Has anyone here had lipofilling?

scary · May 2014

At the end of June, I will be having recon. of my right breast (I told PS I only want a B or C cup at the very most). He will also be reducing my size G-H breast. He said it is too dangerous for me to have any of the stomach flap procedures, due to my huge waist and stomach, and my butt is too small, as are my thighs, and most of my back. So he said he will be doing some liposuction on the stomach and doing the fat transfer. I read the info. here and did many google searches, but I did not see how MUCH fat is being removed by the liposuction. In the meantime, I am eating very healthy and exercising to lose whatever weight I can before the surgeries (I know it's a multi-step process). Does anyone here have any information or advice? thanks so much.

SpecialK · May 2014

Insurance will only cover this procedure for breast revision if the plastic surgeon removes the amount needed to correct the defect. Insurance receives a copy of the surgical report and if they feel that the doctor has veered into a cosmetic procedure by removing an excess of fat to improve aesthetics at the donor site they can refuse payment on the basis of the surgery being for more than revision purposes. Are you having an implant or other type of recon on the cancer side?

scary · May 2014

It's just for reconstruction, and since I only want small breasts, he probably won't need very much fat. So I guess your answer is that if the insurance company sees that more fat was removed than was needed for the recon. they will refuse payment? Is that correct? My brain is a big foggy right now, thanks for the reply. p.s. I see a million crunches in my future, lol. p.s.s. also, the area where the breast was removed seems more concave as times goes by. the BS said i was healed up two weeks ago, but in the last week or so, it's sinking in more than a flat chest would be. I wonder if this is just the tissue under where the breast was, is getting redistributed or something, or if it's a result of weight I am losing since the surgery on March 6.

SpecialK · May 2014

scary - if they see a margin more than they feel was needed, or was used, they can refuse - that is not a certainty. The reason I brought that up is because a lot of people who do this procedure think it is like getting cosmetic lipo to the abdomen, and it is not. A number of people do not see an appreciable difference to the abdomen and so are disappointed. Most plastic surgeons are pretty cautious about this because they would like to be paid, so they will be careful to only remove what they need, without a lot extra. Also important to note that a percentage can reabsorb, so you may see some shrinkage on that side as well.

scary · May 2014

thanks for the reply. yes, i read about the readsorption. I am overthinking everything lately, but i guess rightfully so since I have this on my mind so much. I have done searches on the concave issue, and I hope insurance will understand if the ps needs a bit more fat to fill in the concave area, and the fact that some may be reabsorbed, etc. He did say it wouldn't be a big difference in the size of my stomach, but in my mind, any little bit is kind of encouraging to me, to stick to my healthy eating and exercising. I guess I have to stop looking at websites where they show more dramatic differences in the belly, since those women may have paid extra money out of pocket for a more cosmetic outcome in the belly, and many times it's an advertisement for a plastic surgery center. thanks again SpecialK, I always read your posts, because they are very informative, xoxo.

BayouBabe · May 2014

scary - I had fat grafting last week. For a point of reference for you, my surgeon placed 200 cc of fat into each breast.

scary · May 2014

thank you bayou babe, i have to look up what 200cc looks like.

scary · May 2014

I did a bit of research and I'm just as confused as ever. Anyway, I think I remember the PS saying I would be getting a small implant too, so maybe the fat goes in later, after the fills? I have to get it clarified again with his office, and when I go in for pre-op.

SpecialK · May 2014

scary - that is what a lot of people do. I needed fat placed above my implants in the hollow above the upper pole. That area was dented in after exchange, and the fat filled in and also softened and made things look more natural. I had very little reabsorption.

scary · May 2014

SpecialK, you just explained it perfectly. now it makes sense. I feel better now. Now if I can only sleep.........since starting this Femara, I have had trouble sleeping, even though I take it in the morning, but it is making me feel better and stronger otherwise.

SpecialK · May 2014

Very good! I take my Femara at night and have less issues with insomnia than I used to, but still experience the occasional sleep challenged night. Try taking it at different times of day and see how you do.

scary · May 2014

I started it in the late afternoons, and instantly woke up, then late at night. But I will experiment with different times. either that or xanax, lol.

Has anyone here had lipofilling?

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