Guidance
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued full guidance to the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on Breast reconstruction using lipomodelling after breast cancer treatment.
Description
Surgical treatment for breast cancer involves either removal of the breast (a mastectomy) or removal of the tumour and some adjacent breast tissue (breast-conserving surgery or lumpectomy). Following mastectomy, many women choose some type of breast reconstruction. However, after breast-conserving surgery, which can produce a significant deformity, very few options are normally offered. This procedure involves taking fat from the abdomen or thighs and injecting it into the breast in the area of the deformity caused by surgery.
Coding recommendations
B37.5 Lipofilling of breast