Fat Grafting, pros and cons
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Mommy, congrats on your winnings!! Happy Easter. Hope you are healing well and all your fat stays put, lol...you won't hear that very often:) My fat never wants to leave, no matter how many crunches I do😄
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Hi Surgery Sisters! Sorry I haven't posted since my TE exchange and Fat Grafting on April Fools Day:D
I must say the TE EX has not been a problem AT ALL. The implants feel squishy and in a good place even tho I am not messing with them because I don't want to hurt the fat grafting. They look good with the tops filled out from the FG.
The placement is much better than the #$%#@ TE's that rubbed under my arms constantly.
My problem now is just that the compression garments top and bottom are sooo tight I can barely breathe unless I am laying down or standing up. The surgery bra cuts so tight on the top of my diaphragm combined with the girdle on the same place. My binder is gone after 5 days of torture .... maybe my medical supply girdle is just too tight....the "assets" one I bought is comfortable so my Sis in law said it doesn't work...so the medical one that has hook and eye closure and goes from under bra to above knee is what I have been wearing 24/7 along with surgery bra..........
Do I really need them to be so tight?!?!?! What is the purpose?!! If I understood more I would be able to continue to be compliant BUT I am ready to RIP them off and burn them Arrrggghhh!!!
Help!
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The purpose of compression is to keep the tunnels made by the fat harvesting cannula from filling with fluid, and possibly forming a seroma. When people don't wear compression they sometimes develop hard spots or fluid filled channels that take a long time to go away. You only need to wear compression in the donor sites, so if your compression is uncomfortable, and it is covering more than the donor sites, you might want to find another solution.
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Thank you Special K!! Should I assume that the donor sites are where the "entry" places are at waist area and also where all the bruising is along my hip flanks and buttocks. Don't know of any donor sites on tummy but he did say he might use some from that area. I feel so stupid for not asking that question but haven't seen him since the surgery and won't until 4/17.....hopefully the nurse will call before the weekend.
And Thank you again!!! Hopefully you are still doing well Sending love and hugs, Valorie
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Yes, donor sites are anywhere fat was taken. If you are really uncomfortable maybe you can get another Spanx or Assets in a smaller size, but it sounds like you have discomfort where you have a meeting of the two garments. Do you have specific orders regarding the surgical bra - do you have to wear it until your follow up?
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My sis in law also suggested getting a smaller size spanx too...so I think I will.
To be clear I had a surgery binder along with surgery bra on for 4 days then put on this thing made of same material as surgery bra ie: no give.....that I bought from a medical supply place (called Medical Z).....thought it would offer extra support...
Okay I sound like a moron
So I will figure out who can go and get spanx/asset corset in smaller size!!Thanks again!!!
Have a lovely weekend Special K!
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ps Special K I have to wear the surgery bra at least until appointment 4/17 unless advised differently by nurse or PS but I think if spanx is below diaphragm I'll be able to breathe !!! Breathing is GOOD!!!
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Lol! Breathing is necessary - so do what you have to asap! I had an appt today with a new PS, will have another fat grafting to my flat side soon - so I will be wearing the Spanx again shortly. The good news is that she feels she can take from the previous donor site so I already have the right garments. The bad news is that it is already hot here in Florida so another layer of clothing will be uncomfortable. Well, actually, the whole thing is uncomfortable, right? Spanx and pajamas just seems wrong.... Have a good weekend and I hope you can arrange the right combo of compression to be at least semi-comfortable!
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Hi courageous women,
I live in Canada and underwent my TE exchange for silicone implants (370ccs) in January this year. My left implant slid laterally a bit leaving a lovely little hollow area just to the left of my breastbone. My PS is going to fill it in to give me some contour there on Tuesday 4/14. I thought I'd better see what the pros and cons of this are before surgery and am surfing this amazing site, and I see that many of you have been advised to wear compression bras or girdle/spanx at the donor site. My PS and team have not told me I'll need to have this. I don't think I'll have a lot of fat grafted but still not being advised to wear this gear concerns me. What can you advise please??!
Sincerely
Arabella
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Arabella - I don't think for fat grafting I have seen compression bras - you don't want to squeeze the area where fat has been grafted - it needs to be treated gently to encourage the new blood supply and for survival of the graft, so you want nothing tight there. Usually you compress the donor site to prevent the collection of fluid and any hardening in the tunnels made by the harvesting cannula. Where will your donor site be? You would have the option of just purchasing some Spanx yourself - will you have an have a chance to ask your doc ahead of the surgery
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arabella - I had two consults with two different PS and I specifically asked both of them whether I'll need to wear a binder/girdle and they both told me no. Of course, I've been reading this thread and it seems that everyone wears something. I also don't know if it depends on the amount of fat they take or why it would vary from PS to PS. Maybe it's the PS that don't do a lot of fat grafting that say no which could explain why I'm still looking for a PS.....lol. Good luck on Tuesday. Let's us know how it goes and what you find out.
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I think PSs just have different views on this...same as MOs and BSs, no single right answer.
For what it's worth, mine just said it was ok to buy spanx if I wanted to, but he didn't care one way or the other. He is a breast reconstruction specialist at a comprehensive cancer center - this is literally all he does, so I'm not sure it has to do with specialism as much as personal experience and preference.
I trusted him so was comfotable wth this advice (and hate spanx - they bruise my hip bones). If I didnt totally trust him, might have been nervous aboutdoing something different from what most women here do.
Fwiw, all healed beautifully.
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hi ladies. I had my fG march 23. I'm noticing some hardened spots on my abdomen. I have had 4 c sections and a tah/bso so I do have scar tissue, but I don't remember it feeling quite like this. Assuming it's from the fG, maybe fluid inside or something, how would hey address this? Is there something I can do at home? I'm wearing the compression binder most of the time. It feels better on. My pa said I could go without but I feel better with it on. Anyone have this hardening problem
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Mommyathome - Different PS's have different post-op instructions, but mine insisted that I massage the donor site aggressively to prevent fluid collections. I don't remember exactly, but I think I was told to massage for at least 10 minutes at a time, two or three times a day. In fact, I was told that I would get hard spots if I didn't massage. You have to start gently, but as you become less sore, you can be more aggressive.
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thanks lane. Yeah I wasn't really told anything. I'll ret to massage it and see if it helps.
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There is no way I could have done any kind of massage to the donor sites! These docs have to be crazy! On the surface you see a little opening where the cannula went in but it's not like the tip of the cannula was put there and it just "sucked" the fat out. The PS has to push and pull the cannula back and forth, each "stroke" scooping up a line of fat and leaving an empty "tunnel" in it's place. That open space quickly fills with blood and fluid but compression decreases the size of the tunnels. My abdomen had six little incisions and because my PS used the tumescent method, I had no bruising whatsoever. But my whole abdomen was affected by all the "tunnels" that criss-crossed the area. (I had 1,000 cc's of fat left after the other fluids were spun out with the centrifuge.) My entire abdomen was on fire the first day or two from the damaged nerves but then settled into some STRONG pain all over the abdomen when I got up and down. It wasn't just under the six incisions...the whole abdomen hurt like hell for about a week, then the pain decreased VERY slowly for the next couple of weeks. The PS wants you to massage them? Absolutely not possible. I have a huge pain tolerance, but even I couldn't have done that.
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I have some hard spots at the donor sites. I called the nurse and she said it was normal, and I could start massaging this week (had surgery 2 weeks ago). I have a post op tomorrow to have stitches removed (for nipple recon) so will see what he says.
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FYI my thighs still have slight bruising from my fat grafting on January 22nd more than 11 weeks ago! The areas are about the size of my hand and a little darker than the surrounding skin. They still are a tad sore when I press on them. I think I bruised more than most people, though. I am still happy I did it because it made a huge difference. I don't think I need another round but I'll ask my PS' opinion when I see her next month. They are nearly perfect. Here's a pic of the slight leftover bruising/discoloration:
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For those who haven't had fat grafting yet, do yourself a favor and ask your doctor if he uses the tumescent procedure. It's SO much better and no bruising on the donor sites! Not all PS do it, however. I had one medium sized mud flap done with the regular kind of lipo last year and it took several months for the soreness and bruising (three times the size of the mud flap) to go away. With the big 1,000 cc lipo done in December with the tumescent procedure, the pain lasted a fraction of that time and there was no bruising. I can't imagine doing it any other way now.
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Sandra,
My ps took 350cc, she said that was the limit they could take- even though I had plenty to give!! I've been trying to massage, last night at least. I was bruised quite a bit on the abdomen. The bruising is 95% gone but I'm sore. It's manageable, but noticeable. Turning in bed sucks, getting out of bed sucks. I've been keeping the binder on as much as much.
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My first fat graft surger is in two weeks.
My PS does all breast flap surgeries and is well known nationally in the BC world of reconstruction. He does NO cosmetic work.
He does not use compression garments. None. So this is not an agreed upon standard.
Also, he's doing mine in multiple surgeries. I know other surgeons do in it a 'one and done' surgery but he does not.
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Oceansky, could you tell me what is the goal for your fat grafting? What needs corrected? Also, do you have implants or tissue reconstruction? My next ps appt is in June. He said I will need fat grafting to correct the flatness on the bottom. I was just hoping they would just drop and fluff out on their own:) Did you know anyone else who had this done? Sounds painful at the donor sites, and I am not a fan of pain, lol. Who is your plastic surgeon or what state is he in? I am in PA.
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PM me kingster. I'll give you his info.
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Hi,
I'm considering fat grafting to help flatten out my concave areas after a failed TUG flap reconstruction. In addition to harvesting fat from my belly, I've talked to my PS about taking some from the little pouches that have formed just in front of my underarm area since my BMX. My concern is does doing lipo in that area disturb the lymph vessels and put me at a higher risk for lymphedema? I had 4 nodes removed on my right side during SNB biopsy and nothing removed from the left. I asked my PS and he didn't seem to think it was an issue, but I'm curious if others have any info to share on this?
Thanks.
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great question. One that I have also been meaning to ask. I have lymphedema now, under control but can't use the arm for anything. I have the extra fat and it drives me nuts. My ps said he could suck it out but I never followed up with him on it. I get my FG done on Tuesday. I am sure that I will see him the night before for markings and will ask.
Did anyone have markings the night before for the FG procedure?
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Hi MJH,
Don't remember if I answered you or not. I used the wonderful Adam Schaffner-his office is on Park Avenue in NY
You can always call me to discuss.
Babs
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Hello FG Sisters! I am doing so well I hesitate to post...but I do remember over the last 8 months it has encouraged me to hear good reports! I am two weeks out from TE exchange and fat grafting. The EX was seriously easy and no problems for this 68 year old!!! YAY!! My implants with the fat grafting are squishy, soft and warm....Yippee!!!!
The fat grafting abit more difficult because of the compression issues. Started out in hospital with a 6 flap binder...very tight from under breast to hips...problem it kept getting catty wampus
Wore it for a week 24/7 then was to use the "panty girdle" of my choice...well my swelling is under breast to hips in front only. Very swollen and lumpy. a "panty girdle" would definitely not cover the area I needed compressed...I found a Hanes tummy toning torset but it rolls up at the bottom...Then bought an Assets Open bust mid thigh body shaper...... felt great...too great according to my surgeon at my post op visit today. Seems to me a plain ole binder covering the area would be good...Suggestions?!
Sending hugs to all !!! Hang in there!!! You can do it!!!!!
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bbbbun, glad to hear how great you are doing! Is your abdomen lumpy then? How much was taken out? I ordered a " Dr. Linder bra" off of their website and I really like it, although it cost $50, but they also sell a "Dr. Linder band" for $40 that looks like an abdominal binder. Maybe check that out? That company was efficient and I ordered my bra the day before my exchange, and received it post op day 3 and wore it after I was allowed to shower:) Fat grafting is my next step in reconstruction.
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I'm a fan of the abdominal binder. You can make them as tight as you want and position it higher or lower on your torso. I had no issue with my abdomen being lumpy and there was minimal swelling. The PS did a good job of taking the 1,000 cc's out evenly over my upper, mid, and lower abdomen and the good compression helped with the swelling too.
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Hey Sandra~ Seems as tho I remember you posting about a binder. Where did you get it?
I forgot to ask how much fat my PS took out..... at my post op yesterday. Thought it was to be just "love handles" which are sore but took some upper tummy which is sore and lumpy...not little lumps but two almost fist sized side by side between bra and belly button . He said to just massage and use better compression like for 6 more weeks.
Happy to have surgery bra off but need something else now. Have a hugs pile of Victoria Secret underwired that my PS does not allow.....I hate shopping for bras but I'll check out the Linder website...thanks Kingster!!
ps Happy Fiesta Sandra!!!
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