Hi,
I had s mastectomy in July 2011 and DIEP recon 5 months ago. My new boob is just ever half the size of my good boob. I had a really distressing appointment 3 weeks ago when I wasn’t given any options for gaining symmetry. Ihave since seen my own consultant who said he was hoping to get more volume and we agreed on a plan going forward. I will be having fat transfers, possibly up to 4 of them, 3 months apart and then when I have the volume I am happy with, he will reduce the good boob to match. It’s hard to get my head round this as I believed Iwould have one op to gain symmetry. What I am worried about the most is the recovery time after each op. I have been told it’s day surgery and that some women are back to normal 2 to3 days after the op and for some it’s about a week before they are back to some normality. I am really keen to minimise the time off work. I start a new management role in May with a new manager. Am I kidding myself that I could be back to work after a couple of days? Has anyone got experience of getting back to work quickly? I’m meeting with my new manager on Monday and should have an appointment for the first fat transfer in about 6 weeks, eeek!
Hi Lisa
I had LD recon Oct 2011 then the 1st fat transfer July 2012 and had my 2nd fat transfer and a reduction to good breast 2 weeks ago today.
I would say the fat transfer within a week you’re feeling ok but i was very bruised on thighs and bum where fat was taken, the bruises were swollen and black immediately after surgery. The fat transfer breast was tender for about 7-10 day.
I cannot remember being in pain at all after fat transfer or even the reduction - just discomfort.
My 2nd fat transfer with reduction I’m still off work 2 weeks later but I was told to expect that, the reduction is a fairly big operation.
I’m not sure if I could have gone back to work a couple of days after fat transfer. Are you having general or local anaesthetic - I suppose that might influence your time off.
My PS insists on wearing the support pants for 3 weeks 24/7 post op, a sports bra 24/7 for 6 weeks and the DVT surgical socks 24/7 for 6 weeks also.
Good Luck with your procedures and the job.
Jude
Hi Lisa, I have had 2 fat transfers and due a third. I really haven’t found these bad at all, was out and about the day after in each case, and they really have made a difference x
Hi Lisa X,
Sorry cant help with how it will be - but am so glad you posted this topic!
I have 2 recons with LD flaps and expandable implants, and 1 implant needs replacing. As the only permanent implant would make me between a half or 1 size bigger cup [which I dont want !], the alternative was some fat transfers…but there doesnt seem to be much info about this!
Til I saw yr post and the replies, I thought FT’s were only used for filling small indents with segmental [partial] mastectomies…Does anyone know how long they’ve been combing them in full mx’s?
Scone and Mary Grace - so glad to find your comments ! And they sound quite different - Scone’s sounds very involved, but M-G’s sounded quite easy! D’you think it may depend how much you need? Does anyone mind saying their cup size? I was a 34A orig, have been a 34 B since MX’s [in 2000 and 2006] and dont want be any bigger [though I know some people would love it!] Hope you dont mind me asking but I feel I need to know much more about this, and v. curious to know if anyone had FT with full MX years ago…do they last well? I know your body tends to re-absorb some of the fat, but does that only happen for a certain time after op, assuming you keep your body weight stable-ish? Will post a separate question maybe - sorry about all the questions but I’m one of those who like to know as much as poss in advance ! Have an appmt week on Mon and op pencilled for end May, but will postpone if I’m struggling to find everything out!
Hi all
I had 2 lipofils on ld recon and a breast reduction on the other side around 18months -2yrs ago. I’ve always been very pleased with my new boob altho as much as they’ve tried they never have quite matched up in size. I’ve a an appt in April to have more lipofil - apparently they now have a machine that can transfer more fat (I have plenty) from the stomach, up until now it has had to be done by hand! My Breast care nurse sugested having another go before she finishes my nipple tatooing so it will be more in line. I’ve had a nipple recon too altho it has gone a bit flat, however it still looks good. I was 34c am now more 34d altho I think weight increase due to two lots of chemo and continuous herceptin has something to do with it!! Nothing to do with the cakes I make and eat and my love of chocolate!!!
Not looking forward to wearing to old control pants again! Whats the betting its in the middle of summer! Must say that I didn’t have problems with recovery and a week after the last fil I moved house.
Anyone who have had ld recon have feeling of your muscle contracting sometimes if you bend over to pick something up in certain positions - I can clench mine so it moves! I did tell my surgeon it was my party trick!!! as if!
take care and good luck to all x
Hello
Ms Smith- I was a 32D, very slim but with full cup size, so my PS had a problem getting fat from me, I had to put weight on and I have put a stone on since being dx in 2010. My PS said he got more fat from this time round than the first time, this time he got 100ml.
With my 1st fat transfer, I think I lost about 40% of the transfer within about 10 weeks of having the op, but my PS was always pleased with the 60% I retained, he tells me what I’ve retained I will keep now.
I think it’s been the right procedure to follow on for LD and would go through it again no problem, and my PS has targetted areas in the recon breast which needed ‘padding out’ to try to get the correct shape.
Good luck
Jude
It may sound easier for me as the lipofill was being used to fill in a missing quadrant from a WLE rather than on a reconstruction but in fact they did replace a fairly large amount and it made a big difference. As I hadn’t recently had the major surgery of a recon, that maybe what it sounds different. In fact I had a tiny incision where it was put in and three or four where it was taken out, plus some bruising where it was taken out (I took arnica and they were impressed how well I recovered).
As chance would have it I am fairly skinny and they still managed to get enough fat to transfer. It has taken fine. The first time I didn’t see much difference. The second time they took quite a lot more because the first end had gone well and I would have no hesitation in having a 3rd or 4th go. Feels completely like “me”, not lumpy or numb or anything and has definitely improved size and shape. Xx
Hi Lisa, I’m just four weeks on from DIEP stage 2 where I had new nipples made, scar revision, liposculpture and fat grafting to both breasts - originally I had a prophylactic mx along with the bc mx. All done under a general anaesthetic. I was in overnight, and whilst I had some soreness, I felt really well, and could happily have gone to work after a day or so - and in a managerial position I would think you would be fine.
Lisa, Hope you were helped by the other replies, and didn’t mind me gatecrashing your post!
Big Thanks to Scone, Mary Grace and all, your answers were super-helpful - this site is a god-send, isn’t it?
I had been quite worried that I wouldn’t know how to decide, and don’t think I’d have risked the lipo-sculpture option without your first-hand info…
Thanks again everyone !
Ms. Smith see this small breasted woman over here with both thumbs up! 
My PS has had such a difficult time in getting my breast small enough to match my hands-off healthy right one. It’s close but no cigar, the shape is wider/fuller and hopefully, we will get closer on the next round. Had my nipple placed and that too will be reduced. He told me he will do this next stage not under general and I said, I’ll stand on my head while having it done, I just want it as close of a perfect match as possible and that will make me happy. I’ve never wanted large breasts and my mission has been to look as close as possible to what I was before entering the curious world of the pink ribbon. My onc said when she saw where I am now, that making very large and very small breasts are the most difficult to do and anything sizing from a large B to D cup are a breeze for a PS.
Samos, I’m pleased all went well for your stage II. 
Lisa, are you feeling more confident about being able to gain symmetry? 
I hope I have not underminded that.
Hi All, I am on a quest for symmetry too. In my mind if people can have cosmetic surgery when there is no medical need, they should surely be able to return me roughly to how I was pre bc. I am getting much closer with thanks to lipofill. One (or maybe even two) more surgeries to go. I am far more confident now, and braved wearing a dress with horizontal stripes the other day for the first time since surgery - and didn’t look wonky any more. Worth every minute to get “me” back xx
Hi LB, gosh you’ve done well keeping nippe projection if you are thinking of having it reduced! What’s been your secret? I’m hoping mine stay as they are, although I ke getting told they will flatten:(
Sam, I’ve been wondering the same and amazed the projection has remained as well as roundness. I doubt I’m much different from anyone else and time will tell. The disc of skin of my snub (as I called it before nipple placement) that PS made the nipple from was my flattned tummy button. That always cracked me up, my tummy button winding up on my breast, now in it’s new incarnation, my third nipple this lifetime. Gotta keep a sense of humour.
How are you doing dear one in a hot pink feather boa no less!
LB, I love the snub - good name! Mine,as far as I know,were just fashioned from tummy skin - nothing as exciting as tummy button skin!
They are looking good still, but they are shrinking - and the right protrudes more than the left. I’m just crossing my fingers that they not completely flatten.
Ah, you noticed the boa - thought I’d got away with it - worn for a meetup of the girls I met here on bcc. We took London by storm and had a ball - the picci was shot on the London Eye:)
All is well here, finished Herceptin three weeks ago now - so good not to be cannulated every three weeks, and am looking forward now to my hair finally growing. Herceptin seems to have really slowed the growth down. But can’t complain really as I’m just so grateful to have had it!
We would defo be lost without a sense of humour wouldn’t we - its the only thing that’s kept me sane.
How’s you??
Hi Ladies and thank you all for posting. Sorry it’s taken me so long to post again. I only have access via my I phone so it’s a bit of a nightmare.
I feel so much more confident about the fat transfer to gain symmetry. My new boss is cool about the ops and hasbeen so supportive. I am going to take each op as they come. I have my first op in 2 weeks, yikes! I was offered the date today when I phoned my consultant’s secretary. Initially she told me that there were 130 of these ops ahead of me. I said that can 't be right as Mr R said I’d waited a long time already and would have an app’t in 4 to 6 weeks. She said she’d look into it and then came back to me with an appointment on 19th. I’m actually really excited about it.
Thanks again ladies xxxx
Hi ladies
Next Tuesday I’m having a fat transfer to my implant to get better shape and an uplift on good boob. This is gonna sound stupid but is an uplift the same as a reduction or is it 2 different things? Didnt cross my mind until I was reading this thread today (and I’m hoping its only 1 fat transfer nobodys mentioned more then 1!)
Stellla xxx