Has anyone had micro fat grafting?

I've had two FGs so far, and the first time I wore the compression for 5 or 6 weeks. It didn't bother me after awhile, and I have to say, when I didn't wear it, I could feel it in my legs. The second time I wore it about a month I think. Both times, after I came off of wearing it full time, I'd pull it on and off depending on how I felt. Like if I excersised, I'd come home and wear it.

Mammalou, it's a surgical garment, and your PS should have one or be able to order it for you. They put it on during surgery, so you wake up wearing it. It's crotchless. BTW my mother read an article that says these garments are all the rage--women are seeking them out so they look slimmer in their clothes.

As far as the FG softening up the radiation, are you wearing the Brava domes? My PS thinks the domes help with the radiated skin. I think she's probably right, although my arm is starting to tighten up again. She said I need to keep stretching it. Apparently radiation is the gift that keeps on giving, years after.

Shabby--for me thighs made a tremendous difference. I only used garments for one week 24/7. Second week days only. Your plan should work. Best of luck. Eileen

I use arnica for two weeks prior to surgery, two weeks after surgery. Thighs were not painful. Waist did hurt for a few days. Used only Tylenol. My biggest issue is fatigue--probably from the anesthesia.Lasts about one week. Legs might have been slightly swollen after one month, but starting to look good. Full effects took a little longer. Eileen

shabby - ask your doc how long you should wear compression.  I wore it for 8 weeks, with no exercise.  PS explained that less than that time period allows fluid to form in the tunnels created by the lipo cannula and can be visible, and leave you looking lumpy.  I hope you are not planning to wear a bathing suit outside in Las Vegas anytime soon - brrrrr!

Shabby, a month should leave you bruise free and pain free. I still had to be wearing my compression garment 24/7 then, but I am sure if you wanted to cheat for a couple hours and sit in the sun, it wouldn't be the end of the world.



Kriserts, mine wasnt crouch less. It hooked. The brand name was Veronique. They cost a hundred dollars on their website. If I am wearing a fitted dress or shirt, I put that puppy on. It looks goooood!

Shabby , the small amount of fat cells needed to fill in the breasts is so minimal. You won't need compression garments unless u are also having Cosmetic Lipo to the thigh region as well. Be prepared for lots of bruising & swelling of the breasts! I was surprised by how much. Been there, done that. U will have burning from you donor site, being the thighs. Quick procedure! U may need more time prior to your vacation. Good luck

Shabby,

You should be just fine traveling a month out after lipo.  I had lipo of my legs for full fat grafting two times, so probably a lot more fat removed than you will have for just touch up fat grafting - and I would have been fine to travel by 4 weeks post.  I wore compression garments for about 3 weeks after lipo.  They really make your legs feel better, and help the skin adhere down to the subcutaneous layer after being lipo'd - in other words, as specialK said, makes your lipo'd area look smoother and nicer in the long run.  If I were you, I'd wear them to give yourself the best long term outcome possible.  My legs look great after lipo...could stand to have a bit more taken still! I will admit - it's a great side benefit to having to go through surgery. 

I used the Veronique brand, too - great product, but expensive.  Yes, spanx can work well, but make sure they go low enough down the leg.  My doc did some lipo starting just below the knee, going up my thighs - so I needed spanx that went to mid calf to cover these lower lipo holes. 

In terms of exercise, probably nothing major for at least 4 weeks, IMO - but again - depends likely on how much lipo you had done.  

shabby - I really did not bruise that much - I was expecting worse.  I didn't bruise much with BMX either though.  I had two "stab" incisions in the lower abdomen, one in the upper abdomen, two in the lower back "love handle" area, and one on each hip.  I had two stab incisions in the cleavage where the PS injected the fat upwards to fill the upper poles.  I am not sure if you will lose the iron bra feel if you are adding fat because it will stretch your skin tighter, but I did the FG for a different reason.  Mine was filling hollows above the implant, I did not have any fat put around the implant or on top of it so I can't offer any experience regarding that.  My recommendation is to wear the compression as long as you can.  You don't want to remove fat from a problem area and then create a new problem.  Maybe you could wear the compression during the vacation and just take it off for the times you are in a bathing suit?  Do you bruise easily?  Mine was completely gone in 3 weeks.  I could not go to the gym during those 8 weeks (I am going tomorrow - yay!) but I walked 6 miles a day and have lost 7 lbs. since the surgery.

mammalou - I woke up in a compression garment of sorts - it was a heavy wrap binder with a foam pad in the front that was adjustable with velcro.  I had surgery on a Friday and wore this garment all weekend.  It was uncomfortable and I am short-waisted so it was up under my armpits and I have a small waist so I couldn't get it to wrap tight enough.  I called my PS office on Mon. morning and asked if I could get my own Spanx.  PS said yes as long as it was tight enough.  I just bought size small in a variety of differing types that all had compression in the abdomen and hips.  I think fluffqueen woke up in hers also - not sure if the price of hers was included in her surgery cost, but I believe the manufacturer was Veronique.

mammalou - this is true, and there is such a variation among different docs and their instructions!  You can see on this thread alone - some docs say compression for a couple of weeks, but mine said eight weeks.  FYI my first post-op the following week is when he told me about the eight weeks of compression and the no exercise except walking rule.

I guess they must assume that you won't do much for the first week.  Doesn't seem like a good idea to assume.  I'm planning on going back to work in 2-3 days.  I think, no matter what, I'll just wear the compression for a longer period.  It makes me glad that I'm doing this in March so that by summer I'll be freeeeee.  I'm a teacher, so I tend to always do these things in the summer, but this time I decided that I was tired of ruining my summers with surgeries.  The last two haven't been so good.  I have a Spanx.  Are they tight enough?  My doctor is making me wait for a nipple to see how this fat grafting goes.  Originally I was having the nipple done also.  I get the feeling that he is worried he may have to go back in later to fix capsular contracture.  He kept saying I had scar tissue.  I finally asked if this was capsular contracture and he said yes.  Are they hesistant to tell a patient that?  I have heard that sometimes it is considered to be caused by problems with the exchange surgery.  In my case, I am sure it is just because of radiation, so I wasn't judging him.

Sherry-so far I have had two fat grafting sessions. Cosmetics were greatly improved both times. After surgery, the shape was nice, but way too large. Eventually it settlled into the correct size to match my natural breast. I still feel discomfort, tightness so will be having my implant removed with fat grafting on feb. 20. Hopefully the pain will be gone, and again the cosmetics will improve. Before fat grafting, you could see the outline of my implant on top.That area is now completely natural--and the overall "breast look" has greatly improved. Eileen

I am a patient of Dr. Ahn, and considering a Brava. I have had bilat mastec. w/ immed. reconstruction, which failed -- at which point I found Dr/ Ahn to remove my Becker  implants, en-bloc.  That was 5 years ago.  Did you have FG? If so, how did you fare? THanks!

Adele, Lanccaster, PA

I am a patient of Dr. Ahn having additional fat grafting on Feb. 20. Will be back on the forum after my surgery. Hoping for total pain relief and better cosmetics. Eileen.

Shabby-I have a long history--16 years of pain, discomfort from implant.  I had it replaced several times.  Pain always came back for me.    My present history is   410cc implant was replaced on April18, 2012 with a 210cc implant and fat grafting.  October 23,2012  the 210cc implant was replaced with a 120cc implant and fatgrafting.  With the reduction in size and fatgrafting I have definitely progressed to less pain, less discomfort and better cosmetics.  There is no doubt that the iron-bra feeling is gone.  But I still have a tightness, and discomfort. My PS says it is from the remaining implant.  She says that I should experience another 90 percent reduction in pain.  I hope so.  Will be having the implant totally removed, removal of additional scar tissue and more fat grafting on February 20, 2013.  Wish me luck. I will let you know how it goes. 

By the way,  some patients are not feeling the implant tightness--I do not know why it has occurred for me--no radiation.  Eileen