BRAVA Fat Transfer with no breast

I did see (and bookmark that site). It is amazing. I'll be heading to Mayo on Wednesday and I'm anxious to hear my doctor's full plan.

I am anxious to hear from those outside Miami. Dr. Khouri -- who I believe is great -- was the expert three years ago. That's a long time for other doctors to become "experts" and maybe even make minor changes.



My doc, for example, made a few of his own changes to the DIEP Flap (including no binders). I have a perfect right breast and would probably have the same on the left if all the blood vessels hadn't been compromised.

I've been having trouble getting registered on that site. I hope to get that straightened today. It looks like it is all Miami based, though.



I'm very happy with my team at Mayo. It's a bit of travel, but worth it. BTW, I just moved from NY four years ago. I had my first lumpectomies there with three different surgeons. The egos (and wait times) are so different.



Marcia

I finally got into fat graft patients and was rather disappointed. While there are some recent replies, most of the stories and doctor updates are over a year old. That's a lifetime in the world of breast reconstruction.

Hi Everyone,

I don't know who has heard, but Dr. Saint-Cyr at Mayo had a serious accident last Sunday -- the day I arrived for my Monday morning fat graft. I've been waiting all week to see if another surgeon there could do my surgery. I have heard nothing.

I made a few calls yesterday and I actually managed to get in with Dr. Khouri next week! It's amazing that they have been so cooperative. I'm meeting him Monday in Miami and it looks like I will have surgery Tuesday or Wednesday.

I wish I could have done the surgeries with Dr. Saint-Cyr, but since I've been doing Brava for six weeks now I'm anxious to get going.

Marcia

Fatgrafting surgery two is in the books and I'm back home. I'd like to say it went easier, but every procedure seems to bring new complications and pain. 

Dr Khouri took fat from my hips (front and back), waist and a bit from my behind. He was happy that I had "a bit more fat" for him, but not happy in the volume of my breast from the BRAVA. I told him I've done it as much as I possibly could stand the pain, even taking vicodin to get through it at times.

As far as fat deposits, he decided to concentrate on my cleavage, putting fat at the top of my left breast and doing the same with the right (in that breast it's just repositioning what's there). He also worked on my stomach scar a bit.

Oddly, I was told not to use any compression garments this time so the stomach would heal better. It meant actual spouting of blood from the holes the first day, but made it a bit easier the other days. The problem was in my back. The pain from my spine was horrendous and got worse each day after surgery. When I called, I was told to add in Tramadol and tylenol, but nothing helped.

On the day of my follow-up, Dr. Khouri said my back had nothing to do with the surgery, that I should see I chiropractor when I got home! I kept saying I was sure it was from the surgery, but he shrugged. It was the nurse and other doctor who told me that irritation on the spine can happen when doing back hip lipo (the rubbing back and forth on an area with no fat). I got stronger Dilaudid and has me also taking Celebrex, as well as icing it. One week after surgery I think it has leveled off, but not improved. 

They put me in splints (boiling water and crazy glue on my breast, what an odd thing) and told me to where them for four weeks, followed by four weeks of BRAVA. Dr. Khouri wants to do another surgery the beginning of Dec and says I may need two more since I'm not using the BRAVA enough. I asked him about other options (like taking the skin that's tucked in out, putting in a small TE and then filling it once it's closed up, but he said BRAVA was the only way. I told him I definitely want to wait until after the holidays before I have another surgery.

I honestly don't know if I will go back for another fat grafting surgery and months of BRAVA. This is definitely not the plan that was described to me from my original plastic surgery. Even without the incredible pain and stress on my life, it's insanely time-consuming and expensive. The original plan put in front of me was 3-4 months. Now, it looks like 8-10 months. 

I am  exploring any and all possible options. Had this surgery added to the breast rather than just the top/cleveage, I might just stop here, but my breast is an odd up and down. I'm going to take as many consultations as I can, including one with my original PS, who should be operating soon. I'm hoping someone out there has another option that will just finish this with one surgery. I don't care if it's a longer surgery (these are already 4-6 hours, something I didn't originally plan on) and recovery, at least it will be over.

I would never recommend this type of reconstruction to anyone who hasn't exhausted all other options.