Has anyone had micro fat grafting?

kareenie

You can always just click on "View Unread posts" or "view new posts" in upper right and start reading recent discussions.

Or click on "Patient stories"  and then "New topic" and start your own story.  The girls will jump right in and welcome you and answer all your questions.

Anonymous

There are some great video testimonials on the Miami Breast Center site from actual patients who have had various breast reconstruction if anyone is interested.

http://www.miamibreastcenter.com/reconstruction/testimonials.html 

kareenie

What happened? Have we scared everyone away?

leeinfl

  Hope not Kareenie!

sweetie2040

Hey Ladies,

I'm still here and still interested in the FG. I am getting information now from some CT Dr's (most of them are close to NY) who do some type of FG and do Dr. K's method. I plan on getting at least two consults because my rippling is so severe. I'mjust waiting until the fall because it's too busy now.

For Kate and Lee-how are things now that several months have passed? Do you see any changes or loss of the fat? Are you still happy with everything?

EileenKaye1

I am in the same mode--investigating PS in NYC  for the best possible outcome.

Will stay in touch.

Eileen

hrf

There still is no one here in Toronto doing it although I know lipofilling is used for enhancement.

sweetie2040

EileenKaye1-let me know if you find anyone good. I'm not far from NY and most of the Dr's here are in Fairfield/New Haven county anyway which is almost there.

Anonymous

sweetie- I'm only 2 months out so it's hard to say how much was fat loss and how much was normal post-op swelling that went away.  I think I've lost a little but not much.  I had told Dr. K I wanted to be smaller, though, so it's a good thing.  I wasn't too big before but it just didn't feel like me, if you know what I mean.  The fat just feels so much more natural, though, than feeling implants right under the skin.  I'd be curious to hear from women who have had the regular kind of fat grafting (wish they had two different names- Dr. K's method and other) and see what kind of fat retention they have had.  I've heard it's around 50%.  Dr, K does have some photos on his site showing women's results farther out.

leeinfl

Still very, very happy!  I'm gotten even more comfortable and my range of motion (shoulders) is much better.  I sleep on my tummy now without giving it a second thought and without having to stuff pillows everywhere.  My left breast looks like it hasn't lost anything at all and that's been pretty much from day 1.  My right has always been my "problem" breast (and ironically the one without cancer) and even though it's not much, I've lost some there.  If I had to give a percentage....I'd say I have 80-85% retention on that side vs. the 90+% on the left.  They feel great and I am so grateful that I was able to have this done.

sweetie2040

Kate-good to hear the loss is minimal. It is also good hear they feel so much better than implants. I can feel and see the edges of my implants through my skin and I don't like that.  A Dr I talked to in CT who does Dr. Khouri's method said Dr's use different names for the FG but it is all the same. He said he didn't know why but Dr. K had the highest success rate and he recommended I go to him. I guess he wasn't confident that he could help me! I'll check out the website again. I wish he had more pics on there though.

Lee-glad to hear your still happy. So is the little difference noticeable at all? Do you need any follow ups to add more fa?. Was the range of motion of your shoulder affected by this surgery or was it from your original surgery?

tedwilliams

I leave Thursday for New Orleans and will have grafting #2 on Friday morning.  I do not have an implant...am working on total remodel using just my fat.  I found a study from Italy where a woman had total reconstruction with fat grafting....9 sessions.  Will try to find it again.

I have not seem much loss from the first grafting, but then again he was very conservative.  Looking forward to seeing phase 2. 

Jana 

leeinfl

Sweetie - I'll have to post new photos and then you can judge for yourself if it's noticeable or not.  It's not a big deal and for now I'm not planning on doing anything.  I had shoulder problems following my original surgery.  Both hurt had I had limited ROM, especially on one side.  I finally had it x-rayed and it showed a torn rotator cuff.  The orthopedic surgeon I saw asked me what I had done.  Really?  I just had a double MX!  It's not like I was out there pitching a baseball!  I really believe that while I was on the table, my arms were strapped back too far.  Nothing else makes sense.  Thankfully specific exercises helped but in the past 1-2 months I've gotten even better.  I'm sure because my pec muscles don't feel so tight anymore, that I probably have better posture and use my shoulders and arms in a more natural way.  Just like so many things, time has helped.

kareenie

Jana - Who is your doc in NO? Is he using the Brava? Is he banking your fat?  Sorry if you answered before but this is just such a big place....

tedwilliams

Dr. Kamron Khoobehi Yes I am wearing my Brava as I type. Yes, my fat was banked and will fly in as well.



Jana

kareenie

Jana if you get a chance you should add your experience with  Dr Khoobehi to the thread about doctors who are doing fat grafting. http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topic/769795?page=2#idx_42  This will help other members who are looking for doctors, especially those who can't or don't want to travel to Miami.

tedwilliams

Kareenie: 

Already did...page one of the link you supplied.  Happy to answer questions.

Jana 

jseda

I'm just now getting involved on the site again. I'm 2 yrs out failed unilateral DIEP and getting ready to start Brava system as part of a study at the U of Wash under Dr. Peter Neligan. Quite exciting. As with everything, there are no guarantees and you kind of have to head into it with the thought that it'll be a good thing; whether that means good results personally or good information that one's involvement helped produce; both a win win in that someone will eventually prosper from.

Chicago1018

Talk about a bummer!  I just had a phone conversation with Dr. Placik's office (the only person in Chicago who supposedly does fat grafting) and not only did they tell me that I had to wait at least a year until after my last surgery but his services would have to be paid for 100% in full at the time of the procedure.  She said I could try to get reimbursed on my own afterwards but who coould afford to do that? 

Guess I need to start thinking about getting my butt to Miami. 

tedwilliams

Am back at the bed & breakfast after my 2nd fat grafting. My banked fat arrived after I did. It took the team about an hour to prepare the fat for injection. I was given mild sedation for the procedure. By 11:00 am my sister and I had walked to a nearby diner and had lunch. We then strolled down to an antique store. Right now, I am curled up in bed getting ready for a nap. I am feeling some discomfort....so far no pain meds.



Dr. Khooobehi harvested 2550 cc of fat during my procedure in March. Today he used 180 cc. The hope is for further healing of the radiated skin from the fat cells thus allowing full reconstruction by fat grafting.




jseda: I too am in that 1% for DIEP failure....also unilateral.

Anonymous

jseda- It's women like you that have helped doctors offer vast improvements over the MX/recon choices of our grandmothers.  I really hope you get both- good results and provide good information.  Good luck with everything!

Chicago- Sorry the local PS didn't work out.  It is so frustrating because so many of us know that this is the best option out there yet it's so hard to find someone who will do it.  I find that PS's attittude appalling.  Sounds like he's more into it because of the money rather than truly trying to help his patients.

tedwilliams- Wow!  I think that is so cool!  I really wish Dr. K would offer this option!  It sounds so much better than going through multiple lipo sessions which is the worse part of FG.  Glad all went well and hope the FG/stem cells can help your radiated skin completely recover.   

Anonymous

Wanted to add for new posters- There is a separate thread for us to recommend our surgeons who are doing the FG.  It is titled "Microfat grafting or BRAVA doctor recommendations".  If you know of a doctor in your area that is doing the procedure would you please post their name and contact information?  If there is some reason you wouldn't recommend them (like Chicago1018's who doesn't take insurance) please still list them and explain why you personally wouldn't use them.  It can be so challenging to find these doctors!  

mormor1

Chicago - it may be that Illinois just doesn't have coding for this procedure.  WI didn't, but I didn't find out until later even though we had been very sure to ask if everything was pre authed!!  I was the guest "guinea pig" for Dr. Khouri to show them this process in a teaching hospital.  Felt like we were doing them a favor...we were SO shocked!!  We tried to give them numbers and the advice we received from Dr. Khouri...they compromised with us was about the best we could do.  Would have been cheaper to fly to Miami and have it done there!  I encourage you all who have it done in other states to check on this carefully.  It should go under breast reconstruction - other, with no mention of liposuction.  So much needs to be done yet as the demand for this is going to sky rocket!!  MD's trained, correct coding in place, BRAVA FDA approved, fat grafting mentioned for all women when they are told about options for breast reconstruction, fat grafting covered by all insuances including HMO's!  Won't that be a better day for all women!!  It's on the way though.  So excited to see the list of MD's doing this growing!

 tedwilliams - the fat banking is so intersting...am going to ask Dr. khouri about that at the next conference...that sounds like another great advance to look forward to.  Wish you the best...sounds like your recovery is going well!

katehudson25

I had a lumpectomy 7/8. Aug 1 I had a wide-lumpectomy re-excision. My right breast is now smaller than my left. I did have great news. My margins are clear and my nodes are negative. I feel guilty about feeling depressed about my breast being smaller, but  depressed I am. Does anyone know if fat grafting will work in my situation?

Anonymous

Katehudson- I do know it has been used for divots from lumpectomy. Not sure, though, if it would would be necessary to use the Brava first. I think Alexandra on fatgraftpatients.com did the fat grafting to fix a defect from lumpectomy and for augmentation. She's also on here. Her screen name is Alexandra-aaa. You could PM her and ask.

mormor1

katehudson   YAY for your great news!!  very understandable about the depression with the change in your breasts.  That is a loss and those kind of things affect us as women.  I think fat grafting would def be an option worth considering. It should be a covered procedure. Kate's suggestion is great.  Alexandra is an absolute fountain of knowledge and the Bravafatgraftpatientsforum is a great place for information and support.  Wishing you the best!

jseda

I'm excited about this banked fat option. I'm just getting ready to see my PS to get started and definitely will ask about that. That's cool!! Thanks for sharing.

J

jseda

ASk you PS. The only thing that might be necessary is to keep the skin/site on the deformed side enlarged and vascular in order to inject the fat. Without that I would think your chances of success are slim, but what do I know. The nice thing about the brava system is that it creates a healthy rich vascular (blood supply) bed for the fat to be injected into. Would like to know any ideas on this from those having gone through it.

thanks for sharing

J

jseda

HI Ted: Tell me more about the fat banking. Where did you have this done? I'm going to see my PS at U of Wash in a week and want to discuss this with him. U of Wash is just now in the study phase with brava/fat implanting so want to help them as much as I can so that the next person will have to spend less time on this. Thanks for educating us.



J Seda

tedwilliams

 J Seda:

My fat is banked at Biolife cell bank

 http://www.biolifecellbank.com/

My surgeon is Dr. Kamron Khoobehi

http://www.khoobehi.com/ 

The excitement of the surgical team in being able to use the banked fat on Thursday and for the future was amazing.  Lots of pictures were taken and my hope is Dr. Khoobehi will post them for other physicans and patients to see.  I was at the surgery center for about 2 hours then my sister and I spent the afternoon eating, shopping and napping.  Today I flew home...I have taken just over the counter pain relief.   

The hope is that the grafting will further aid the healing of my radiated skin and thus we can continue with reconstruction by just fat grafting.  I still have plenty in my bottom and thighs if need be.  

Jana