Anyone have fat grafting after implants?

3grlz4me

Hi all,

Wow I used to spend my life on this board...I'm happy to report I'm 10 years post bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction...loved this board, made many friends!

Question...I have implants and they have "dents" now. On top of both and across middle on one. DH says he doesn't care and kinda doesn't want me to risk surgery and all that. I'm just wondering if I will feel less self conscious about it. I've been toying with the idea of getting the fat transfers and am just wondering how much of a difference it makes and if it's worth it? Just got all my surgery before/after/risks...and I'm like UGH.....so many bad memories of going through all this before and am just wondering if I really need to do this. Fat to be taken from my abdomen and injected into both breasts. Dr said it's like frosting a cake??? haha I've scheduled the surgery and all that will need to take a week off work, etc.

Any insight is much appreciated! Thanks!

Dx 6/12/07

Surgery 9/12/07

Nipple recon/Tattoos 3/08

miranda2060

I just had this done as part of revision surgery to correct capsular contracture after radiation (had unilateral mastectomy/immediate implant).

The surgery was SIGNIFICANTLY easier than the original surgery. I am still healing and on slightly restricted activity, but the result looks amazing, better than my body has ever looked. My PS also lifted the other breast so they are symmetrical, which they never were before. There are punctures in the abdomen from where they sucked out the fat (LOL) and I am wearing Spanx for at least 4 weeks, which is not that comfortable, but overall I would say it's worthwhile. If you are having only the fat transfer, your surgery might be less extensive.

star2017

does your plastic surgeon think you’ll need to replace the implants soon?

3grlz4me

miranda2060 thank you so much for replying! I'm glad to hear you felt it was worthwhile. I've just been a chicken, but I do feel it would help them look better. I have a lot of flattening out and divets.

star2017 thank you, no she has not said that. They are 10 years old so I'm wondering when.

And.....the day of my surgery last Wednesday 10/17...I was already to go did the prep and all...got in the car to go....got about 2 miles from home and the hospital called that my surgeon was sick and cancelled!!! LOL So after all this waiting and questioning that happens. haha They gave me another date of November 1, but I can't because I have a conference at work. Now might not get scheduled til after January. Maybe it's a sign not to do it? Idk

LeesaD

I had my TE's exchanged for implants with some fat grafting back in Jan. This past summer I noticed my left one (non diseased not radiated side) dropped and my right radiated one contracted up slightly so I along with my plastic surgeon odecided to go in again for a revision. Two weeks ago today I had the left implant removed and replaced, lifted with some bio mesh and I had fat grafting in both left and right (right side was flattened and it bothered me a lot). They took the fat for the grafting from both my thighs so had Lipsuction on on both thighs. Recovery fine, just bruised and sore thighs and chest area very sore and bruises too. But I am very happy with how the fat grafting rounded them both out especially the right one and they for once look symmetrical and even. What a big difference the tweeking has done and even though it's only been two weeks, I'm glad to have done it. Hope it all goes well for you!

Anonymous

I had fat-grafting done about 4 months after my exchange surgery. My PS told me I wouldn't know the full effect until after about 6 months. Well, I am at that point now. I'm still pleased with the results but I have had alot of the fat reabsorbed. They said you can expect about 50% of the fat to be reabsorbed by the body. I saw my PS in August. He said that everything still looks great but if I wanted to have another fat-grafting procedure done to perfect my reconstruction I could. He told me to let him know if I decided to do so. The procedure itself wasn't bad. No drains, just alot of bruising, most of the pain was in my belly area. The nurse told me it would feel like I did 1,000 set ups in an hour and half. It was a pretty accurate description!!

star2017

3girlz4me: It might be worth asking about, since many doctors feel implants should be changed every 10-15 years.

Pinkforthewin

LeesaD: Just curious how your thighs looked after the fat was harvested? Did you have a lot of swelling, and could you see improvement where the fat was removed? Has the appearance continued to improve each day/week? I am 5 days post surgery and I am concerned about how my thighs are looking. I'm hoping I didn't just create a new area of my body that needs to be fixed.

yougogirls

Hi Pink! I just had my exchange surgery yesterday and my doc grafted some fat from the front of my thighs. I noticed they're a little more sloped above my knees where it was taken from. I hope you don't mind me asking how your thighs look now, 7 months later? I've read there are instances where the grafted site regenerates itself.

Hope you are doing well in any case!

LeesaD

Pinkforthwin- I’m four weeks out from surgery and my thighs are good. I had same fat grafting from both thighs back in Jan as well and then again four weeks ago. Both times the recovery was similar. No swelling at all just a lot of bruising from where they took the fat. I did wear leggings for a week or so after surgery as my surgeon said compression will help with swelling and healing. The incisions where they put in the instruments are high in my groin area but they took the fat from various areas all over my thighs and that’s where the bruising was. Like one leg bruising was on back of leg and other leg bruising on sides d front. My thighs are fine now. They look a little thinner which is a bonus I guess. They both look the same and there isn’t anything that stands out that I would say needs to be fixed in my thigh area. Looking forward to getting cleared for exercise and running again so I can firm them up a bit.

Yaniza

Hello, I'm thinking about fat grafting in the spring. Had a revision to pre-pectoral this past August. Bumping this thread hoping to get more info in particular about fat grafting when there isn't a whole lot to work with. My plastic surgeon is the one who suggested it. He says he can always find some.

Cheers, Yaniza

Pinkforthewin

Hi Yougogirls, my surgery was just last week so unfortunately I can’t tell you how they may look over time. But I do know that I am not happy with how they look now, so I’m hoping it’s just swelling. I haven’t read anything definitive on whether the fat cells can regenerate or not. Hopefully not

Pinkforthewin

Hi LeesaD, thank you so much for your response! It sounds like your procedure may have had a better result than mine, but we will see. Hopefully I just have some swelling that is making them look uneven. Yes, can’t waitto start working out to tone things up again. It’s been a long journey! Best of luck to you!

Billb464

hi, just went in yesterday and had breast lifts and fat transfer from my sides. It was done outpatient at the hospital. It took about 2.5 hours. Not sure what everything looks like since the bra was in me when I woke up. I also have a compression thingie, that goes from under my breast to the top of my hips. He said I didn’t have a lot of fat pockets but he was able to get enough to make the deposits. I get to take a bath tomorrow (48 hours) so I will see all the bruising then. I do have bruising in my hips and above my but. My side are bothering me the most. Not sure I would do this again, but it will depend on how it looks after the swelling goes down

Yaniza

Bumping this tbread again... I am scheduled for pocket revision and FAT GRAFTING in 2 days. Hoping to get updates from some of you.

Just a little nervous. I hope I'm bringing in the right sort and size of compression garment.

Yaniza

DebAL

Yaniza, I had second round of fat grafting in Dec. It was easier just because first one was with the exchange.

My PS recommended compression garments for a month. If yours recommends the same I bought a maidenform brand that was like a tube. If fit from just under my bra down to below my underwear line. I thought it felt better to wear it since it gives support. I couldn't imagine exercising or walking too far without it. If there is a chance they are taking from the thighs they do make ones with various short lengths since you would need compression on your thighs.

My chest was odd shades of yellow for awhile. I did have about 5-6 sutures that needed removed at the 10 day mark. Pineapple supposedly helps with bruising.

I hope you heal quickly!

Yaniza

Thanks DebAl, I have a couple of them that cover from under my breasts to mid thigh. This should be interesting. I'll be completely out since it's happening in conjunction with the pocket revision. Waking up will be different this time.

Cheers, Yaniza