Complications after fat grafting

julieped · May 2014

Thanks Kbee and Shorfi. I am glad to hear the swelling is normal. I just want it to go away. I don't have much bruising so that is good. Shorfi, has your swelling gone down at all?

When were you able to return to your regular activities and/or work?

shorfi · May 2014

Seeing the PS today at 10:30 and hopefully they will have the results back. I mean, it's only been since last Thursday.

Julie...I am on the fluffy side, so I cannot tell if the swelling has gone down...ok, only joking. Yes, it has gone down and starting not to feel like I have breasts under my armpits. After my final exchange surgery I was back at work 2 weeks later. I could have gone back sooner, but thought I needed to rest up a bit. I am still healing though and it still feels like I have shells in my back, but everyone says that it will take time to feel normal again.

Wow...didn't realize you just had your final exchange. Hope you are feeling ok. I was still using muscle relaxers a month after surgery as well as Advil.

Will PM you.

erinm216 · May 2014

Juli my PS wants to do the fat grafting to fill up some of the divots.

Other than you're super swollen ( sorry about that) what can you tell me about the procedure? Was it worth it?

I'm thinking Divots might just be ok if I have to be in pain all over again. Plus thinking about wearing a spanx for 4 weeks after the lipo doesnt sound so good.

julieped · May 2014

Erin,

My fat grafting was only a week ago so it is hard to tell. Along with the fat grafting, my PS did a lot of pocket work because my implants were so far apart. They actually look really good now! Big improvement. I did not expect the pocket work and it was not decided until the morning of the surgery so the recovery has been harder than I expected.

The fat was removed from my abdomen and I just had one little incision by my belly button. It is nice to have less fat in my stomach but will have to see how my stomach skin bounces back. I am wearing a belly binder right now and it is not bad but not always easy to find clothes to wear. He wants me to wear it for another 1-2 weeks and I bought some spanx and will probably wear that for awhile. My stomach is a bit sore, but not too bad. My son gets married in three weeks so I am hoping my healing will be quick.

If your PS does only fat grafting your recovery should not be bad. Let me know if you have other questions. I hope I am done with this reconstruction stuff.

Julie

KBeee · June 2014

Erin, the Spanx would not be bad in the fall or winter, but would not be so nice in the summer. Maybe you can postpone it until then. It also depends on the number of donor sites. I had 6, so I was very, very bruised. I was glad to not have to be in a swimsuit during that time. Each of the bruises varied from softball to football size. They looked worse than they felt. I never needed pain meds beyond Ibuprofen.

MaryMeg · June 2014

KBeee and JuliePed, how did you feel after the grafting? How long was your recovery and how long before you really felt yourself again? (JuliePed, I know it's early days yet for you!)

I'm having it done on Thursday this week (on my left side -- I'm right handed) and I'm due to have two final exams the following week. I'm worried about being able to sit and write for 3 hours, and I'm also worried about needing painkillers that might affect my thinking. And the aftereffects of a general anaesthetic.

There will be two recipient sites, one where my tumour was (it was very medial and right on the pec muscle, so I'm hollow there now), and one where the formerly reconstructed breast flap was removed. She's also hoping to lift the scar so the fat can fill in behind it.

Any thoughts? My concern is that there is a big difference between being able to sit through the exam if I absolutely had to vs actually performing well on it, if you know what I mean. I'm already losing days of study time to the surgery and all the pre-appointments so I'm behind the curve already!

julieped · June 2014

MaryMeg,

I am 10 days out now and feeling pretty well. I had expected just fat grafting but at the last minute my PS decided to do pocket work and I have some incisions. More extensive but I am sure it will be worth it. I took pain killers for a couple of days and then just ibuprofen. Still taking that.

You should be ok for exams. You may have some swelling and soreness but for me it is tolerable. Make sure to get rest and take good care of yourself. Please let me know how things go on Thursday.

Julie

shorfi · June 2014

Fat necrosis, thank goodness. Karen, I did PM you and emailed you also. So happy and doing the happy dance too

KBeee · June 2014

So glad to hear it's just fat necrosis! What a relief!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

KBeee · June 2014

MaryMeg, I was given IV pain killer at the surgery center. I was given a prescription for pain killers, but did not fill it. I have a high pain tolerance, and I really don't like pain meds if I do not need them. I slept on the recliner for a few nights, similar to after BMX, to make sure my upper body was elevated. I was back to driving the next day and walking 4 or 5 miles a couple days after surgery. I was back to work as a firefighter/paramedic 13 days after surgery. I found that I really healed pretty quickly, except that the bruises from the donor sites were huge and ugly. They were a bit sore, but felt just like bad bruises. I am pretty thin, so I had a lot of donor sites to get the little amount of fat required, which made things look and feel a bit worse than if I'd only had one or 2 sites.

erinm216 · June 2014

"my PS did a lot of pocket work because my implants were so far apart."

I was just thinking that my implants are too far apart! I thought I was being crazy. I can put 4 fingers flat on my chest wall between my breasts. I wasn't sure that was normal or not and I would love it if he could fix it. I have to wait two more weeks to see him.

Thanks for the info.

erinm216 · June 2014

"my PS did a lot of pocket work because my implants were so far apart."

I was just thinking that my implants are too far apart! I thought I was being crazy. I can put 4 fingers flat on my chest wall between my breasts. I wasn't sure that was normal or not and I would love it if he could fix it. I have to wait two more weeks to see him.

Thanks for the info.

KBeee · June 2014

I had follow up today with BS today about the lumps that came after fat grafting. I've had these dang lumps for over 2 months now. He explained his rationale for not ordering ultrasound based on the fact that the fat cells in the lump would look like other fat cells on ultrasound. He first said that the lumps were fat necrosis and that the biopsy showed lipocytes. I politely corrected/questioned him (since I had asked for copy of my biopsy results and knew it said lymphocytes). He did go and double check my biopsy results and said that they were in fact lymphocytes and not lipocytes, and said that since I am thin, maybe my lymph nodes are more on the surface. Um.....just on one side???!!! He still did not see a value in an ultrasound, but said he would send a note to MO and have him make the final call.

Once moral of the story is if you do not have a copy of all of your biopsy results, get them in your hands!!!!!

I now will have to work on MO to see if he'll order the ultrasound. I think he may do that. He'll see more value in having a baseline than the surgeon, who said we could always remove them if they are bothersome, but did say it was better to wait and see. I tried to explain that I was not wanting it to rule out anything now since the fine needle aspiration was negative, but so that we have a baseline, so if there are changes over the course of the next 6 months or so, we have something to which to compare it. Since there are several lumps, I do not trust my fingers to remember which are new and which are not. He thought we'd be able to find any new lumps (and will likely assume it's nothing like he did this time...grrrrr). He thought that based on my tumor stats and treatment, my risk of recurrence was really low. I wanted to scream...my risk of BC was even lower than that statistically, but here I am!!!!!!! I didn't...by that time I decided that I would see what MO has to say..................I think (hope) he will be more open minded to it, especially since his PA asked if he had ordered one previously..........I see him on Wednesday. I need some good luck for a change.

1toughmomma · June 2014

I had my fat grafting Monday and WOW is the incision on my hip sore and purple!!!! I am super swollen, but I also had strattice attached to hold my implant in place. My PS talked with me very extensively pre-op about fat grafting and the potential for lumps. I can start massage in a few days. I have had so many annoying complications throughout all this I hope I don't get some from fat grafting. I had a reduction on the right in February and ended up with external fat necrosis--I had large ulcers all along the bottom and up the "T" incision. Scarring looks terrible, bu it's underneath by breast so...whatever, right?

Keep your chins up, I am with you ladies, no lumps would be preferable ")

ClaireFraser · June 2014

While I don't have lumps in my breasts from fat grafting, I do have hardness above my belly button. Is this normal?

Claire

KBeee · July 2014

If they took some of the donor fat from above the belly button, perhaps it might be hard for a bit, but it is worth a call to your surgeons.

My meeting with MO was horrible. He is now my ex-MO. When I asked him when I should be concerned about new lumps, he said sarcastically, "if a lump goes from grape size to golf ball size, give me a call." Needless to say, I will never see him again. He blew off concerns during chemo (which landed me in the hospital) so I should have known then. My friend who has used him said that he always minimizes her complaints as well. I hope to meet with a new MO locally in August. It will be awkward since they are in the same practice, but that practice is the only one locally. I have heard good things about the new one. If it does not go well, I'll drive a couple hours to find one who treats patients respectfully.

BayouBabe · July 2014

KBeee - sorry about the horrible visit with your MO. How rude! I,too, switched MOs. Best thing I ever did! Hope it turns out the same for you. You deserve to be heard and not belittled. Don't let it be awkward for you - let it be awkward for the old MO. Go in and hold your head high! Hugs!

Complications after fat grafting

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