BMI during fat graft

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kumphort
kumphort Member Posts: 11
edited April 2022 in Breast Reconstruction

sorry I am not familiar with all the technical terms yet but being offered a flap surgery with fat grafting following a mastectomy. The surgeon today was trying to tell me that I was not an ideal candidate because of my BMI 35. I told him that just means I have more fat to give. But he said that it’s a higher risk surgery longer thicker layers etc.

not sure if he is just being extra cautious or if this is commo

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  • MountainMia
    MountainMia Member Posts: 1,307
    edited February 2022

    kumphort, I skimmed a couple of abstracts and see there can be problems for healing with higher BMI. Obviously I'm not a doctor! I guess the only recommendations I can give are to ask more questions, and consider getting a second opinion if you still feel like your questions aren't answered or if you think a different doctor might have better experience or skills to perform the surgery you want. Good luck.

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  • kumphort
    kumphort Member Posts: 11
    edited February 2022

    @mountainmia. Thanks for always responding to my posts.


    do you have links to the articles you looked at. does it mention specific bmi values?

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  • MountainMia
    MountainMia Member Posts: 1,307
    edited February 2022

    No, the things I looked at were just abstracts, basically a long paragraph each with a summary of findings from the research. If you google "flap reconstruction BMI" or similar, you can probably find the same types of things.

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  • Kgeorge
    Kgeorge Member Posts: 1
    edited February 2022

    My plastic surgeon required me to lose weight and reach a BMI below 35. I had a BMI of 38 on my first consultation. I’m at a 30 now almost a year later and planning to have my DIEP surgery in May.

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  • kumphort
    kumphort Member Posts: 11
    edited February 2022

    @kgeorge.

    That’s an amazing weight loss in one year. Do you think that whatever other if any treatments you had contributed one way or another to your weight loss?


    do you find it frustrating to have to undergo another surgery at this point

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  • chicklet
    chicklet Member Posts: 5
    edited April 2022

    SAY NO TO DEIP FLAP-GO FLAT!!! I had a DEIP flap in 2016-I would NEVER EVER tell anybody to do this surgery. It puts your body in a constant mode of distress every day. this surgery is so barbaric, I do not believe your body should be put in this type of constant stress. all for fake breasts. GO FLAT! it is ok to be flat. Your body and mind will thank you for it. many times, I think about the decision to go with this procedure & IT WAS THE WRONG DECISION. You have such a short period of time to make a decision & back than there was not much info offered except for how people felt the 1st year. all the info given was they felt great-the 1st year I felt fine. Your is trying to heal from intense surgery involving muscles, skin, It is the following years that are so painful & tiresome. Your body and mind are in a constant state of pain. WHEN IT IS SO UMCOMFORTABLE TO SLEEP, THE REPAIRING PART OF YOUR DAY, YOU ARE JUST SO EXHAUSTED AND IN PAIN FROM IT ALL THE HEALING DOES NOT HAPPEN CORRECTLY .YOUR BODY REVOLTS AGAINST YOU. You can't find clothes that fit, bras that fit. How do you know if it IS a lump or scar tissue? How do THEY know there isn't more cancer inside all that fat.& Scar tissue The tightness-not in a good way- makes you afraid to do anything because it feels like you are tearing something -forget yoga. seriously think about all this before you proceed -i still do not see any info about what this surgery does to your body 5+ years or more. it is going on year 7 and just as painful ifnot more than the surgery itself

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  • SummerAngel
    SummerAngel Member Posts: 1,006
    edited April 2022

    Chicklet, I'm sorry you had a bad experience, but I don't believe that is everyone's experience. As for telling someone to go flat, that is uncalled for. I myself did implant reconstruction and am very pleased with it. Everyone needs to make their own reconstruction decisions.

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  • exbrnxgrl
    exbrnxgrl Member Posts: 12,424
    edited April 2022

    Chicklet,

    I am so sorry that you have had such a negative outcome. There is no recon procedure which will be 100% perfect for every patient. Unfortunately, bad outcomes do happen. That being said whether to reconstruct or not is a very individual decision. Like summerangel, I chose implant recon and am very pleased. Others with implants are not and the same can be said for DIEP, TUG, PAP, etc.

    Yes, going flat is a good option for some.There is no one right choice and there is no way to foresee unexpected complications. Again, I am sorry that recon has created such long term problems but we have many, many members who are very happy with their DIEP procedure. I had a very rare, life threatening complication of port installation. It resulted in a rush to the ER and a week in the hospital as well as a month at home with a portable chest tube. Would I advise others not to get a port? Nope, I understand that I was just the random victim of bad luck.

    I hope you can find some relief. Take care.

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  • ParakeetsRule
    ParakeetsRule Member Posts: 571
    edited April 2022

    If you're unsure and facing a mastectomy deadline, you can go flat now and then take your time deciding whether to go through with a DIEP or another form of recon. There's no need to rush a decision now! You can always do recon later after going flat.
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