Has anyone had micro fat grafting?

She

This is such a great thread!  I'm 7.5 months post bilat DIEP and I've been waiting for a surgery date for 'scar revision' for almost 2 months.  Probably a good thing as there's another new dent where one of my lumpectomy scars is.  That makes 3 dents and one "vagina-pit" (meaning the front view of my armpit looks like camel toe).  I'd ask in a whiney voice if this is ever going to end, but after fourteen years dancing with this devil I guess I already know the answer ...  sigh.  Thanks for sharing all the great info, and sorry I'm a downer today.

Mouse6

Happy29 - what's a TUG flap?

Would you mind if I asked approx. how much the fat grafting procedure cost where you are?

happy29

Tug is a flap muscle sparing procedure where tissue is taken from inner thigh .

well my insurance covered my stage one and stage two.- so stage two-(lipo and fat grafting) I just had to pay a relatively small amount. I would estimate if someone wanted this procedure for cosmetic reasons -not BC related (although who knows what Doctors would charge without the reconstruction issue) after seeing the insurance checks -it would cost well over $30,000 and this did not include anestesia AND Operating Room costs(out patient hospital stay costs)and plus meds I received after surgery. Now I had two Doctors doing the procedure . I took about 3 hours surgery time....

angelsabove

I am also researching this. I had a Bi-lateral mastectomy 5/21/2009. No breast at this time....

Tell me if u r talking  about what I am researching to build TWO NEW BREAST. I dont like any options that TAKE muscle and seem to be SO INVASIVE.......

I checked out miamibreastcenter.com....

THANKS IN ADVANCE 

makingway

The best flap procedure are done at NOLA by a Dr. Massey and they are extremely expensive. She also has a new surgery for lymphnode replacement.

KKDM

Are there any updates from anyone who has had fat grafting to improve lumpectomy appearance.  I am scheduled for this, along with a lift on the unaffected side June 7th.  Thank you. 

Meece

I had it done in Nov.  The fat grafts and the lift.  Not all of the fat took, and the area is lumpy, but improved.  PS say he can work more on it.  I am leary of another because of the uneveness, and he suggested we do it to fill the upper portion of the affected breast.  Right now it is flattened, but evenly so.  The rads damaged the tissues, so I am sure that has a lot to do with thetexture.

It may sound like I am unhappy, I am not.  When I look at the before and after pics, I have come so far.  I just need to know when to say "good enough".

Good luck KKDM.  just over two weeks.  I am sure you will be happy.

Mouse6

Good luck KKDM. Keep us posted. Meece - did you have rads after your grafting or before?

Meece

Before.  But my PS cautioned me that you cannot predict how radiated tissue will react.  In my case, the lump was very close to the surface, and the skin which was spared is not behaving like normal tissue.  It is definitely not as elastic,  It is very difficult to describe.

Nedeza

I had fat grafted onto my MX where there was a dent on my upper pole near my cleavage.  This was in early April.  At first, it felt very strange & the area felt "lumpy". I was told there's always a chance that this will not take completely.  The area is not as full as initially but all in all still an improvement.  Most people don't notice a difference if even at all. 

NAE

AStorm

Miami Breast Center,

Are you having difficulty getting insurance coverage authorization for these procedures?

KKDM

Thank you all for your posts, it makes me feel better.  I feel really good now and I hate to go back under anesthesia and be sore again, but I think in the long run, I will be happier with appearance, especially with the lift on the unaffected side, so I will have some symmetry.  I will post afterwards.  KM 

Meece

You will be amazed how much it affects your outlook.  I got the chance to look at my before and after pics at my last visit.  It is no wonder I was so sad about what I looked like.  It was awful!  I look so much bettter now.

CrunchyPoodleMama

Just wanted to say that this thread has been ENORMOUSLY helpful to me and to the mods, THANK YOU for not deleting any of the useful information herein.

KKDM

Thanks Meece for your encouragement, I am happy that you are feeling well and looking good!!!                                                     KM

Meece

KKDM, I will be keeping you in my prayers on the seventh.  I know undergoing anesthesia can be a stressful thing, it is for me.  Good luck.

Ruthy81674

Hi Meece, I noticed u said u had fat grafting after radiation. My PS is going to do my exchange with some fatgrafting on the 29th of June. I am anxious to look better because I have had to live with asymmetry for a long time. Did the fat help the radiated tissue? Thanks and glad to hear you are doing well.

Meece

Yes, it did improve the radiated area.  The asymmetry is still an issue, but I need to talk to my PS about it.  But, considering the difference that was there, and how much it has improved, I would claim success.

Mother_Buck

Perhaps I should start my own post on this topic but am new, lazy and don't know how.  LOL

 I just had fat grafting done for possible help with my lymphedema.  Had a right mastectomy last year with immediate reconstruction with silicone implant.  Just last week I had the left said "fixed" to better match the right side (I went smaller with the implant seemed like perfect timing so no more DDs for me).  Anyway....just wondered if anyone else has had this done yet.  I have a feeling my PS may have gone to a seminar by Dr. Khouri.

 How do I put the stage, ER/PR stuff on here?

 Thanks for understanding my faults ladies.

golfgirl

I just had fat grafting done yesterday.  I had a bi-lat with TE and then the exchange surgery last Sept.  After letting the implants settle a bit I ended up with good sized dents on the sides of each breast (the sides away from the cleavage side).  My PS took fat from my abdomen (yeah!)  and filled in the dents.  He also injected fat underneath the reconstructed nipple to give the breast a more natural cone shape instead of the flatness that is the typical result of implants.    I'm really pleased with the new look.   The breasts have only a little bit of bruising.  My whole abdomen is one huge purple bruise and is quite a bit sore, but manageable and oh so worth it.   My PS warned me that a good portion of the injected fat may get reabsorbed and he may need to repeat the procedure to get completely rid of the dents.  I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.   

 Life is good. 

rcl4145

hi, i need to have a lumpsectomy and this micro fat graftin sounds like something that i would like to try. does anybody know a doctor in massachusettes that doe's this or is the miami breast center the only one.

ty rcl4145

makingway

Fat grafting is NOT the same thing that is being done at the Miami Breast Center. The micro-fat grafting Brava System is entirely different then the typical fat grafting procedures being done by plastic surgeons elsewhere.

Meece

rc, you will easily find a PS who can do this procedure as it is a common one. 

Yes, in most cases the divits and dents will have to be filled more than once.  Golf girl.  I can relate, that bruising on your abdomen will last quite awhile, as will the tenderness, but the results will be worth it.

rcl4145

hi, thank you so much for this infomation, iam new to this and iam reading all i can. the women on this sight have been so helpful and informative iam so glad i found this sight. i meet with the surgon on june 2nd. another question do they do this after the lumpsectomy or can they do it while you are having the lumpsectomy done. thank you everybody and my prayer's are with all of us.

Meece

I have never heard of this being done during the lumpectomy.  Your body needs time to heal so they can see where you will need the plumping.  I remember telling the BS (on my one week follow-up post surgery) that I loved the results, the breast looked so nice and lifted, wish he could do the other side.  Well that was because of all of the swelling, and over a period of months, the breast settled in to it's normalcy.  Then rads which changes the appearance as well.  i actually waied five years to begin recon.

Cherries58

I had fat grafting but it was just to smooth areas where the implant met the skin.  I had expanders before the perms.  I'm still fluffing I think.  Just got the switch March 29th 2010.  It came out pretty good but the area he took fat from, my saddle bags, don't look very smooth.  I have a dent in one that he agrees needs a little work. 

Mother_Buck

Lucky you to have the fat grafting done from your belly.  No fun, but in the long run I am sure will be well worth it.  My remaining breast was big enough he took the fat from there, which is a good/bad thing.  So far I am healing well.  Not wearing a bra sure is great after being DD since high school.  Can't wait for this all to be completed so I can stop thinking about it.  Most of the time I am good but I assume that the rest of you have your bad days too.  Randomly it pops up in my mind but I have to remember God has taken care of me so far and in the event things don't work out here I have a home in heaven.

Take care ladies.

Meece

Amen, Mother_Buck.

KKDM

On June 7th, I had fat grafts to affected breast after lumpectomy, one yr ago.  I had a lift to the other one.  I think I underestimated this surgery.  The plastic surgeon had trouble finding enough fat.(I am not bragging about that)  So I was under anesthesia for a long time.  I am still very sore, but am hoping the end results will be worth it.  I hope everyone is doing well.   KM

Meece

KKDM, I hope all will go well as you recover.  I am sure you'll want to take it easy for some time.  I also had the one side lifted, and that was a lot of trauma to the tissue as well.  That was in november, and my incision line is just now fading from red.  My surgery was about 5 hours long, but my PS planned for that, he used a very small cannula and wanted to take his time.