Fat injections after lumpectomy

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BCGirl1
BCGirl1 Member Posts: 9
edited July 2017 in Breast Reconstruction

Hi there,


I am looking for info on fat injections to the breast after a lumpectomy. Can someone advise? I have done a search and found nothing but I am sure the topic has come up before.


Thank you for your help.

Comments

  • BCGirl1
    BCGirl1 Member Posts: 9
    edited October 2016

    I also wonder how long others took for the breast to heal after radiation? My oncologist had said maybe a cosmetic surgeon can remove some of the fibrosing but the surgeon said no lets give it more time to heal and that it takes a long time after radiation and it has been over 2 years now. He said it might take another year since I am very large breasted.

    Does anyone have experience with this?


    I would like to have the breast healed as the more it heals the better the pain is and the sooner I can get some cosmetic options now and I think the fat injections is the best option for me.

  • BCGirl1
    BCGirl1 Member Posts: 9
    edited July 2017
    I finished radiation 3 years ago and wanted my breast reconstructed in some way after my lumpectomy and radiation but the surgeon here will not do anything. He says radiated breasts do not heal well because the tissue is dead and the blood flow is not best as well as the radiated skin is a risk factor for slow healing and infections. He said If he injects fat it may not take. I was sad and disappointment that after all this nothing can be done. I have seen him twice now and he still says no to any procedures. I have to live with what I have now after being promised the option of cosmetic surgery by my oncologist and other women who say it is our right after what we have been through. I'd like to get a second opinion and it is a 2 year wait to see anyone.

    Anyone else have any experiences?

  • Sunrisefish
    Sunrisefish Member Posts: 67
    edited July 2017

    Hi BCgirl1, I disagree with your surgeon that nothing can be done with radiated tissue. I had radiation 2 years ago and just had BMX with direct anatomical implants and Alloderm. The radiated skin has full feeling and has healed without complication. My surgeon plans to do fat grafting down the road to further strengthen the tissue. Radiated tissue does have a higher complication rate, but there are always options. Sounds like you need to find a more experienced surgeon in a large city. I am out is Seattle. Even if my implants fail at some point in the future, I have many options to reconstruct my radiated breast. I am so sorry you are dealing with such negativity. I hope you can get access to other professional opinions. It is vital that your surgeon has top notch experience and expertise when it comes to dealing with radiated tissue.

  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited July 2017

    BC Girl - I answered on another thread. But yes, I disagree too.

  • BCGirl1
    BCGirl1 Member Posts: 9
    edited July 2017

    Thank you for sharing your answers. I am in canada and need to find a doctor here because I do not have the funds to pay for something out of country.

  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited July 2017

    OK - I just answered on the other thread again. I do not know know what the laws are in Canada. In the US, yes revision is usually paid for if the original diagnosis & treatment was for breast cancer. I guess in Canada, you just get on the list unless you can convince your PCP to intercede.

  • BCGirl1
    BCGirl1 Member Posts: 9
    edited July 2017

    What is PCP? There is no way to speed up the list.

  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited July 2017

    Primary care doc, versus OB/GYN doc or breast specialist or breast surgeon or plastic surgeon.

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