Follow my Brava and Fat Grafting Day by Day

Ladybird-dancer,was the photo group you looked at the one here at BC.org or the fat graft site? The one here is easy to use..you must get permission to access it...the fat graft patient one is not very easy to navigate.There is info on how to access the one here when you first come onto the breast reconstruction page.

Ladybird-dancer - As you consider fat grafting, I strongly encourage you to consult with at least one other doctor who is very familiar with fat grafting, not just Dr. Khouri.  When I did my consult with him 2 years ago, there was hardly anyone else with any experience that I could find.  Now, however, there are many doctors using a similar approach (see fatgraftpatients.com for some lists and discussion).  I have had 6 procedures with Dr. Khouri (my radiated skin failed after the 5th) and am now consulting with other surgeons to assess whether DIEP is no my best option - it appears the fat grafting has not improved my radiated skin, which is just too tight even with BRAVA .   Dr. Khouri is great, and, now that I've been his patient for a year and a half, I don't believe he gives complete objective information about options since he believes the flap surgeries are archaic and is 200% committed to fat grafting being the best reconstruction option. 

I've had a phone consult with Dr. Kline in SC and an office visit with Dr. Hollenbeck at Duke (I leave near there in NC) to discuss DIEP, and am scheduled to talk to Dr. Ahn at NYU (she does both DIEP and based on the discussion boards probably does the 2nd highest number of BRAVA+AFT next to Khouri). 

I'm now taking a vacation from all of this until at least November.  Some of the edges are filled in nicely from the fat grafting and I'm a little mounded instead of just skin and bones, but I still need a prosthesis.  I'm trusting that I'll figure out what I want to do next, but I don't want any surgery for a while and not during bathing suit season

Thank you both for these insights.

Thanks for all the replies, ladies -  I don't know what I would do without these forums! 

yes, yes and yes, peacestrength. Hard to explain BRAVA google it with words breast reconstruction with BRAVA. But it takes time, and commitment and fat transfer can be done without BRAVA

Bosumblues,

A second flap can be added to get volume to match natural side. 

I was too thin for DIEP and had bilateral SGAP. Does your PS do only DIEP?  He/she could add a SGAP or TDAP or PAP flap. I did not have to have one added but have read of other women on these boards having one added. My PS does all microsurgical flaps and fat grafting. I met one of his patients that had a uni SGAP and her breasts match perfectly which i think is harder with one being natural.  Gook luck with your decision!  

I wrote a long reply a few days ago and it disappeared into the ether....

Someone asked about using Brava for skin sparing MX.  I got beautiful results on my prophy MX side with SSNSMX with immediate first fat grafting. Of course Brava not used before this first surgery but used it for my following surgeries. Remember Brava does not just stretch the skin but expands the tissue between the skin and chest wall as well as pec and other muscles. And creates blood supply for the new tissue. So yes Brava and FG can definitely be used with SSMX. There is a photo on Dr Khouri website of a lady with D breasts who had a double SSMX with Brava and fat grafting and very nice results. Patient number 2 http://www.miamibreastcenter.com/reconstruction/prophylactic-photos

As far as the fatgraftpatients website I do not find it hard to navigate. Try it; it is a good place for research.  IF you want to see pictures you have to submit your own pictures even if they are just before pictures. Peacestrength even if not planning to use Dr K his website miamibreastcenter explains the process very well.

Fat transfer is established in the UK but not the BRAVA Lady-bird Dancer........

No it doesn´t, you retain the fat and it helps to counteract damage from rads if, like me you have that.........and the new breast shape stays as that, post menopause most natural breasts are largely composed of fat anyway........I was told not to use BRAVA post op only pre op which makes more sense to me..........but I have a long way to go with this process

I don't know if you can travel, but there are doctors in Germany,  Spain (?), Italy who are doing fat grafting with Brava.

hello all.... I am new to this thread but so thankful I found it!! I had TE's exchanged for implant's Jan 2014. Waited 2 months and have healed well. No rads with this diagnosis.(mantle rads with lymphoma as young adult).Feel great but unhappy with rippling on both sides! PS didn't seem hopeful. Told me noone could fix this? 2nd  PS said he could.Has anyone heard of Dr Delvecchio in Boston? So confused!! Or anyone else in Boston? I am in CT so I can go to NY as well. I think I will look up Dr. Ahn.   I am going to go with Brava as it makes a lot of sense to me. Thanks for all the info here. I am so grateful to those who have been willing to share. Women rock!!

Thanks for suggestion of Dr Ahn. I called her office and made appt for September consult. She is 4th PS I will have consulted. Wish I had done all this legwork before!  Felt terrific to speak with her staff member already. I am determined to get this right. Hope I can be helpful to those who follow.....

Thanks Hopeful...Mayo and your PS sound great. I realized I can find the right PS. This will be my fourth consult. I feel like such an educated consumer!! Hope all is well for you. 

Hopeful, you have been through so much. Hope you enjoy every minute of the summer and come September be one step closer to putting all of this behind you. Your doctor sounds like a perfect fit for you....

Hopeful...I am inspired to find the right PS!  Just read some terrible reviews about PS I was considering.  So happy to be doing my homework. I hope it pays off!