Fat Grafting along with Implants

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2012
    kburdic- You are not a wimp!  Or, if you are, I am too!!!  Laughing  I thought the pain from the lipo was the worst pain I've ever had in my life and was black and blue from thigh to breast.  You may have a little swelling but I didn't lose too much in size after it all went away.  Hope you get wonderful results!  BTW, I found that arnica worked great for the bruising and soreness and the more active I was the quicker I started to feel better.  Nothing upper body but just get up and walk as much as possible.  Also, are you wearing compression garments over your stomach?  It's supposed to help with everything healing smoothly but I also found I had less pain when I was wearing them.  I just got some Spanx from Kohl's and they worked great.  I wore them 24/7 (except for showering, of course) for about 3 weeks.
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  • GODISGOOD2012
    GODISGOOD2012 Member Posts: 63
    edited May 2012

    kburdic, Eileen is right, we all heal differently.  I am a teacher and had to come to the realization that I could not return to school this year.  I feel like I have let all of my students and their parents down, but I know physically I cannot take care of me much less them.  Anyway, my PS said it well when I shared my decision.  He said, "You have a LIFETIME to do STUFF and right now your body has a LOT of HEALING to do!"  This statement made me realize that just because it looks better on the outside, I have no idea what it looks like on the inside, but I can sure feel it and I know it doesn't feel like it is healed.  Take the time you need and you will be stronger. Thanks for the continued words of encouragement and your experiences with this fat grafting procedure.  

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited May 2012

    I had fat transfer done both at my exchange and at my nipple recon. (PS couldn't find enough on my tummy/love handles the first time so 2nd time he headed for my thighs… I have lots there). I was pretty bruised and had some soreness but not too bad. It took a while for the bruising to go away on my thighs. Boobie prizes look great.

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  • Hindsfeet
    Hindsfeet Member Posts: 2,456
    edited May 2012

    I saw my plastic surgeon today. I'm not completely thrilled with the implant, but have gotten used to it. It is a little larger than what I wanted. I wanted to be a modest size B. My implant is probably a size C+. It's hard to wear fitted t-shirts because the new implant breast and the real breast are different. The implant breast is higher, and just differently shaped...like a round whatever. My other one is more like a teardrop. I prefer the real one because it looks normal. I asked the plastic surgeon today for semetry. He said if he did it my normal real breast would need a implant to make it as large as the one he put in. I didn't want to be bigger. He would need to do a little fat grafting to the normal breast to make it like the other one he put in. He said because the left breast had cancer although it was only a grade 1 cancer, he can't do fat grafting on that breast. So, I said, I'll find someone else who will do it. He said, if my oncologist ok's it he will do it. Hmm...never heard of not being able to do fat grafting for a breast that had a lumpectomy.

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  • GODISGOOD2012
    GODISGOOD2012 Member Posts: 63
    edited May 2012

    evebarry, I am not a doctor, nor do I know your PS's reputation or abilities, but everything I have read about fat grafting says that they began using the technique to fill in the missing tissue areas from lumpectomies.  I have read that sometimes doctors will discourage patients when they themselves are not familiar with the procedure.  Mine on the other hand when I first talked about the DEIP, said that he didn't feel comfortable with the procedure and would send me to a center that specializes in it if it was what I really wanted.  For that I respect him and trust that he wants to do what is best for me.  I too want to be a full B.  How much were you filled when you had your TE and then what was the cc of your implant?

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  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Member Posts: 5,938
    edited May 2012

    Eveberry that does not make any sence.  With a MX you do not remove 100% of the breast tissue so really what is the difference if you fat graft a lumpectomy site or a MX site? You might want a second opinion.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2012

    evebarry- I would definitely recommend having a consult with a PS who specializes in fat grafting.  Fat grafting is ideal for repairing divots left behind by lumpectomy so what your PS is saying doesn't make sense.  The other issue I have is you've already told him you feel too big so his answer is to make your natural size even bigger?  If you are truly unhappy with your size the answer would be to swap out the implant for a much smaller one and then do fat grafting over it.  This will make it look and feel much more natural and will match your natural size.  If you find someone skilled in fat grafting they can add it in such a way to make a more natural slope and will give you the teardrop shape you want.  If you do decide you want a revision your insurance should cover it especially if your PS did not make you the size you had agreed upon.

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  • Hindsfeet
    Hindsfeet Member Posts: 2,456
    edited May 2012

    Thanks sooo much for your help. I thought fg was ok for lumpectomies. I' don't see my plastic surgeon for another 3 weeks. Meanwhile, I'm going for a second opinion. What I wanted from the beginning and expressed it to the plastic surgeon was a small implant with fg over it. What I have now is weird. It also has wripples in it. It seems also like the skin is pulled tighter than it should be. Mostly, I just want to look about the same size in my clothing.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2012

    evebarry- Rippling seems to be one of those things that almost everyone ends up with but hardly anyone is warned about.  Some PS's want to shove an even bigger implant in to fix it but I don't see how this could.  And it would only make our skin stretched even more which can't be healthy.  I hope you can find someone experienced in fat grafting who can come up some solutions for you.  Good luck.

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  • EileenKaye1
    EileenKaye1 Member Posts: 469
    edited May 2012

    Kate33--good to hear you back on the forum.  You are such a wealth of information.

    As you may have read--fatgrafting worked well for me.  410 implant to a 213 with fatgrafting.  Seems to have taken quite well. Pain is gone, left with a mild tightness.

    Tried the Brava--do not think my skin will adapt to the Brava.  Will try again--but will probably go to a smaller implant with additional fatgrafting in the future.  Stages with smaller implants will probably be best--since my first try at brava was not successful.

    As stated--i will try again.  How is your lymphedema?  Mine is just about gone with the fatgrafting.  Perhaps a smaller implant would also work for you.  Eileen

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2012

    Eileen- I have to admit I've been kicking around the idea of doing another swap.  Last surgery was 375 down to 225 and would like to go even smaller with more fat grafting.  Just not sure I'm up for another out of town surgery so have been trying to find someone closer to home (Phoenix area) who takes my insurance with no luck so far.  LE is doing much better.  I've been going to LE PT twice a week for 7 weeks now and am about to "graduate".  I will admit that your LE improvement and some others I've read about would be a big incentive for me to attempt another surgery.  So glad you're doing well!

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  • GODISGOOD2012
    GODISGOOD2012 Member Posts: 63
    edited May 2012

    I had my last fill today.  Only had to have one side done to compensate for the chest deformity.  Now I wait for 2 months and exchange surgery is scheduled for July 27th.  PS said after everything is all situated and healed the fat grafting will begin.  I must say, I don't know how in the world some people can get so much saline in the expanders.  I have 500 in one side and 600 in the other.  That is as far as I can go.  OMG!!! 

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  • hawaiik
    hawaiik Member Posts: 69
    edited June 2012

    I will be having my ports removed in November, and assuming I dont exchange these saline implants for silicone,(i had direct to implant recon) I asked my PS about fat grafting. I have some rippling and a bit of what I call a concave area atop my right breast. She said yes, she can do fat grafting, but said  I have to have enought fat to graft. I am not a very big person. I weigh about 120lb, about 5'3".  I have fat especially around my middle and back. Does anyone know about fat grafting in smaller people?  How much fat do you have to have. Are we talking 20 lbs overweight or what? I just dont really know.

    Thanks Ladies 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2012

    @hawaiik

    I'm confused. Did your PS say you DID or DID NOT have enough fat?

    Honestly you should be OK, IMO, especially if your PS does a lot of grafting. My PS said something to the effect that we all have the same amount of fat "cells" but the larger you are the larger the cells are.

    I am having full breast recon. with fat grafting and I started out about 116-117, 5'5" and have already had 2 grafts (about 300ccs per side so far taken from bilateral inner and outer thighs). No problem finding the fat, just a little more bruising where there was less.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2012

    Hawaiik- I am 5'4" and was 115l lbs when my PS did quite a lot of fat grafting. (Swapped my 375 silicone for 225 but ended up the same size.). You should have no problem.

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  • beacher4209
    beacher4209 Member Posts: 540
    edited June 2012

    Hi Kate And Everybody! Have not been on the boards in a very long time.I am doing very well since my surgery in Feb. I had my 500cc swapped for a 250cc and 250cc of fat and stem cells. They also took out alot of scar tissue under my arm.I have no more pain and doing great. I was going to have surgery this thursday to have something called a bat flap and some more fat and stem cells,but im going to wait till the end of the summer. thet look ok and i want to just enjoy this summer.:)  

    Kate have you called Dr. Aronowitz? I really like him and his office  

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  • EileenKaye1
    EileenKaye1 Member Posts: 469
    edited June 2012

    beacher4209--so glad to hear it worked so well for you.  Are you going to totally remove your implant?  Eileen

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  • beacher4209
    beacher4209 Member Posts: 540
    edited June 2012

    Hi Eileen, No not at this piont i do not see the need It feels ok. Its still does not match my right non cancer boob which is now perfect no implant at all in that one just a lift.Dr A took the 250cc out of that one and its all me,never needed an implant in there (my first ps was so bad ggrrrrr) what i may do is a bat flap which is kind of hard to explain but it is where he would cut a footbal shape of skin (ONLY) near latisumus and flip it over still attach for blood supply to center of my masectomy boob(do not call it a foob cause with all the fat and stem cells it feels like me ) it will have blood supply cause its still attached this would give me more projection to match my right breast ,then fill it with fat and stem cells. I know its hard to visualize. i do not want to fo all fat grafting just too many procedures and the implant is ok .hope you are well Karin

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2012

    Karin- So glad that things have worked out so well for you!!!  (BTW, I sent you a PM.)  I think the biggest thing that separates Dr. Aronowitz from other PS's out there doing fat grafting is he took the time to remove the scar tissue instead of just swapping out implants like I had done.  I wonder if I would feel better now if all that had been cleared out.  (Well, that and not putting the d*** incisions in my armpit.)  Glad you have found so much relief with just one surgery!!!

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  • EmbracedbyHim
    EmbracedbyHim Member Posts: 5
    edited June 2012

    kburdic,

    Don't for a minute think that any of this is easy.  I've always felt that I had a high tolerance for pain.  Qualification: delivered four babies (over 9 lbs each) without any pain help. But all of this cancer treatment stuff hurts!  I just finished my last and final stage of my reconstruction (nipples with upper thigh skin grafted areolas, and fat transfer from abodomen) six days ago, and even this last stage that is supposed to be the easiest, has been painful.  You hang in there, girl!  You don't learn how strong you are until you see it for yourself.  May God bless you :)

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  • ccjj
    ccjj Member Posts: 128
    edited June 2012

    This topic is very interesting to me.  I am not that happy with the size of my implants.  I feel they are too narrow for my frame. Projection is okay but I would be happier if projected a little further. My initial thought was to ask for the implants to be swapped out for larger ones.  From reading all of the posts sounds like fat grafting may be option. Please help me understand, does fat grafting work to add volume in any area of the breast, or is it used mostly to correct rippling, dents, etc?  Am I understanding correctly from the posts that some can actually eventually remove the implant and use only fat w/o having DIEP type surgery?

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2012

    ccjj,

    Yes, you are correct. You can have grafting to give more volume. You can also have the implant reduced or even removed entirely and replaced with fat. It is important to seek out a PS that is experienced in micro-fat grafting

    I will PM you.

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  • hawaiik
    hawaiik Member Posts: 69
    edited October 2012

    Hi Ladies,

    Ive decided to have my saline implants exchanged out for silicone  due to rippling and also am going to have some fat grafting done to fill in where the right implant slides to the right and leaves a "bare" area and I am also a little concave on the upper right breast. Id like some cleavage too as I am so flat and bony between my implants. I am 500 cc right now, and I was surprised because I dont look that large. Im wondering if I should ask for smaller silicone implants since im having fat grafting, im just concerned that what if all the fat does not take then Im stuck with a smaller size than I want. Im also having some scar tissue removed .My surgery in Nov 29th. Any comments or advice?

    Thanks,

    Karen

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  • slinky
    slinky Member Posts: 397
    edited October 2012

    hawaiik,

    I had FG when I swapped my textured implants for smooth implants.  I used the same size - 650cc's and the doc did FG around the cleavage area and the tops of the implants.  He did not use much fat.  Maybe 50cc's at most.

    I will be swapping out my current implants for the Sientras.  At the same time, I will have FG under the nipple area and various other places around the implants.  I will stay with 650 cc's.  The amount of fat the doc used was very small.  I am petite, so any fat the doc could find just contoured my body that much more.

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  • Cyn0619
    Cyn0619 Member Posts: 63
    edited November 2012

    Hi All:

    I had BMX and implants of April 2012.  I noticed i have a dent (looks kind of like a disc or something) on each implant.  Asked plastic surgeon if that is just the implant and he said he wasn't sure what was causing the dents but suggested fat grafting.  Also a little concave on left breast above implant that he said he can add fat grafting too.  He told me the fat they implant often gets absorbed so it has to be done more than once. Has anyone else had this happen? Was the procedure very painful? He is also going to re do the scar on my right side because it is raised and red and the other side healed so much better.  Are there any higher risks for reoccurence by adding more tissue?  Thanks for your help ladies!

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  • hawaiik
    hawaiik Member Posts: 69
    edited November 2012

    Thanks slinky , that helped a lot. I am also petite , although I tried to gain a little weight so I'd have some fat. Surgery is this Thursday, Wish me Luck!

    HawaiiK

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  • GreenMonkey
    GreenMonkey Member Posts: 666
    edited November 2012

    good luck HawaiiK, and let us know how it goes. I'm waiting for my surgery date for fat grafting and nipples. 

    I too have rippling on the inner side of both implants and also that sunken look above one of my implants. My PS said she doesn't take the fat from the stomach (I can't remember why) but rather, she does it from the sides or the back of the leg. 

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  • spunkyboobster
    spunkyboobster Member Posts: 738
    edited November 2012

    I've read this entire thread and it was so enlightening.  I have rippling and hate the cold feeling of the foobs. So how do you find a PS who does fat grafting?

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  • slinky
    slinky Member Posts: 397
    edited November 2012

    Good luck, HawaiiK!

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  • hawaiik
    hawaiik Member Posts: 69
    edited November 2012

    Hi Ladies,

    Had my pre-op today, and just confirmed that im exchanging out for silicone having scar tissue release and some fat grafting. PS not to,excited about the fat grafting overall . She feels that in actuality we only retain about 30% of the fat grafted . She has been really honest with me all along the way. I am excited to get these ports removed! Will update you all soon.

    Thanks for all your support

    Karen

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