RE: Are fat transfer results permanent?

Can Cun Face Lift Scam 26 Jun 2012

Now after I paid, the patient coordinator Sheri Burke yelled at me. She told that all the people who posted negative comments about her are crazy and that if I post anything about her then she will post my name. She wont give me papers that I need to get back to the USA. I look dreadful and the doctor said no to worry about it.

Misty H. (RealFriend) 26 Jun 2012

OMG Need Information you have have very scary story. I am so sorry to hear about the challenges you have had. I wish I had some encouraging words of wisdom for you.

I have to admit I have never heard of a fat transfer to the hands. I can see why it would be a desireable thing to have additional fat in the hands, I don't know if it would really work. From what I know from my research and experience that the transfered fat has to revasculate to stay alive so movement of the transferred area has to be kept to a minimum. If don't know if the fat would survive in an area with as much movement as the hands.

I sincerely hope thatyou make it through okay with no complications and that your results improve. I hope you will post your own story here on a thread of your own to share your experience. It may warn others of what happen. Or if things do work out (which I hope is the case) it may show others what can happen in the surgery healing process.

I have heard of scary stories such as yours when people go internationally to have surgery. It can be so tempting because the costs can be significantly less. But international safety standards and health codes vary so it can be really taking a chance for serious complications. That is not to say that there are not qualified surgeons/surgery centers internationally it just takes so much more research to be sure.

My heart goes out to you Need Information. It may be best to see a doctor at home to double check things to make sure there is no infection or anything like that. I wish you all the best.

Can Cun Face Lift Scam 26 Jun 2012

I am in Can Cun. The experience was scary. No one soke English. I am trying to say that I am going to be sick and they just stood there. I needed something for pain and they giggled. The international coordinator made so many mistakes and I to keep reminding her off my appointments. She is very phony and was nice till she got the money then she avoided me. I asked her about that and she screamed at me. I told the doctor that my hands were so bad that I could bot look at my face. I told him that the reason that I had fat placed in my hand was to get rid of the wrinkles and the veiny look. He recommended hand cream. During the hospital stay, the nurse l slept on my couch. The left the urine bag on the floor and when they removed it, she draped the tube across my hand. They did not wear gloves to start IVs.

Misty H. (RealFriend) 25 Jun 2012

Need information.

Based upon the only information I have I can only say hang in there....it is too early in the healing process to be overly concerned. It takes a while for swelling to go down. You may have bumps and hard ridges that will smooth out with time.

What does your doctor say?

Can Cun Face Lift Scam 25 Jun 2012

I am 10 days post op from having a face lift and fat transfers in Cancun Mexico. I am disfigured.

rock chic. 14 Jun 2012

Hi, Secrets no problem its true what we said i even know of a doctor who is an expert in fillers he is against, fat transfer as it does not last.and Michhy i dont give a damn what you say.!!

secrets 14 Jun 2012

Hello Rock Chic....you are absolutely right.
i had fat transfer in my hands and it only lasted a matter of weeks......absolute rubbish ,and i do notice ,especially now,that even surgery does,nt last very long.
I had lower facelift in march this year,and today i look exactly as i was before....and these doctors always have an excuse as to why it never lasts......

Brianna123 7 Dec 2011

Wow jewel, take a chill pill and stop being such a cow. Misty was just putting in her 2 cents. If anyone is bring a "smartypants" it's you lol you're even worse with your silly cut and paste of journals with citations.. GEEZ you sound like a little teenage brat who needs an attitude change

Misty H. (RealFriend) 26 Oct 2011

The information cited about is from 2007. Procedures improve and results improve as time gets better. My first fat transfer was done 2 years ago and the results are still great.

Hmmm, I have had several procedures with Dr.Cruise over the past 2 years. I have found him and the staff to very knowledgeable and helpful.

rock chic. 13 Jun 2012

more like Misty H had more than one fat transfer.!!

Misty H. (RealFriend) 25 Jun 2012

Rock chic

I did have more than one fat transfer. But the fat the second time went to my temples where hard bone was starting to show and in my forehead. I had just a little added to my lower cheeks. This did something different than my first fat transfer.

I only went back for a second one because I was pleased with the results from my first one.

I just want to say the Real Self is here so that people can share their experiences with different procedures. People should feel comfortable post their experiences here good or bad with out getting any hostile replies in return.

As you can see here, fat transfers have mixed results. I am very pleased with my results and nothing anyone says will change that because I see the results everyday.

So if you have had a bad experience with a fat transfer...share what went wrong. But there is no need for anyone to call anyone else's opinion or experience "crap". Hostile replies make people not want to post their stories which defeats the purpose of this site.

It is fine to disagree...just do it in a respectful way.

rock chic. 26 Jun 2012

Hi, Misty sorry if i upset you the thing is i had a fat transfer december last, and the surgeon misled me and said it would last 10 years only with one transfer and i payed, over four and a half thousand pounds, and he let me down badly also he never gave me a receipt for the money i gave him, i have been told i should claim against ,him., it has made me depressed, as you are happy with your fat transfer could you tell me how to contact the , surgeon that done yours that would be great thanks take care, kind regards , rock chic.

Misty H. (RealFriend) 26 Jun 2012

Thanks rock chic.

I am so sorry to hear about your experience rock chic. Wow...your surgery was very pricey. I think I would be upset too if I spent that much money and I didn't see a lasting improvement.

I wasn't upset. Sometimes people get very passionate here on Real Self so replies can get defensive or seem hostile. Sometimes people have bad experiences and they are angry (many times justifiably so) so the anger shows through in the postings. It can be tough to control emotions, especially if the postings are about a person's own appearance. If a person has has plastic surgery that means they really care about their appearance so if a procedure doesn't go well it can be depressing or even downright devastating.

I am no doctor, but it is my understanding that only so much fat will survive a fat transfer. So some times more than one is needed to get the desired result. People may also not keep in mind that even with a fat transfer your face will continue to age. You will lose facial fat as you get older. A fat transfer won't stop the clock but it is supposed to turn it back.

I also want to say that having realistic expecations is really key. I think a fat transfer is not a major transformation, but just a very nice subtle improvement to shave some years off a persons appearance by adding some youthful softness to a face.

It does seem that fat transfers are a very controversial. There are so many things that come into play with respect to the surgery. The surgeons skill, the patient's health and after care, post surgical stress and the list goes on.

My surgeon is Dr. Joseph Cruise in Newport Beach, CA. I have had several surgeries with him and I have been please. Just google his name and location and he has a very helpful website.

I wish you the best rock chic.

Can Cun Face Lift Scam 25 Oct 2011

I was lied to by the staff at Dr. Joseph Cruise in Cali, but it turns out that it is just a waste of money .

Nothing2say2u 4 Jun 2011

If the fat is disturbed then it will get lumpy and break apart i know tjis because after my -***** of a dr pushed onto my lower eyelids with heavy pressure he instantly damaged the fat graft with his stupid fingers,

jewel123 16 Feb 2011

What proof? could you cite some sources that are as credible as the UCLA division of plastic surgery and are not just written by one or two odd balls?

michhy 15 Feb 2011

Believe me they have proof since that was written.I know first hand. Like I said gain weight and you will see that area grow in a abnormal way related to the rest of your face.Just try it and see.Or get an MRI.

jewel123 15 Feb 2011

And michhy, the article is not commenting on if the fat graft lasts, it is simply stating that
there is no proof that the fat cells live and that you can't predict the outcome.

here is the article again, maybe you read it wrong michhy:

In 2007 doctors from the UCLA Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery wrote an article:

Conclusions: Although there is an increased trend in replacement of soft-tissue volume with autologous fat transfer, THE LITERATURE FAILS TO PROVIDE DEFINITIVE EVIDENCE OF FAT SURVIVAL. - Autologous Fat Transfer for Facial Recontouring: Is There Science behind the Art? Matthew R. Kaufman, M.D.Timothy A. Miller, M.D.Catherine Huang, M.D.Jason Roostaien, B.S.Kristy L. Wasson, B.A.Rebekah K. Ashley, B.S.James P. Bradley, M.D. (Plast. Reconstr. Surg.119: 2287, 2007.)

Quantitative evidence of clinical fat survivability and predict-
ability of volume restoration DOES NOT EXIST- (Plast. Reconstr. Surg.
119: 2287, 2007.)

jewel123 15 Feb 2011

then why the heck did he and his division write that article???????
and let me correct you: they last as lumps. Who wants hard lumps under their skin? I have no doubt that all the little 3mm hard lumps last. I do doubt that the hard lumps are fat though. They are calcification or scar tissue and I know this because they are hard, not soft like fat.

jewel123 14 Feb 2011

The consequence of fat injections are multiple lumps under your skin. They are just 3mm in diameter but they cause daily swelling and a puffy look that you don't want. And they can be both seen and felt!

michhy 14 Feb 2011

I happen to know for a fact that if you call UCLA and speak to the chief of Plastic surgery he will tell you fat grafts when done right last.

rock chic. 13 Jun 2012

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michhy 14 Jun 2012

Fat grafts when done right (especially in younger patients) do in fact last..I can't believe we are even debating this.
Your surgeon must have done the procedure incorrectly.

rock chic. 14 Jun 2012

i am not old thanks and who the hell are you to decide about fat transfer had it done have you.!!!

jewel123 14 Feb 2011

Everyone's face grows with weight gain, not just people who had fat injections.

If there is a lawyer out there, please start suing these doctors who do fat injections for malpractice!!!! Plastic surgeons are not informing patients preoperatively that lumps are a consequence of the fat injections. They are misleading patients to believe that there is maybe a possibility of a temporary pimple-like lump or a risk of lumps or no risk at all. By law they are required to inform patients preoperatively that the lumps are the actual product being sold and are a consequence (not a risk) of the procedure. The lumps are being used as a structural material to create volume and can be felt under the facial skin.