Tiny breasted ladies: lumpectomy with lipo/fat grafting?

Options
renbird
renbird Member Posts: 110
edited August 2020 in Breast Reconstruction

If so, can you share your experience?

(I am barely an A, will likely lose a "golf ball" size part of my breast through the lumpectomy. This option was presented to me by my surgeon. It won't make my breast look 100% normal, but she says it might help the appearance––if I chose this route to avoid mastectomy. Must decide by Friday.)

-Procedure?

-Recovery?

-Does it hide future possible cancers from view?

-Cosmetic outcome?

Thank you! -Renbird

Comments

  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited August 2020

    Might be wise to check with your insurance company to see if this is covered. The federal legislation that mandates insurance coverage to achieve symmetry after mastectomy does not apply to lumpectomy, but some insurance companies cover defect correction and/or oncoplasty. Whether or not you would pay out of pocket, and a cost estimate of the second surgery for fat grafting, would be a good idea before making a decision. I have had covered fat grafting post-mastectomy a number of times, usually the harvest site is more sore bruised than the graft site - like you did way too many sit-ups or leg lifts, you may need to wear compression at the harvest site for a period of time, and I felt pretty normal at about the two week point each time. Grafted fat does not hide anything in the breast going forward, but you can experience fat necrosis that becomes a discrete lump and can cause further imaging/biopsy to determine what it is. I have had five grafts and have not had this happen, but I have seen a number of members here who have. You may want a consult with a plastic surgeon to determine physical suitability prior to making a decision also - that is the doc who usually does this procedure.

  • renbird
    renbird Member Posts: 110
    edited August 2020

    Thank you, Special K!

    Very goodadvice and information. -Renbird

Categories