Anyone have fat grafting after implants?

I just had this done as part of revision surgery to correct capsular contracture after radiation (had unilateral mastectomy/immediate implant).

The surgery was SIGNIFICANTLY easier than the original surgery. I am still healing and on slightly restricted activity, but the result looks amazing, better than my body has ever looked. My PS also lifted the other breast so they are symmetrical, which they never were before. There are punctures in the abdomen from where they sucked out the fat (LOL) and I am wearing Spanx for at least 4 weeks, which is not that comfortable, but overall I would say it's worthwhile. If you are having only the fat transfer, your surgery might be less extensive.

I had fat-grafting done about 4 months after my exchange surgery. My PS told me I wouldn't know the full effect until after about 6 months. Well, I am at that point now. I'm still pleased with the results but I have had alot of the fat reabsorbed. They said you can expect about 50% of the fat to be reabsorbed by the body. I saw my PS in August. He said that everything still looks great but if I wanted to have another fat-grafting procedure done to perfect my reconstruction I could. He told me to let him know if I decided to do so. The procedure itself wasn't bad. No drains, just alot of bruising, most of the pain was in my belly area. The nurse told me it would feel like I did 1,000 set ups in an hour and half. It was a pretty accurate description!!

LeesaD: Just curious how your thighs looked after the fat was harvested? Did you have a lot of swelling, and could you see improvement where the fat was removed? Has the appearance continued to improve each day/week? I am 5 days post surgery and I am concerned about how my thighs are looking. I'm hoping I didn't just create a new area of my body that needs to be fixed.

Pinkforthwin- I’m four weeks out from surgery and my thighs are good. I had same fat grafting from both thighs back in Jan as well and then again four weeks ago. Both times the recovery was similar. No swelling at all just a lot of bruising from where they took the fat. I did wear leggings for a week or so after surgery as my surgeon said compression will help with swelling and healing. The incisions where they put in the instruments are high in my groin area but they took the fat from various areas all over my thighs and that’s where the bruising was. Like one leg bruising was on back of leg and other leg bruising on sides d front. My thighs are fine now. They look a little thinner which is a bonus I guess. They both look the same and there isn’t anything that stands out that I would say needs to be fixed in my thigh area. Looking forward to getting cleared for exercise and running again so I can firm them up a bit.

Hi Yougogirls, my surgery was just last week so unfortunately I can’t tell you how they may look over time. But I do know that I am not happy with how they look now, so I’m hoping it’s just swelling. I haven’t read anything definitive on whether the fat cells can regenerate or not. Hopefully not

hi, just went in yesterday and had breast lifts and fat transfer from my sides. It was done outpatient at the hospital. It took about 2.5 hours. Not sure what everything looks like since the bra was in me when I woke up. I also have a compression thingie, that goes from under my breast to the top of my hips. He said I didn’t have a lot of fat pockets but he was able to get enough to make the deposits. I get to take a bath tomorrow (48 hours) so I will see all the bruising then. I do have bruising in my hips and above my but. My side are bothering me the most. Not sure I would do this again, but it will depend on how it looks after the swelling goes down

Yaniza, I had second round of fat grafting in Dec. It was easier just because first one was with the exchange.

My PS recommended compression garments for a month. If yours recommends the same I bought a maidenform brand that was like a tube. If fit from just under my bra down to below my underwear line. I thought it felt better to wear it since it gives support. I couldn't imagine exercising or walking too far without it. If there is a chance they are taking from the thighs they do make ones with various short lengths since you would need compression on your thighs.

My chest was odd shades of yellow for awhile. I did have about 5-6 sutures that needed removed at the 10 day mark. Pineapple supposedly helps with bruising.

I hope you heal quickly!