Has anyone had micro fat grafting?

Hi ladies-

Please please  be careful choosing PS for breast recon  fat grafting. See  link on complaints about Dr. Sydney Coleman. 

 http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/dr-sydney-coleman-c17470.html. Was researching him and found many complaints and lawsuits. 

I got a couple of PM's regarding Dr. Coleman.  There were some concerns about the negative reviews he had received online.  I had seen them but the majority seemed to be from 2007 with a few from 2009 (the same year he was on "The Doctors".  There was a recent one from 2011 but she was reviewing her facelife from 10 years ago.  Obviously, none of us can "vet" these surgeons so if you are considering having a consult with one of them you need to do your homework and check them out.  If you still want to consult with them follow your gut.  If you get a bad feeling about a surgeon, or don't feel respected or valued, move on.  I think the hard part about online reviews, particularly of plastic surgeons, is if the surgery is successful most patients do not bother leaving a review.  It's the ones where someone goes wrong, which can happen, and the ones that are never satisfied with their plastic surgery that usually get written up and posted.  But there do seem to be enough negative reviews that it does cause some concern regarding Dr. Coleman.  I wanted to leave his name on here, though, because we're trying to compile a list of all FG surgeons and our experiences with them- good, bad or indifferent.  Any information is helpful.  So thank you for those that wrote to me with the links.  I appreciate it so much. 

dancetrancer- I believe Dr. K touts that same thing about fat grafting.  It seems this would be the recon method of choice for those with rads.  It seems there are so many complications with implants.  A lot of times women who have had lumpectomy with rads were not given any choices for repairing defects left behind.  Lately, I've seen more and more surgeons offering FG as an option.  If more and more women can get their BC detected early enough for a lumpectomy, and then have a little FG done afterwards to restore everything, what a wonderful world that would be!  

Has anyone used or know anyone that has used Dr. Trott in Beverly Hills? I went to consult with her about a week ago and really liked her,she has been to Florida and spent time with Dr K. she did not have alot of photo's because she has not done tons of total fg .She has done alot of it for augmentation,but say's she has some patients she is still working on. she would be more than willing to take me on, one thing that concerns me is that she would be using a t/e as kinda like scaffolding ,i would not need the Brava cause im already expanded and have implant in. The thought of a T/E again really does not sound good !!! that alone may be enough for me to say maybe not... Thanks for any input on her

Mina- Sent you a PM.

Wow dustylady, thanks for sharing that article.  Absolutely amazing what Dr. K is doing.  

pandazankar- I know they usually use the Alloderm to support the implants so if you were just using fat I don't know that you would need it.  Some use the Alloderm as a way to cover up the implants but, again, if using the fat you wouldn't need it.  (And it doesn't always work for that, anyway.  My PS used Alloderm during exchange and I still ended up seeing and feeling the implant under the skin but the fat grafting covered all that up.)  I know that Dr. Khouri does not use Alloderm.  He absolutely hates the stuff.  He said using fat grafting is more effective, less chance of infection and a lot less expensive.  

Kiwi_girl,

We just had someone from Australia join the fat grafting board (www.fatgraftpatients.com) - she is the first one in Australia who is going to have the procedure done there.  She is part of a clinical trial and the fat grafting they are doing is different - they are concentrating the stem cells for her procedure (which is controversial here in the USA).  Just thought I'd share since that is close to New Zealand, and she may be someone good for you to talk to about local practice patterns over there.  

Her story is "Jilly's surgery", and it is under the other surgeon's fat graft patient stories tab on the fat grafting board.    

Dancetrancer - thank you very much for your hint. I only joined fatgraftpatients two days ago and I will certainly look for Jilly's story.  You are absolutely correct NZ and Australia do tend to have very similar cultural and medical practices.  Our health professionals do swop readily between the countries and NZ patients sometimes travel to Australia for specialised procedures.  It is exciting to know that there is a 'local' trial. Thanks for the information.

Kate33 - Thank you for your warm welcome, I have enjoyed reading your story. I can imagine how fatgrafting over the top of an implant would help.  I asked my PS about this too, before I knew it was actually being done, and he expressed doubts about being able to do it without puncturing the implant. Hmmmm.  I should say this is an experienced, competent, caring surgeon but also a conservative and older doctor who has been putting in breast implants for a long time.  He does a very tidy job with them.  However he has never had to wear an implant himself!  I suspect I am not the first patient to ask him about fat grafting.  I have absolutely no doubt if fat grafting for breast reconstruction is proved safe (with the stem cell issue - and early reports suggests it is safe) and do-able (this may be the biggest issue, as not all surgeons will be as skilled technically as Dr Roger Khouri), it will be readily accepted by New Zealand women and plastic surgeons.  It is very exciting!

kiwi_girl- I find what is so frustrating is doctors who advise their patients against fat grafting when they themselves are not trained in the procedure.  (Reminds me of my first BS who tried to talk me out of NS only to find out she wasn't trained in it.)  If the procedure is done correctly there is no risk of puncturing the implant.  I think we are the ones that are going to have to force these surgeons to be trained in this procedure by saying no to the other choices.  I see no reason to disfigure ourselves any more than we already have been or to put foreign objects in our bodies when there is another choice out there.  I do hope it starts becoming more readily available to women everywhere.

evebarry- I posted on another one of your threads but you could definitely get an implant first.  Depending on what size you want to end up some PS will do what is called a one step meaning during the same surgery as the MX they place a implant immediately.  You may find you're perfectly happy with the implant but, if not, you can always have it removed down the road and replace it with fat grafting.

Here's a great article on fat grafting for those that are interested.  Interestingly enough, it was co-written by Dr. Coleman, the PS mentioned a few posts back, but I thought it was well written and informative.

http://www.lipotransferencia.com/files/papers/011.pdf 

fluffqueen01 - As with most everything, a lot will depend on the skill and experience of the surgeon doing this procedure.  I've met some very lean women, barely in the triple digits, who had successful micro fat grafting performed by Dr. Khouri.  It amazed me that he was able to find enough fat on these women, but somehow he did it and they were so pleased with the result.  With time, more and more surgeons will be able to offer this and it will become more accessible to all women.

kiwi_girl- Just to let you know my insurance paid for my initial TE and implants and also the swap to a smaller implant with the fat grafting.  And, if I get rid of the implants all together with another round of fat grafting they will pay for that, too.  Everyone's insurance is different, though, so would tell everyone to get things pre-authorized to make sure what will be covered.

The PS doing the TE with fat grafting is Dr. Suzanne Trott in Beverly Hills.  (drtrott.com) 

If at all possible I would advise women to avoid the TE's if possible.  When they place them they basically "relocate" your pec muscles to support it.  This trauma to the pecs can cause lifelong issues for some, though it's certainly not the norm.  But the muscles are being stretched and this can cause pain and ROM problems for some.  So if you can avoid going the TE route I would. 

kimi_girl: There are several videos on the Miami Breast Center site explaining Dr Khouri's process.  On this one http://www.miamibreastcenter.com/videos/brava.html he explains why he calls TE a tissue compressor. It stretches the skin but in the meantime the tissue becomes very thin.

I so agree try to avoid the tissue expander! I met with Dr Trott and really liked her but she wants to use a t/e as scoffolding as she does each fat graft. I thought about it and decided i could not go through the discomfort of that again and as the other ladies said i really think it does alot of damage to tissue,maybe not for everyone but for some and that includes me. I am waiting for a call from Dr.trott to discuss not using the t/e.I hope everyone finds there own fatgrafting expert

makingway- yes, it is.  Even though it is a much smaller implant than my original and I feel great, I still wish I didn't have any implant at all.