Fat necrosis feel like/ how long does it take to develop?

LeesaD

I elected to do a revision surgery on Oct 11 due to my left non diseased non radiated side had dropped lower than my right, diseased, radiated, slightly contracted breast My PS took out left implant and replaced it and he did the bio mesh and I had additional fat grafting from my thighs amd he grafted into left and right side also. I have noticed the past week a rock hard fairly large lump on right side where my armpit kind of goes under the implant. I had ALND surgery on right side so the armpit was pretty deformed. I'm pretty sure there was fat grafting in this location at time of my initial exchange and also a month ago as I can see tiny injection scars. I am freaking out thinking this lump is a recurrence. My question is it possible that the lump is fat necrosis? Would fat necrosis show up only a month post op as I'm not sure how long it would take to develop? It seems like the lump showed up out of nowhere and it's hard as a rock. I see my PS a week from today for follow up and I'll ask him but was wondering others experiences. Thank You!

Micmel

Although I am stage four I have had fat grafting as well, and experienced a large acorn sized lump that was also rock hard. There is absolutely every reason to think it could be fat necrosis. Mine also appeared overnight literally. It can happen years and or months from surgery. It all depends on how fast the cells die and group. If there isn’t enough blood flow to the area. The cells die and combine to form the fat. I was also worried and realized that a lump that was growing that big would have been detected long ago by yourself or scans and check ups. Try not to to panic. But I had mine cut out. It didn’t hurt at all and really was not very moveable at all. It was a local anesthesia procedure. I wish you nothing but well. !

CaliKelly

I freaked out also, several months post revision surgery, felt several hard ,irregular lumps, pea sized, painless, mobile. Ultrasound showed fat necrosis. Also after my mastectomy I felt all kinds of gravelly lumps in my armpit. Ultrasound showed surgical clips! Also could feel sutures at first. I checked every lump! Always something harmless, so don't panic!😚❤

LeesaD

Thank You so very much Micmel and CaliKelly for your responses! Always something to worry about it seems.

LAstar

I had fat necrosis within a week of my SGAP reconstruction. It was different from the post-survey swelling because the swelling could be relieved by massage, but the hard lump was sore and did not respond to massage. Also the lump was deep inside as opposed to oil cysts I developed about a year after surgery which were closer to the skin. It's always good to get these things checked out and nice to get good news for a change!

HPFULL

I had a licap flap lumpectomy where they took the skin from under my arm to my back (no muscle) and flipped it to fill in the spot where the tumor was. When I went to the ps he seemed very shocked that it was so hard. I can feel the whole flap of skin he flipped it is rock hard. He told me it was zombie tissue not dead but not alive but too soon to tell if fat necrosis. Now I am freaking out Because I start radiation soon and I'm told and radiation makes it worse and reconstruction is so much harder after radiation I really wish I would've had a BMX. And I'm very uncomfortable with this PS but he's a bigwig at the hospital so I'll be hard to switch to someone else as it would be awkward. But I really feel he's like being upfront with me. It's been six weeks since my surgery would he be able to tell if it's fat necrosis by now? Has anyone else had anything like that?

LAstar

I had both areas of swelling and fat necrosis in my SGAP breast. The swelling responded to light massage but the necrosis did not. My necrosis was like a firm plum and it was sore after massage. My breast shrunk over the course of 2 years and I had to start over on that side. The swelling can last for weeks/months, so I am sending the best hopes that it is not necrosis. Be sure you are wearing nothing restrictive.

HPFULL

Thanks LAStar I start radiation tomorrow so we shall see how it all turns out.