Fat grafting

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Anonymous
Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
edited October 2017 in Breast Reconstruction
Fat grafting
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  • Rrobin0200
    Rrobin0200 Member Posts: 433
    edited September 2017

    Having my fat grafting surgery next Wednesday. Any suggestions for an easy recovery? Evidently the compression garment is really bothersome and for the birds. Would like to hear others' experiences, please.

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  • VegGal
    VegGal Member Posts: 507
    edited September 2017

    I liked the compression garment. In fact, I wore it an extra day as it was so nice to not have to pull it up and down to use the toilet (it was crotchless).

    Ice packs were great for reducing itching on the donor and graft sites. My thighs are 50 shades of black but the dog harvested the fat in such a way that my thighs look really defined. In general it was much less of an ordeal than I was expecting.

    Good luck to you!

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited September 2017

    The purpose for compression garments on the donor site is to prevent the tunnels created by the motion of the harvesting cannula from filling with fluid and hardening, and/or causing a seroma. I would not skip wearing them, and I too, felt more comfortable using compression for the 5 fat grafts I have had. I would caution you on using ice at the graft site however - the cold temp on thin skin may cause the fat to reabsorb, I wouldn't do it. I found the more I moved around the better I felt, and within a week I felt that the soreness at the donor site was like I did too many sit-ups (my donor sites were abdomen and hips), sore but not exactly painful. I never had any discomfort at the graft sites. Hydrate and follow normal post-surgical instructions.

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  • buffyjc
    buffyjc Member Posts: 61
    edited September 2017

    Following this thread as I'm having fat grafting done during my exchange next Wednesday, as well.

    Rrobin - How much fat grafting are you having done? For me, my PS is planning to just do fat grafting to fill a divot in my upper pole (on MX side only). I have no idea how many CCs are typically pulled from the donor site to fill this area. I'm starting to get a little nervous.

    Prayers and best wishes for a smooth surgery and quick recovery!

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  • Rrobin0200
    Rrobin0200 Member Posts: 433
    edited September 2017

    hi all... sorry just now responding. I suppose life got in the way and I haven't really been back on the site in awhile.


    So, yes, fat grafting is tomorrow at 8:45 in New Orleans. Not gonna lie, I'm nervous. I'm having fat taken from various parts of my body...stomach, thighs, butt. I had direct implants after my BMX. Didn't qualify for Flap surgery but did for fat grafting? Not sure what the difference is. I'm 5'7" and 135 lbs. Have had two children, so I asked my PS to give me a tummy tuck. Guess there's a so a sliver linong to wveything?


    Anyhow, thanks for the suggestions and best of luck to you, buff on your surgery tomorrow as well. Will be thinking of you.

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  • grandma3X
    grandma3X Member Posts: 759
    edited October 2017
    I had my second round of fat grafting yesterday, combined with an oopharectomy. I'm a bit sore today but not too bad. They harvested from my upper right thigh to get it more even with the left (which looked great after the first round) and from my lower back or "flanks". The thigh area is stinging a bit but the flanks are just sore. I'm not sure how much they harvested - will find out at my postoperative apptmt. Ooph was done laproscopically. It was painful yesterday but the pain has decreased significantly today. I'll be wearing a compression garment for a few weeks.

    The graft sites look a bit bumpy this morning. After my first round back in March, I was told to use compression on those sites as well, but this time they said no compression, even though I had the same PS both times. This seems a bit random to me but I'll try the no- compression route this time and see if more fat stays. Does compression help even out the lumps? Or will they eventually flatten out by themselves?
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  • VegGal
    VegGal Member Posts: 507
    edited October 2017

    My PS had me begin gentle massage of the fat grafted areas at week one and by week 3 I was to do firm massage, concentrating on any lumps. Five weeks out I am smooth.

    Maybe run any specific questions by the PS on your first follow up.

    Happy healing!

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  • grandma3X
    grandma3X Member Posts: 759
    edited October 2017

    thanks VegGal! I forgot about the massaging but will give it a try this time.

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  • Sunrisefish
    Sunrisefish Member Posts: 67
    edited October 2017

    Hi gals, I'm had a double BMX in May with direct anatomical implants. I've healed beautifully, including my previous radiated breast. Will have fat grafting on Nov 14th to fix some hollow parts in the upper pole, especially prominent on the radiated side. My surgeon wanys to take from my hips but I feel it would be better from my lower abdomen. I feel I need my hips to maintain my shape. Any advice to prepare for this surgery?? Any advice for recovery? Much appreciated ladies!

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  • VegGal
    VegGal Member Posts: 507
    edited October 2017

    Fat grafting alone shouldn't be a big deal. The amount they remove is relatively small.

    You will feel stinging soreness, and I had quite a bit of itching at both the donor and graft areas. Ask the doc about using cool compresses on the grafts as there has been mixed input. I used cold without harm, others were told to avoid it.

    Having a few meals prepared and frozen ahead is always a good plan, just for convenience. Also have some kind of massage oil product on hand for when you are cleared to massage the affected areas.

    I'm five weeks out and all bruising is healed and the soreness from the donor areas is gone too. My thighs now have definition which gives the illusion that I've been working out and my breast upper pole fullness is perfect.

    Good luck to you!

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  • Sunrisefish
    Sunrisefish Member Posts: 67
    edited October 2017

    Thank you vegGal, very reassuring! Would so love to have normal upper pole fullness again!

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  • Herculesmulligan
    Herculesmulligan Member Posts: 175
    edited October 2017

    Thanks so much for all this advice guys. I'm having fat grafting on November 13 and it's so hard to know how I'll feel afterwards. If only we got to do a simulated trial run before these surgeries!

    One weird question: how long until Ucould shower?

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