For most women diagnosed and living with breast cancer, the road to treatment can be very scary. Dealing with what happens after a mastectomy can be both daunting and nerve-wracking, with many patients unaware of all the breast augmentation procedures they can choose from.

According to a University of Michigan study cited on PR Newswire, seven out of ten women don't know their reconstruction options. But, as we end breast cancer awareness month this October, more research is emerging about an innovation called Autologous Fat Transfer that can help. The relatively unknown procedure, simply known as AFT, uses body fat to reconstruct women's breasts. Dr. Jeffrey Hartog, director of the Bougainvillea Clinique and the Aesthetic Surgery Center of Winter Park in Florida, has been using the breakthrough method for three years.

"It is sad that in our technology-driven society only 40 percent of women with breast cancer have reconstruction," said Dr. Hartog, who first used AFT when his wife, Michelle was diagnosed with the disease in September 2010. "There are so many additional benefits to using fat. It is more natural than artificial implants and very versatile. For many reasons, I believe it is superior to other methods of reconstruction, including implants and tissue flaps, in almost all cases."

In the outpatient procedure, fat is taken from one area of the body and purified before being injected in small droplets into the breast and chest. Once the fat is injected, the body quickly builds a vascular network to support it. Then, the fat becomes permanently attached to the "new" part of the body. This method is normally done in stages, and extra fat that is removed can even be stored indefinitely for later use. 

Hartog touted the innovation's benefits. "This technique is especially great for those who have tested BRCA-positive," said Hartog. "Women can have a prophylactic mastectomy and begin their reconstruction with fat at the same time in our facility. They can leave our outpatient facility with small breasts immediately after their mastectomies and feel better about themselves." 

Women who choose fat grafting frequently find that skin sensation returns, which is usually unlikely with patients using implants and tissue flaps. Celebrities such as Suzanne Somers, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011, have had great results after using AFT.

Have you heard about this beauty breakthrough? Share your stories with Beauty World News in the comments section below. Check out more on Dr. Hartog at lookandfeelbetter.com and watch the physician, along with his wife, Michelle, who is a breast cancer survivor, talk about the procedure.