Has anyone had micro fat grafting?

Janny99 - did your doctor perform microfat grafting? Did you use the BRAVA system?

I'm sorry most of you fat reabsorbed. If performed correctly fat grafting has up to an 85% retention rate so you are not wrong to have been disappointed.

lisagwa, 1 1/2 years seem incredibly long to finish the full grafting. Mine should be complete in 6 months.

I am doing Brava. I believe the consensus is 4 weeks after the mastectomy before one can begin BRAVA. It will be 10 weeks for me due to logistics and then I will wear the BRAVA for 4 weeks. I will be having my first grafting the end of May and another about 2 months later. I was not TOLD 6 months but my impression is (I will check with PS to be sure) one can have a grafting about every 8 weeks. If it takes 3 surgeries (one grafft done at mastectomy + 2 subsequent fat grafts) the process should take about 6 months.

Would your PS be willing to train on the BRAVA system?

Good luck to you!

I wish you great results!

fluffqueen,  that is an interesting question.  I have read quite a few articles on FG, I have not seen any data that quantifies retention rates.  Not even animal studies. 

I think most PSs just guestimate.  I think I lost 50% with my first round and 4 weeks out from 2nd round I have maybe lost 20%, but expect I may loose more.  And as you note, some loss could be reduced edema too.

It's exciting to hear that your issues were resolved and you feel already that it was the right decision, Eileen! My insurance company finally (just last week) okayed the procedure and I'm set for next Monday. Good to hear the recovery went well.

Best of luck to you, kriserts. Congratulations on your success, Eileen!!

Congrats Eileen!  So happy for you!

Hope you are recovering well kriserts!!

Regarding measuring of fat retention, in my case (as part of the original government clinical trial by Dr. Khouri)  it was done by MRI.  I had a baseline MRI and at least two others...maybe after six months and a year, so it was able to be scientifically measured.  Wish I would have asked my exact %, but didn't think to at the time.

 In checking out other trials, one compilation of studies with a study pool of 820 subjects indicated measuring by  3D interferometry (not sure what that is).  It cited 30 to 40% fat might be reabsorbed, but sounds like it involved many approaches...not sure if any used BRAVA.  Seems indications are quite clear that BRAVA use yields better volume and retention results....though sorry, I don't have specific study to cite....have just heard this cited many times from various sources. The results can also be very technique dependent (per Dr. Khouri and anecdotal)..

 In my case, I know I lost maybe about 15% (questimating) on basis of my bras still fitting almost exactly the same as about 3 months after completing fat grafting.  It's three years out for me now.

Was nice to see in the compliation study, that the satisfaction rate was 50% very good; 40% good and 10% moderately good.  There was very minimal complications and no suspicious masses noted with follow up mammograms.

EileenKaye1

Doesa your Dr utliize the same type of canullas for liposuction and than cenerfuge the fat using Dr Khouris made centerfuge and then reinject using his mapping system of microfatgrafting? I am wondeing if any changes are made to this procedure would it decrease fat retention? For sure BRAVA helps but it seems Dr Khouri also recommends that the collection and type of centerfuging is also important. What do you all think?

Honestly Mina, I don't know!  I know he is very careful with how he harvests fat, b/c if it isn't injured during the harvesting then of course more of it will live and be retained.   I also know that injecting it in microdroplets is critical so that it doesn't all amass together in a glob (if that happens, you are more likely to not get enough blood to the fat and thus it is more likely to die).  That is the extent of my knowledge on it, though.  I don't know if that helps? 

I was just diagnosed with a recurrence (after 9 years!) and am told I must have a UMX.  I am trying to do research before meeting with a surgeon.   I am thinking of UMX with immediate DIEP.  I think micro fat grafting would be good.  I am just getting started thinking about all of this.  Does anyone know of a good PS in the Los Angeles/Santa Monica area who does DIEP and micro fat grafting?

Thanks.   

Hello everyone!  So sorry that I did not respond to the questions  as I've not been on here again since I last posted...it's been a busy few weeks.

My plastic surgeon is highly recommended and I have the highest respect for him, but I do think he is new to the fat grafting procedure.  I did not use the Brava system, and after reading all the posts, I think that if I decide to continue on with this, that I will ask him about that, perhaps the fat retention will be greater.  I also did not use any compression for my tummy, and think that I need to at least wear "spanks" or some type of support to help reduce the pain and swelling I had from the donor site.

He was honest with me, in that he feels it will take most likely 3 procedures to get the fullness I am hoping for.  Sometimes I wonder, after being through so much, is this worth it? 

Jannelle ~ I am so very sorry to hear of your recurrence...sending loving thoughts and prayers your way!!! 

Did not find the discomfort from fatgrafting to be unreasonable.  Lipo on thigh areas healed rapidly.  Was back to work in a short period of time.  For me fatgrafting--is a gift.  Definitely willing to go thru two more surgeries for the desired results. Eileen

I'm about 2 weeks behind Eileen with the same surgeon. I don't find the pain unreasonable, either. What gets me is the post-surgery nausea, and the thought of having to go back to the hospital at least twice more is not so much daunting as just a drag. I'm tired of being a patient. But I hope that by this fall I'll be in a better mood about it.

Hi everyone, could someone tell me what BRAVA means regarding the micro fat grafting? what the acronym means? and, I am very interested in doing this and have read thru these posts that your insurance may take it due to it being "breast reconstruction" - my question is, will it cover more than one procedure due to hearing from these posts, that the retention is not great? Thanks everyone for any help. This sounds too good to be true.