Introduction: The use of autologous fat transplantation to correct volume and contour defects, scars, and asymmetry after breast cancer surgery has increased over the past 20 years. Many developments and refinements in this technique have taken place in recent years, and several studies of the safety of lipofilling in the breast have been published.
Presentation of case: We performed a literature review of this technique, highlighting the crucial role of lipofilling in breast cancer reconstruction.
Discussion: The efficacy of the fat graft transplantation depends on the experience and the technique used by the surgeon. The ASCs (adipose-derived stem cells) contained in the fat graft has proven to be crucial for breast reconstruction by mean the regeneration of tissue, through the chemotactic, paracrine, and immunomodulatory activities and their in situ differentiation.
Conclusion: The role of lipofilling for breast reconstruction could be more significant with the application of the findings of experimental research on tissue engineering and ASCs.
Keywords: Adipose-derived stem cells; Autologous fat transplantation; Breast reconstruction.