Has anyone had micro fat grafting?

A Beverly Hills plastic surgeon who is using the BRAVA method...

http://www.drtrott.com/breast-augmentation-without-implants.html

I had my first consult with my plastic surgeon recently. He is a very highly regarded PS affiliated with our university hospital and does extensive flap work. He reviewed my options (actually spent over an hour with us) and did not try to sway my decision in any way. He was extremely empathetic and comforting. Despite how wonderful he was, we did not come away with a good feeling about my options for recon:-(

At the end of our meeting I asked him if he had heard of microfat grafting and Dr. Khouri's work. He actually said he is familiar with Dr. Khouri's work and that he is a well respected PS. He said that the procedure is very promising and certainly is MUCH less invasive. The drawbacks are that the patient has to be highly committed b/c it is a lot to go through (extensive time wearing the Brava, repeated trips to Miami, all the extra costs associated with that). My doctor said if I am willing to take all of that on, it looks like a safe, good option for me - he said the concerns people have about the stem cells and cancer recurrence are "theoretical" and nothing has been seen to indicate that this is a real issue. He did caution me to remember there are no studies yet on long-term results, since the procedure is so new. However, he did not dissuade me from pursuing it at all, and he also said he would have no problem following my care if I have any complications; he was more than willing to work with Dr. Khouri to treat me here between Miami visits as needed.

Just wanted to share these thoughts as it made me feel much more comfortable pursing microfat grafting as an option.   

dancetracer - so glad you had such a knowledgeable and empathetic PS...what a treasure! It was good he made known that fat grafting takes commitment. You have gotten a good idea of that from this forum. Bravafatgraftpatients.com would give you even more insight, but also support if you choose this option.

whippetmom (and others) - I have these names from a good source that have been trained by Dr. Khouri and are on the West Coast. Not sure if they are doing it, but you could check. Dr. Barbara Hayden- (310) 315-0215- Santa Monica, CA Dr. Allan Wu- (760) 202-2770- Rancho Mirage, CA. Will try to put them on the MD thread.

katehudson - I can really relate to the joy you felt at being told they could do augmentation and lift on the natural side, but like others, would caution you to research the likely results. Maybe I just hear the bad stories, but have heard of many with pain or at least annoying discomfort, loss of sensation, unnatural appearnace (one woman I met said she calls it her "tennis ball boob" and that it didn't match the other side at all. They can be caspsular contraction and even in best case, need replacing intermittantly. I had very small natural breast and Dr. Khouri did augmentation and lift. The added benefit was that he took fat from my cylindrical shape and sculptured a lovely matching, soft breast that even has sensation. My tummy is flat and I now have shapely curves.

I am 3 1/2 yrs out from starting fat grafting and I am impressed with how things are holding up (literally). I know gravity will eventually take its toll, but the girls are still nice and perky and that just is not norm for 60 yo! I met some women at the conference "show and tell" who were well over 5 years out from FG and still showing off!! The MD's present at this session asked me if If really had reconstruction (even after they heard my history)...they couldn't tell which breast was natural and which had been "created". That is partially thanks to the amazing nipple from Naturally Impressive, LLC (naturallyimpressive.com). That is a whole 'nother good story with a happy ending! You can see my photos at miamibreastcenter.com / reconstruction with augmentation for the before / after and the whole process is on Bravafatgraftpatients.com in patient photos.

Wishing you well as you make these decisions....I'm sure my bias comes through, but each person is different and it's good you take time to weigh everything out.  Maybe you even want to wait awhile....

katehudson,

I apologize for being so negative.  I really didn't need to go on and on like that.  I am sure many women have excellent results with implants and I am glad you have such excellent surgeons.  

 It sunds like you have concerns about the calcification and that is important to consider.  If it makes you feel uncomfortable, this might not be a good option for you.  I meant to address that also.  I did have some calcification on my mammogram, but the radiologist had some extra pictues taken and then told me that he is very conservative and that is why he took extra shots, but that this looks very benign and not at all concerning.  There is a calcification that comes from trauma, which is nice and round and orderly and is what shows up with fat grafting. The type that shows up with cancer is irregularly shaped and easily distinquished.  I haven't discussed this much with others.  I know there are studies that show fat grafting does not interfere with reading mammograms, but I haven't asked around that much if others have shown calcifications or not...maybe I will now. 

 How do they do screenings with implants?  That might be a dumb question, but I have wondered and never found out.

wishing you well,

Randi

So is fat grafring after a lumpectomy usually done before or after radiation!

It should be done after rads.  That way the fat grafting can un-do any damage done by the radiation. There is a thread under Radiation called Fat Graft Transfer and the Radiated Breast that explains more. http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/70/topic/744891?page=1#idx_20 .

Well said Kate!  I feel the same way.  Most people think we can get implants like any other lady out there getting breast augmentation.  Not true.  The procedure is totally different as are out outcomes. 

Ladies - I've seen IrishLuck's photos and they are simply AMAZING! 

So very happy for you, IrishLuck!

Good luck ladies. I wish you all the best. I went to see a plastic surgeon last week, and she decided that breast implants with lifts is the best choice for me after two lumpectomy's. I would love to hear from other ladies who had this done after a lumpectomy

Hi Dustylady, 

Did Dr. Kouri give you the option to have the mastectomy done in Miami and have him do the grafting at the same time?  His office said this could be done and it seems it may avoid the need for the Brava.  Thanks for sharing your info!

That is great rk85!  Dr. Torres is the breast surgeon I am seeing as well.  He is soooo nice, spent a long time answering my questions, and is really on his game.  I saw both Dr. K and Dr. T on the same day I was there for initial consulation.  Dr. T held his office open late so I could see him (due to traffic, I didn't get there until after 6:30 p.m.).   You may want to also join the  http://www.fatgraftpatients.com/forums/index.php site to read more details on our stories, if you haven't already.  So excited for you:-) 

Hey ladies. . .in my 'travels' I came across an interesting article in forbes about using stem cells from fat for regenerative medicine.  It doesn't talk about the reconstruction specifically, but it does detail some other ways fat is being used safely and successfully:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/genemarcial/2011/08/28/human-bodys-fat-seen-as-best-source-of-stem-cells-for-regenerative-therapies/

Happy tuesday. . .Hope all my east coasters are dry and have power!