Has anyone had micro fat grafting?

I really appreciate the information in this thread.  I'm currently on the other side of the world and over the weekend I developed large indentations above my bilat DIEP.  This thread kept me from being frightened and overwhelmed so far from home, especially since my own PS is on vacation and I didn't get an email response until this morning.

I applaud the Miami Team for being willing to participate and really appreciate their information.  To be honest what was annoying was the debate on whether or not they should be here.  They aren't advertising, they are trying to correct misinformation.  Why anyone would have a problem with that is beyond me, but to each their own.

For everyone undergoing procedures in the next days Good Luck and Great Success.  I'll be looking forward to learning about your experiences as I face Stage 2 and fat grafting in the near future myself.

All the best, She

Oh darn...hope you weren't too disappointed...You sound like me...during my last surgery I told them that I wanted to wear lipstick...they looked at me like I was a lunatic but I told them that you never know who will walk in  or who I might meet in my dreams

Keep us posted...

Debbie

I'm always glad when I found out that I'm not the only one who does something that seems odd. It's just like those magazine articles about "how normal are you" and "what you are too embarassed to ask your doctor", etc. 

After five major operations and a few minor procedures, I've found that I'm okay without makeup as long as I've had a good tweezing at the 10X magnifying mirror and use moisturizer and chap stick (to which I admit I am addicted).  The one emergency surgery I had followed a day of grooming - and don't think I wasn't making a mental inventory of what I shaved and waxed that day during the ambulance ride!

Be well,

Maria

I'm re-scheduled for this Thursday afternoon, otherwise it would  not be until late April, and I hope to be having another fat transfer by then. I guess I have to shave my legs again. I will try to post later that night or Friday.

Be well,

Maria

I found the answers posted by the doctor in Miami very interesting and helpful.   While I agree to the general idea that it should be people with cancer posting and their families, there is a problem when information being posted is incorrect.  And this being a new procedure, it can be hard to get information.

One of the two plastic surgeons I spoke to said this was a possibilty for reconstruction with a lumpectomy.  She indicated that fat was taken from more likely than not, my abds and moved north to fill in the lump.  She said that it could be very successful but that in some cases, people had transplanted fat die and result in calcifications that resembled DCIS and that might lead to a need for another biopsy and that for some people, the stress of additional biopsies was unacceptable. 

Understanding what I understand about DCIS and how it appears---including from too much time looking at my own mammograms--that makes sense to me.  Doesn't make me toss the baby with the bath water though.

I suspect this may be something that is the "wave of the future" and I will be happy to read more about people's experiences with the procedure.

mradf, thanks so much for posting such a detailed description of your experience.  Its really helpful.  Have a great weekend!

Great details , MAria. sure hope you continue to keep feeling well.

 I had fat grafting as part of stage two from TUG (inner thigh flap) on Tuesday. goals were to try and break down some fat necrosis -symmetry and add volume on both sides.  Fat was harvested from legs. I went under general anestesia and it was a 3 hour out patient surgery. I am four days post op and I can see much difference in the shape of my legs. They were liposculpted. My breasts are tender and Huge . Doctors say they will go down and by three months I should have end result. about 40-60% of fat is expected to dissolve.

I am bruised and swollen but I feel Arnica (homeopathic remedy ) is helping a lot. I am taking pain pills . Feels good to walk. No excercise for a while. the Doctor said that the fat injections are like "new grass seed" They need alot of care to get a blood supply and stay . So my lower body has much compression and my breast have very little support and I am babying them- hoping a good % will stay! I guess time will tell......

In the meantime, I am very curious if I gain weight- where will I gain it?

Congratulations Maria and Happy.  I am 3 months out and my tummy is still a wee bit tender from the lipo.  The compression helps a lot, and I have used it on some of the days hit hurts more.  I agree, Happy, I used a regimen of Arnica and think it really decreased the recovery time.

Hi Debbie,

Yes, I had some fat transfer done - about 35 ccs tummy to breast - during my exchange surgery back in September under general anesthesia in the hospital, so the experience was vastly different.    I have not noticed a significant loss of fat overall since that time, but we pretty much knew immediately that we would be doing additional fat transfer(s) for symmetry.  The question was when, where, and how much to transfer.  We let a good amount of time pass for any and all post surgical swelling to go down, and to let the implants settle.  By the New Year, we were able to set a date, and although it could have been done sooner, it was just under six months out from the exchange. 

My PS doesn't project too far out, but he mentioned that if we felt we needed to transfer more, say, six months down the line, I would know what to expect.  I'm wondering how this will affect nipple reconstruction.  I'm in no hurry, and, apparently, neither is he.  I will see him Tuesday afternoon for a follow up, so maybe I will ask. 

You mention forced menopause - was it from chemo or hysterectomy?  My oldest sister had chemo induced menopause and the next one had surgical menopause.  Neither of them can help me out with what to expect.  Our mom, who is 76, seems to remember hers as if it were a walk in the park, but we remember otherwise.  Two younger sisters are, naturallly, freaked out by the whole BC thing. 

On another note, how did you achieve the 6 lb. weight loss?  I'm seriously considering weight watcher's as I've heard so many success stories and my primary doc said it's the only one that really works and makes sense.  Or I could just cut down...and start walking again since spring will most certainly return.  Today was high in the 50's and gorgeous on Long Island.

Be well,

Maria

 Mouse;

I forgot to mention that I will be adding a full cup size to both sides hence I beleive the $2000.00  fee....

Thanks for the update Mouse (I checked the thread everyday). I'm kind of disappointed too...but it's best to know the truth. I still think this procedure can make a difference in breast reconstruction surgery, if refined to require fewer transfers and price adjusted...I had my exchange surgery in November 09, so hopefully for when I need a new implant this may be a real alternative...

Best wishes.

Hi Mouse,

What your PS described sounds like a long drawn-out procedure and you wouldn't wind up with just your own fat in the end--you'd need an implant, too. 

It's my impression that Dr. Khouri in Miami uses a somewhat different technique, an apparatus with suction cups over each breast that a woman wears for a number of hours every day for weeks or months. Once a space is created, fat is injected in. This isn't done all at once, apparently, but over a number of months. But, unlike what Meece suggested, there's no surgery involved, just a sequence of lipo and fat injections (and using the suction cup bra). Well, I guess it is surgery if you count liposuction as surgery . . .

I agree that since this is a reconstruction technique it should be covered by insurance, just like any other technique. Perhaps when it's being done to enhance an already-existing reconstruction, the rules are different. But flap reconstructions cost a fortune and they're covered.

It's clear that the fat injection technique of total reconstruction is in its very early stages. Time will tell if it will become the wave of the future or prove unsatisfactory for most women. Unfortunately, if you want to reconstruct now, you can't really wait. I had surgery and no reconstruction 3 1/2 years ago. I've healed beautifully, have no pain and most of my feeling back. With breast forms, I can achieve any size/look I want (except cleavage, which I was never really into). I don't think I'm ready to risk the good healing of my radiated side to an experiment with suction cups (just the thought of them is painful!), but it is interesting that your PS uses the fat to actually improve radiated skin.

Thanks for reporting back!

Barbara

I am ecstatic about this new reconstruction technique!!!

Mouse-What your doctor is referring to is NOT the same technique. He's just using 'fat grafting' as all the PS do to hide the flaws created by the implant. I must tell you the over-simplified procedure of creating a pocket for an implant is devastating to the body. I did it and regret doing so, but what choice do we have. I mean really, it's either cut out some other part of our body or severe our pectoralis muscle and insert implant. I remember telling my PS after my my mx and TE placement this is unexceptable-that these are our only choices. At the time of my cancer diagnosis I consulted with 3 different plastic surgeons. None of them would take my insurance. And they all insisted on a partial cash payment of $2000.00 before any procedure would be started. The best PS in my area wanted $14,000.00 to reconstruct one breast using an implant. This is done in 2 stages-4 if nipple and tatoo reconstruction are needed. None of the procedures that are available for reconstruction are usually a one-shot deal. If you read the posts under reconstruction you will find that many women have to go back to their PS many times to get a good end result. This 'new technique' is actual financially feasible when compared to other PS fees. I contacted NOLA where they do the flap procedures. Their cost was out of this world-somewhere in the $30,000.00 range or higher. I can't relate how happy I am to know that this new technique is available, where I don't have to sacrifice some other body part in order to have a breast. I sent my PS some info regarding a symposium which Dr. Khouri will be speaking at this month. My PS said, "Thanks for this. I actually was in Miami last month for a similar meeting, where we discussed doing entire breast reconstructions with fat alone." I thought OMG! he must have attended a lecture of Dr. Khouri's because he's based in Miami. I sent him this link http://www.miamibreastcenter.com/breast-reconstruction-miami.html. My PS confirmed that yes, that was the meeting he attended. He is now setting up the protcols to start doing it here!!! I finally see light at the end of the tunnel. Now my only dilema is my PS lack of experience with this procedure... I would feel much more confident going to Dr. Khouri who invented this procedure. I don't think my insurance will cover it though because it's a County-State medical insurance program.

Makingway:

If your doctor can do fat transfers, and he's willing to buy and charge you for Dr. Khouri's Brava System, then it should all come down to your compliance with the device, and willingness to undergo repeated fat transfers - possibly more than are done for revisions.  No one has said it's not  possible, it's just not common. 

Be well,

Maria