Fat Transfer for breast symmetry
I am interested in hearing about anyone who has experienced a fat transfer. What was it like? What was your recovery time like? What was your first mammogram like? How much of the transfer lived? Did you get calcium deposits? Did you do any adjustments on your other side? What was your first week like in recovery?
Comments
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I had my first fat transfer done at the end of December. I found the recovery to be easy I was not in any real pain a little uncomfortable in my tummy area where the liposuction was done but not nearly as painful as I had anticipated. We did both breasts but the right is the one who has a large divot due to radiation and a previous lumpectomy. It did fill it out some so I'd say at least 50% stayed behind and I do have some small fat necrosis or lumps if you will in both breasts which I'm continuing to massage and a couple were larger but they've gotten much smaller over time. Good luck!
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I had it done 2012 July, I would do in cooler season if possible. It kind of smarts I had fat taken from outer thighs I think 800cc. I really didn't notice much difference alot is reabsorbed. The first big DIEP surgery and real side lift was fantastic looked so good. The fat transfer it was lost on me, it may have helped a little bit. I suggest getting 2 garments keep one clean and wear the other. My skin is sensitive and ichy. As soon as I felt sweaty I would shower put the clean one on and wash the other. My ps says we can do another fat graft anytime. I might but you know it looks good to me.
I was back to work over a long weekend but bruising takes over a month to get better. Took 2 months off for big DIEP surgery.
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Thank you for your reply. I went for my consult and all I thought about was the left side and not the right which did not have BC. The plastic surgeon talked about moving the nipple up on the right side. I thought at the time I would not be interested. Now that I have time to think my mind set had more to do with the fear of anything done to them than balance. My operation is planned for August but I moved it for I can't manage kids and summer time events.
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I had my fat transfer done in September of 2017. It wasn’t bad. Recovery lasted about 2 weeks, if that. My PS performed the surgery on both breasts, for symmetry. Discomfort, yes definitely. But true pain that couldn’t be controlled? Not at all. I developed a few oily cysts from it, but that was my only side effect. I had to wear a compression garment for a month. That was uncomfortable, especially at night. And I had to shower with it. That was really my only downfall. And as for my initial mammo that diagnosed me? Well... I think this forum says it all. It didn’t turn out so well, as I was diagnosed, BUT, I got through it and you will too. Best off luck
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It is good to know that one can get lump for finding a lump without know it could happened would be stressful. Where did the cysts form on the outside or under the skin? Sorry for all the questions but I like to learn as much as possible for those who have walked down this road.
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the oily cysts were under the skin.. I could feel them. Both my BS and PS “warned” me that cysts were a great complication from this fat grafting. They eventually went away.
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Did they ever drain them and were they painful or just uncomfortable?
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I've come back to this board over this same issue! My radiation finished last November and I had a consultation with a PS soon after. She recommended fat-grafting. She said it will take two operations b/c I should expect 50% of the fat to be absorbed. She said she'd do a lift on the right breast during the second operation for symmetry-- that it would be too soon during the first. I didn't ask, she just said a lift would be recommended b/c radiation lifted the left breast. You might want to ask about how many surgeries to expect. Also, through my research, I found it's better to get small injections throughout the breast to limit the bumps. My markings are Wednesday and My surgery is Thursday. I plan to ask her if this is how she does the injections-- I know she is a specialist in reconstruction, though.
Weird part of this: I was never nervous before BC surgery, which I had to do twice, but I am for this. I think it's b/c this one is a choice and the other one really wasn't.
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dd1973- I know what you mean about the fear part. Having the first operation for the BC was just get it out and do it now. This time I have choice to do or not. My BC surgeon did talk about the lumps that could form and how having a mammogram they might question a fat lump as to what it could be. My scar is not that large but there is a difference but you can't tell from looking at me. The other issue is the amount of reading that I did for BC. How much I felt I needed to know and understand it was like a crash course in becoming a cancer specialist. As well my family and factor their needs into to formula my kids and their needs. I guess that is it the needs of all are factoring into a choice about me. That is why I have many questions about down time and healing. I was going to do the operation in August but I would have no family around due to their traveling. I was okay with that but I am reading you can be a bit sore. I have moved my date to December.
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