First cell-enriched breast reconstruction procedure in SA set for today

Breast reconstruction is the process of rebuilding a part or the whole of a breast and can be achieved by using implants or skin, fat, or muscle from another part of your body. There is however a new technique, which uses cell-enriched fat to help restore the natural look and feel of the breast. It is particularly suitable for women with non-matching breasts or breast defects following a partial mastectomy.

The technique involves moving the patient's own fat and stem cells from one area of the body to another location where breast tissue was removed.

Nader Khonji, consultant oncoplastic surgeon at Singleton Hospital in Swansea, who has carried out the procedure said: "The problem of poor body image after mastectomy is well established. However, it is not widely recognised that many women are left with a distorted breast after lumpectomy and radiotherapy which is difficult to correct without major surgery. The Celution
system is an excellent new treatment option for these ladies."

Replacing partial or combination breast loss

The technique can be carried out alone to replace partial breast loss or in combination with an implant where the cell-enriched fat is layered onto the implant. Clinicians say the technique could also be used in cosmetic surgery, replacing saline and controversial silicone implants which have been known to leak and to harden with age.

Cytori's core technology, the Celution System, provides fast, easy, point-of-care access to a clinical grade mixture of stem and regenerative cells from human adipose tissue. As a platform technology it automates and standardises the extraction and concentration of a patient's own adipose-derived regenerative cells (ADRCs) for use at both, the point of care or for future clinical or research use. Celution is broadly applicable for a wide range of diseases.

Cytori Therapeutics specialises in the development of medical technologies that enable physicians to use the body's resources, such as adult stem and regenerative cells from a patient's adipose tissue, for clinical benefit. The company was founded with a commitment to improve patients' quality of life and provide physicians around the world with innovative, cell therapy-based medical technologies that address unmet medical needs.