Fat Graft Transfer and the Radiated Breast

Suz-Q, I had fat grafting after a partial mastectomy and I am very pleased with the results. I waited until a year after I finished radiation to have the procedure done, then I went back for a second round a year later. It is very, very important to find a plastic surgeon who has a lot of experience with fat grafting.

Thanks lane4 and dancetrancer!

Dancetrancer, I registered on fatgraftpatients.com but can't figure out how it works. I can't seem to see any post or join any discussions. I can log in

thank you dancetrancer! I was able to see everything last night. I guess I'm just avery impatient person!

hi there! I am going thru exactly the same thing u are! I was wondering what u ended up doing and if u can share it expirence with me

Madison

hi there! I am going thru exactly the same thing u are! I was wondering what u ended up doing and if u can share it expirence with me! I am having healing issues with my reconstruction and I have to start my radiation. My doctor wants to do fat rafting to the radiated tissue but I'm scared! I have and expander in there and issues with skin being too thin. I had neurotic skin the whole God aweful bag of complications healing u can have on top of radiation

PS He wants to do fat grafting I saw another doctor wants to do latissimus flap anyone please help me. I don't even know what I'm going to do anymore! Radiation is scaring me as much as the stupid chemo and I thoyht that was hard!

just to share my most recent experience and yet I am not unhappy that I did not figure it out earlier. ADM, cadaver tissue, looks like human, eliminates the mastectomy scar(s) and all is completed within 3 months. Very few Surgeons do this and had heard of it but thought it meant simply an interior sling. Could have had the same size or much larger breasts in a much shorter period with a much greater success without likely complications. However I am over 50 so perhaps it is not as meaningful, in terms of cosmetic enhancement.

Has any one had an MRI that showed "areas of low concern" after having fat grafting done? I had an MRI on Monday and there were 3 areas of low concern that they think may be from the fat grafting I had done in Oct 2014. That was on the non-mastectomy side. I also had some done on the mastectomy/implant area and developed marble size lumps on the top of the breast area which scared the snot out of me (US showed that it was fat). Now I have to have those areas on the left side biopsied. Another procedure and more stress but I guess its better to find out for sure.

My MRI's have all been clear. I've had plenty of small lumps develop that needed to be ruled out by ultrasound. All benign fatty necrosis. I've not had to have any biopsied. The radiologist can easily tell it is necrosis via ultrasound. Make sure you are going to a radiologist who is familiar with reading imaging after fat grafting. Seems to me the newer docs are just fine with this, the older docs aren't used to it and get more cautious/scare you unnecessarily. Just my personal experience. YMMV.

Hi ladies, I'm hoping someone has had a similar experience to this: I have a lump exactly where the stitch was which closed my fat grafting wound. I called my BS, but he can't get me in until next Thursday. It is on my radiated side. I'm pretty scared, and of course it's Sunday night. Could it be from the fat grafting? Or cancer returning.....:/

Thank you! As we all know, waiting is hell. I'm trying to stay calm...

I appreciate this post. My PS discussed fat grafting with me during my last fill. I'm currently at 400 ccs and he feels he may want to stop here. I had both of my breasts irridated almost 19 years ago left and 10 years ago right respectively. The radiated areas are not expanding like the rest of the breast on both sides. Although he was more concerned about wound healing with me, which is not the case at all. I knew these limits I might face prior to surgery since the PS discussed it with me. I was just feeling a bit discouraged and ended up texting him stating "I hope I'll look ok". He replied "We'll take it one step at a time. Try not to worry". I appreciated his comments and support. I never was "all about my breasts" but after my bilateral mastectomy, all of a sudden my breasts became more important! After going through DCIS surgeries 3x in nearly 19 years, 1/3 of my life, i guess my breasts have always been on my mind! 😄😄

Having fat grafting to radiated breast in April in an attempt to soften the skin and muscle. Had my exchange surgery in March looking for any one out there who may have info out there to help. Thanks!

I've had FG three times. What kind of information are you looking for?

FG definitely helped my radiated tissue. It became MUCH softer (it was like a rock, almost) and my shoulder range of motion also returned to nearly normal. The radiated tissue still of course isn't 100% normal, but it is significantly better. I had severe radiation fibrosis and even had to take pentoxifyillen for over 1.5 years to try to bring more blood flow to the area.

I had 4 fat grafts post radiation. Don't expect a huge difference in volume with each graft. It takes multiple surgeries, IMO - but I guess that depends on what your goal is.

I also used Brava domes to enhance circulation...not fun...and not for everyone. Note - I do not have implants.

Definitely do NOT do nipple recon unless you have had multiple fat grafts first. The tissue does not heal the same. Even after 4 fat grafts after radiation, my nipple recon took months to heal, and that was with careful DAILY dressing changes. It did turn out quite successful, but I had a very skilled surgeon and I also was very dedicated to careful daily wound care for a few months.