Feasibility and aesthetic outcomes of immediate fat-augmented latissimus dorsi (FALD) flap reconstruction post-mastectomy: a prospective cohort study from a tertiary breast centre
Teoh LY., See MH., Lim YC., Alya SA., Lai LL., Jamaris S.
Cohort Study with a reported sample of 23, published in Gland Surg (2026) — summary generated from the PubMed abstract.
Early human evidence such as case series or small samples is exploring possible benefits.
- Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
- Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
- Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
- Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
- Emerging · Emerging topic under active research
This page is generated from the PubMed record. The Thai description is an automated summary of bibliographic fields and the abstract, not a full translation, and is not medical advice.
- Study type
- Cohort Study
- Journal
- Gland Surg (2026)
- Reported sample size
- 23
- Source database
- Europe PMC
- PMID
- 41969939
- PMCID
- PMC13062860
- DOI
- 10.21037/gs-2025-299
Abstract (original English)
Background Traditional mastectomy often results in aesthetic and psychological concerns for patients. The latissimus dorsi (LD) flap remains a widely used autologous option, especially in Asian women with smaller breast volumes. However, volume deficiency remains a limitation. This study assesses the feasibility and outcomes of fat-augmented LD (FALD) flap reconstruction. Methods A prospective cohort of 23 patients undergoing immediate or delayed LD flap breast reconstruction with intraoperative autologous fat grafting was recruited between 2019 and 2022. Inclusion criteria included body mass index (BMI) 18.5-30 kg/m 2 and insufficient flap volume for contralateral breast symmetry. Fat was harvested from the thighs using Body-Jet ® system and injected into the LD flap and surrounding tissues. Cosmetic outcomes were assessed using Aesthetic Item Scale (AIS) and Body Image Scale (BIS) at 1, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Results Median age was 41 years. Average fat volume injected was 232 mL. Most patients were satisfied with their cosmetic outcomes; however, satisfaction declined slightly over time. The nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) group consistently scored higher in AIS compared to skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM). Interrater agreement between patients and assessors was low [intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) Conclusions FALD flap reconstruction is a feasible, single-s
What this study does not prove
- • This study does not prove SVF is an approved treatment or a replacement for standard care.
Evidence level
Early human evidence such as case series or small samples is exploring possible benefits.
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