look good as I grew older. able to return to work within three
Oncologists told Rachelle they would hurting. It turns out one of my implants Regaining that self confidence and being weeks,” says Rachelle. “I am so grateful
have to surgically remove 70% of her left had flipped over,” said Rachelle. happy with the way I looked was impor- that I found Dr. Lampert who was not
breast. However, wanting to avoid any It was at that point that a friend who tant to me after everything I had experi- only able to give me a better body than
further risks, Rachelle decided to have a had gone through her own breast cancer enced.” when I started but, more importantly, the
double mastectomy, a surgical procedure journey recommended that Rachelle visit Rachelle was able to harvest fat from confidence to live the life that was given
undergone by women who have been Dr. Joshua Lampert, reconstructive and her abdominal area in order to recreate back to me.”
diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer plastic surgeon in Aventura, Florida. her breasts. Since Dr. Lampert was
to remove both the cancerous breast and Dr. Lampert was able to utilize a dis- already working in that area, he offered
the healthy breast to avoid cancer devel- tinct and innovative procedure called fat Rachelle the opportunity to also undergo For more information about Dr. Joshua
oping in the remaining breast later on. grafting to help reconstruct Rachelle’s abdominal etching. This allows for the Lampert, call (786) 735-9275
According to a study published in breasts. In this approach, fat is harvested abdominal area to be sculpted to enhance or visit lampertmd.com.

South Florida Hospital News southfloridahospitalnews.com October 2020 15