hi ladies this is my first post although i’ve been visiting the forums since my diagnosis seven months ago. I’m hoping some of you ladies may have an answer to my question. Following left mastectomy and failed immediate igap reconstruction six months ago my ps has now suggested a full reconstruction using the lipofil method. As this is a relatively new procedure in this country I’m having difficulty finding any info re this, so just wondering if anyone out there has any info or personal experience of this, many thanks
sandra
hi
i have recently had lipofil reconstruction and i am over the moon with the results. they took the fat from my stomach but as i am very slim they didnt get enough and had to use my thighs as well. this was probably the most painful but it was easily controlled with pain killers and short lived. so well worth the discomfort. im hoping that i wont have to undergo further reconstruction. its 5 weeks ago and things are looking really good so go for it.
i hope this helps you decide.
Thanks for your reply curlykid, I’m very happy for you that your recon has been so successful, I’m also very slim hence the igap recon initially, unfortunately artery kept clotting so had removal two days after recon, anyway have been told to put on weight so they will have enough fat to harvest ha!ha! easier said than done!(sorry to any lovely ladies on a diet at the moment, but i have the same problem only in reverse!!!) I’m only a 32c on my good side so not a lot to recon, hopefully they’ll find enough fat somewhere. Where did you have your reco done curlykid? I’m with Mr McCulley at Nottingham.
Have you had much reabsorbtion? I was told It would probably require two ops to acheive best results, were you told the same? was yours an immediate recon? hope you don’t mind all the questions, thanks, Sandra
Hi there, I am about to start recon using this proceedure. I cant find much research on it tho. I hope you dont mind me asking but did you have more than one attempt? My Plastic surgeon thinks I will need about 4 attempts to complete the recon fully. Do you know how long you have to wait in between attempts? My first one will be at the end of May/beg of June.
Fiona
hi ladies,
Firstly to you sandra. i have the same problem as you with not being able to put weight on. its really weird as i have always been a comfortable size 12 and occasionally sneaked into a 14 but now im a size 10 sneaking into an 8!! so as i said before they used some from my thighs, which to be honest there isnt much fat there either. still i had the op on the 4th feb and they made the size probably a c cup. im only a b cup. so quite a bit or fat has been reabsorbed but if it remains the same as it is now it perfect. which is fab as i can now wear an tankini as off to oz next week!!!
i had the op done in worthing with a fab surgeon. i was told that its possible i may need another one but we are going to wait and see. fingers crossed i wont.
Fiona, i think it will depend on what size you are. for me, if they were to try again now, there would just not be enough fat on me to do the procedure so thats one thing to bear in mind. i really think that i wont need another procedure and ive only had the one. i would say that im fully recovered from the op and as i said before the worst was the thighs. it just felt like i had done a weeks worth of aerobics!!
ladies, if you have any further questions please ask cos im more than happy to assist. i think it always nice to talk to someone whose been there!!
x
oh lucky you curlykid, oz how fantastic,i have friends there but have never got round to going, still on my to do list! Wow! a tankini,good for you girl, you must look and feel great. Isn’t worthing where the first procedure of this type was performed? Can I ask how long you were in theatre, and was it only an overnight stay also did you have to wear any compression garments on the harvest sites after the op? I feel really optomistic after reading your replies, and am now starting to get excited about a new boob! My appt with ps isn’t till mid april so hopefully op will be late may early june, and then i’ll be more than ready to have a much needed holiday, as last summer was a bit of a non event thanks to this bloody disease, but hey! ho! all in the past now and just need to finalise now with a matching (or as near as poss)pair!! and then it’s a tankini or maybe even bikini for me. Thanks again for the replies, take care, sandra
i know sandra i have to keep pinching myself that im actually going. after the dreadful year that i had last year, i think its made the trip that much more special. even treated myself to an upgrade on the flight! i couldnt believe it when i tried on the tankini in the shop. i never thought id be able to wear one again but it just is fab. they orginally offered me the op on 17th feb which was only less than 4 weeks before oz and the surgeon said no and i was gutted then they came back to me and offered the 4th feb and i snapped their hands off.
apparently worthing is the lead in this type of surgery. the surgeon (did i mention how fantastic he is!)is getting requests to do the procedure all over the country so we are very fortunate to have him.
i think the procedure was 2 hrs and one of the bc nurses actually came into theatre to watch. think this was an eye opener for her!. i didnt have the op till bout 3oclock then got out of the recovery room around 9pm. i rememeber this cos i was looking at the clock thinking ‘im missing masterchef’ (one of my fav tv prog)
i ended up staying in for 2 nights just because the pain in my legs but please dont be put off by this cos it really wasnt that bad. it just was more comfortable to stay in the bed an extra day. i think had i have pushed it they would have let me out but to be honest, i didnt. the worst of it was having to wear a compression garment around my torso. i felt like i was heavy with child!! this i kept on for just under 2 weeks and then that was it. make sure you have a big enough bra for after the op and not have it too tight. i wore a large sports bra. i think the only restriction for me now is not to lay on my front.
i am excited for you as it really is a great thing that they do and im sure you too will be over the moon and wearing your bikini with pride! if you think of anything else please ask away as im happy to share my experience.
x
Hi curlykid, upgrade too! way to go.
Thanks for all the extra info, had to laugh about master chef cos I’d have been the same as i love it too, and can’t wait for next series(only wish I was as good at cooking as i am at watching other people doing it!).
How long before your off to the land down under? Where are you staying or are you touring? sorry to be so nosey but I’m really cited for you.
A bit wobbly at the moment as have an appt at clinic tomorrow for lump in armpit near node scar, I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about but best to be on the safe side eh!
Take care
sandra x
Hi Ladies,
Hope you don’t mind me commenting on your thread. This sounds great. I had a lumpectomy but being only an a cup not a lot left. I’m due to see ps on 7th april about this procedure and i would love to get to a b cup but i feel i shouldn’t ask as i should be greatful for being alive.
please do keep us informed of outcome as there seems to be more and more of lipofilling
sukes
Sukes your more than welcome on this thread, I, like you went through a period of feeling guilty for wanting a recon especially after failed first attempt, but now I believe that whilst yes I’m extremely lucky and ecstatic at being alive, I’m not going to beat myself up about wanting to feel good about my appearance again, and I don’t think you should be so hard on yourself either, it’s a very personal decision that varies from one person to another, all we can do is what we feel is right for ourselves, and if it makes you feel good sukes you go for it!
sandra x
hi sandra. yes i love watching people cook but absolutely useless in the kitchen myself!! i cant wait for next series too. just glad its not on whilst i’m away. lol
flying to sydney staying there for 8 nights then fly to brisbane for 3 nights then overnight train up to cairns for 5 nights then hong kong on way home for 3 nights. so so excited. just finished work now as taken tomorrow off and got treatment thurs then fly out friday !!
good luck with appt tomorrow. hang on its today. i so hope everything has gone ok for you. if your anything like me you wouldnt have slept a wink last night! i have my fingers crossed for you.
sukes, i hope you have found this helpful. we shouldnt feel guilty about having this procedure. at then end of the day we have been through so much and i dont know anyone who would begrudge us the recon
take care
x
Hi curlykid, oh my god! only 3 more sleeps and then your off, fanbloodytastic!!! your trip schedule sounds fab, i’m so jealous but in a good way if that makes sense?
still a bit wobbly after appt today, hardened enlarged lymph node 2/3cm, ultrasound and biopsy, results next thursday, asked b/c nurse for best and worst case scenario, am sticking with best case till results are in!
you mentioned that you have a treatment on thurs?? hope you don’t mind me asking, I hope it goes well whatever it is,
take care
sandra xxx
hi sandra, hope your feeling better today about things. take it its this thursday you’ll get results back. whatever it always feels like a lifetime waiting. im very impatient and hate the wait for anything. im currently having herceptin hence the treatment on thursday. they have brought it forward by one day and when i return its being delayed by 5 days. its about my 9th one and so far i have felt good just tired. How about you? where are you at with it all? i never realised just how many different elements there were to this disease.
you say in your last ‘only 3 more sleeps’. if only that was the case. i dont seem to have the luxury of a good nights sleep anymore! and now with the added excitement of going away!! lol. this trip has become so significant to me because i had to cancel it last year 3 weeks before going so i think friday may be abit emotional for me. poor stewardesses will wonder whats up with me and just think im some menopausal idiot!
x
Hi curleykid, sorry couldn’t post earlier, been having some connection problems with internet!
hope everything went well at hospital and now you can really get into holiday mode.
In reply to your earlier post, it’s thurs 19th for results! as they dont get results till tues then have team review weds, so my appt with cons is next day. Trying to keep myself occupied for the time being and keep my mind on other things, sure you know how easy that is…not!
My journey started april last year following recall from first ever routine mammo, with cacifications in both breasts, six wks of tests and mri later diagnosed with 1x5cm + 1x2cm grade3 dcis in left breast, and because of having small breasts no option but mast followed by 5yrs tamoxifen as minimally er+, was referred to nottingham for mast with snb + 4 node sampling and immedite recon as my local hosp in northants, although excellent didn’t do recons at that time. Op end of july, recon removed 2 days later. Results same as initial diagnosis re dcis but also 2x1cm idc stage 1 with no node involvement, was then told no additional trtmnt as of minimal er+ status, and in his opinion side effects could poss outweigh the benefits.
So i’ve always regarded myself as being very fortunate in the grand scheme of things , and am so looking forward to finishing this with my recon.
Phew! sorry it was so long but you did ask lol!
Anyway enough about me, I just want to wish you the best holiday ever, you deserve it, hope to hear all about it on your return,
Sandra x
Hi
have just joined this discussion group and would really like to know how you managed to get the lipofil rather than the other options. I had a lumpectomy for precancerous cells but the bioply shows that I need some more breast tissue removed. My initial decision was a masectomy with immed reconstruction using the backmuscle - latimus dorsi. I missed the op due to illness which has given me time to think and I now question whether I want to lose a big back muscle. I am very active and don’t want to lose strength in my arm and shoulder. I want to discuss options with the surgeon - hopefully tomorrow (the op is next week) and was going to ask if there were other ways of ‘filling’ up the hole left should I go for another lumpectomy or full masectomy. I would need radiotherapy if I don’t have a masectomy - does this make any difference to lipofil?
I will definitely ask about lipofil tomorrow when I see her. She told me that i was too thin to use stomach muscle but I don’t seem to think that’s the case.
Hi Ladies,
How does the lipofil method work? I understand that your own fat is used to fill the breast, but what if it is a delayed rconstruction? Where does the skin come from? And does there have to be anything to hold the fat in place? Does it just sit where it’s put? Or is a muscle needed to provide the structure, and lipofil then to fill it up? Sorry, but I can’t picture how it works.
Any answers greatly appreciated! I had a mastectomy two years ago, asked for an immediate reconstruction but wasn’t allowed one. Now having to decide whether to go under the knife again or not. I hate being the way that I am, but am very scared of putting myself through a reconstruction now.
Hi RoadRunner
Below is a link to our publication on breast reconstruction, you might find it helpful.
breastcancercare.org.uk/server/show/nav.30/changeTemplate/PublicationDisplay/publicationId/107
Best wishes
Annabel
Had it last week. I saw surgeon for follow up tonight and she very happy (and me) with the twice the size proportions of the lipofilled boob. Now the pain has settled (fat from the belly) and getting used to wearing the compression pants (for another 6 wks), looking forward to the first of what will be at least two of these procedures to go up a cup. And get a flatter belly too, yeeha.
I’ve waited 20mths since mastectomy with immediate lat dorsi recon to get this far and boy have I been looking forward to it , but also dreading going in for another op. But it came at last, after rads, which would have burned away wanted fat stores. Got ovary removal at the same time as lipotransfer, onc suggested this (under Bupa cover) to get 2 things done at the same time and save on theatre trips. The ovary bit was more sore than the lipo area, and after a few sleepless nights, one week later am well on the mend, and feeling slimmer.
This procedure doesnt involve stem cell transfer, which my surgeon is experimenting with (but not on me yet). It all depends on whether the transported fat cells bed in or not. But even if the boob doesnt get any bigger, at least I’ve got rid of my tamoxifen belly in the process. I have to say in the last 7 days since I got ovaries out versus tomoxifen, ovaries out wins hands down. Tamxoifen made me feel so crap and I blew up like a balloon on the year I had it. The flushes dont feel half as bad or as often.
Meet my surgeon again in 6 wks to check progress, and arrange next infill (loose the lovehandles I think) and have a reduction on the big flabby one to get it all balanced out.
Have to say, I came away from tonights appointment feeling that, although its still “work in progress”, its all going the right way and all the improvements on my body will be worth it. Thank goodness for these positive moments when things start getting better.
Good luck and keep posting. This is the best place to hear it like it is, no doubt.
Thanks xxx
Hi, Can you ‘experts’ tell me if you had the lipofill without using either the stomach muscle (TRAM flap) or the back muscle. I have decided against using any of my muscles but want to know if it’s possible just to use my own fat with a lipofil? Thanks
Hope my post ‘bumps’ this up to top of posts…?!
Am considering replacing my implants [one has leaked anyway, after 12 yrs…] with lipofill - I had lat. dorsi flaps - and would love to hear from anyone re. their lipofill / fat transfer results, and if they are pleased even years later - who did it, and where?
I read up on it on the BAPRAS website and they say the practitioner has to be really good - but how to find a good one???