title: Autologous fat transplantation for breast reconstruction: A literature review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a literature review of this technique, highlighting the crucial role of lipofilling in breast cancer reconstruction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, Plastic Surgery Division, University of Parma, Parma, Italy; The Cutaneous, Mininvasive, Regenerative and Plastic Surgery Unit, Parma University Hospital, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Simonacci
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, Plastic Surgery Division, University of Parma, Parma, Italy; The Cutaneous, Mininvasive, Regenerative and Plastic Surgery Unit, Parma University Hospital, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicolò
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bertozzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, Plastic Surgery Division, University of Parma, Parma, Italy; The Cutaneous, Mininvasive, Regenerative and Plastic Surgery Unit, Parma University Hospital, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele Pio
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Grieco
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, Plastic Surgery Division, University of Parma, Parma, Italy; The Cutaneous, Mininvasive, Regenerative and Plastic Surgery Unit, Parma University Hospital, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grignaffini
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, Plastic Surgery Division, University of Parma, Parma, Italy; The Cutaneous, Mininvasive, Regenerative and Plastic Surgery Unit, Parma University Hospital, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Edoardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Raposio
keywords: Adipose-derived stem cells; Autologous fat transplantation; Breast reconstruction