whippetmom- Dr. Greenburg was the only one on my list in that area.  Her website is laurengreenbergmd.com.  

Hi again, it's my 2nd day out from surgery and I'm still very sore and bruised. I'm on the thin side, so my PS said he had a tough time finding enough fat. (I know this sounds stupid.) This could be why I feel so sore. I'm hoping that I'll start feeling better over the next few days. It 's hard to get up from a lying position. No regrets, just hoping for fast healing. Any advice is welcome.

Hi Kate33, thanks for the tips. I need to remember to hydrate and take Arnica! I am wearing the Spanx-type compression garment too. I will try to keep moving around, even though I'm feeling rather lazy. Appreciate the advice.

Hopeful- best wishes for a speedy recovery, and feeling much better soon !!!!

I have blueroses.  There are only a few of us here who have done the whole sha-bang from MX.  My story is pretty long and complicated, but nothing due to the fat grafting - all cancer crap.  I'm very happy with my fat grafting process, but it does require several surgeries and a committment to wear the Brava for long periods of time.  If you want to see my story as well as several others the best way to get all the nitty gritty details is to go to fatgraftpatients.com and look for my story under Dr. Khouri's patients' stories.  I'm under the same name there.  

Hi ladies, thanks for the encouraging thoughts. I got my bandages off today, 6 full days after surgery. What a relief it was to take a nice, long shower! I am still quite sore but am taking my arnica, wearing my compression garment and trying to move around. So far, the results look great, but I have to look past the bruising and swelling. I really want this fat to "take" as I'd prefer not to go through this again. Any advice on maximizing the fat retention??



Meny, my PS is Dr Kao in Santa Monica. He does a great job, a true perfectionist. I had seen other surgeons for second opinions, including famous Dr Aronowitz, but I'm happy with my choice. Dr Kao and the other PS in his office (Dr Hayden) both specialize in breast reconstruction, and I've heard that they both started using the Brava via Dr Khouri.

A week ago I had the tissue expander removed for an implant. I heard that the implant would be squishy, soft and make me look some what normal. It is soooo uncomfortable and looks more like a bulging muscle. 

I wanted to do the fg, but doctors, due to my thin frame, strongly suggested the implant. I do not like the whole flexing and feeling like I have a brick tight bra on that I can't take off. I heard that it is suppose to drop but could take months. Because I'm always feeling it the implant is a constant reminder of breast cancer.

Good news is I've gained about 5 pounds in my tummy since mx. I can actually pinch a little stomach fat. I know of someone in my area who does partial fg. I am tempted to go to him and see if he can take out this implant for fg.  I just wanted something to replace the breast that felt soft and somewhat normal.

evebarry-  It can take months for the implant to soften up completely so don't dispair, yet.  You'll see a lot of changes in the months ahead.  If you're still not happy in the future, the fat grafting over the implant is a great option.  It made such a difference in how things looked and felt for me.  Like hopeful said, ask your PS about massaging the implant.  That can speed things along I've heard.  

ZTeam...no one answered your question...and I'm sorry, I'm not sure either.  I am aware of several ladies from fatgraftpatients.com who used Brava after radiation, but for most of them, the radiation was quite a long time before FG.  Radiated tissue takes longer to respond but fantastic success is possible.  See psf at the site mentioned (though you do need to submit your photos to have rights to see photo histories)....really spectacular results!  As mentioned in the Cytori article and from women's experiences, the fat seems to help heal radiated tissue.

Hopeful Future, hope you are feeling better day by day and able to enjoy the wonderful benefits of FG….so glad you found a great PS…perfectionism is a great quality when they are working on our bodies!

Blueroses, I did have FG to "grow" a new breast after complete mastectomy (unilateral) with Dr. Khouri which was completed three years ago.  There are lots of women who have had this done...it's not anything unusual. The procedure Suzanne Sommers had done is just done for lumpectomies...for the clinical trial, anyway.

 eveberry, leeinfl is a great example of using FG to soften and enhance a natural look when you have implants…and to have the joy of less discomfort and return of sensation!!

lizdehart, saw your photos...you're making progress!  Glad your recovery has been good!

I am new to this specific fat grafting forum. It is taking me a long time to read it but I have about 35 pages to go. In the meantime, can anyone answer if they had their breasts reconstructed by only using fat grafting and not using dr khouri's brava system. My PS has not done many fat grafting procedures but has done some creating entire breast from fat grafting. he doesn't use brava system. If you have had this experience, I would really like to hear your thoughts and experience. Also, Since I have had a BMX, I am not sure whether recurrence would be any different/higher with fat grafting than if I had implant.

lisagwa, I know of no one that has had entire breasts made without BRAVA but a few with and their results are nothing short of amazing. Is your PS adverse to BRAVA or just not trained to use it?

 As for recurrence it is your own fat being rearranged in your body,

My PS is in Maryland. He hasn't mentioned that he is adverse to BRAVA. However since he isn't trained in it, I believe he feels comfortable with his fat grafting procedure.

beacher - so, so, SO happy for YOU!  You suffered for so long.  I am so relieved for you to be feeling better!

Hey all - a bunch of videos/lectures by Dr. Khouri have been posted on the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Journal website. If you look around you'll even see video of him doing surgery live.  Here is a lecture that should be very educational to those who are thinking of fat grafting:

Clinical and Scientific Basis for Autologous Fat Transplantation in Breast Augmentation and Reconstruction - Part 2. A Lecture by Roger K. Khouri, MD from the 45th Annual Baker Gordon Symposium on Cosmetic Surgery. 

Sorry so long to reply.  We went to Domican Republic.  I saw Dr.Kish prior to vacation and am scheduled for 1st grafting 4/26,  However, she is out of network and my insur. co. is saying I have a $11,000 deductible for out of network!  I asked for authorization to use her, but haven't rec'd a reply yet.  Dr Ahn will be same.  I plan to research Dr. Pathy and make an appt to meet with him to discuss. 

Liz and Kate.. Thank you for the info on Dr. Greenberg...a delayed thank you!