Breast Augmentation from Fat Transfer, Cielo Cosmetic Surgery - La Jolla, CA

Thank you for sharing your story! I look forward to your updates. At this time in my life, i believe, that everyone should do whatever will make them feel better. It does not matter to me if someone thinks that we vain or if they think that we are doing a unnecessary surgery. I'm happy that you found after all of your research, a doctor that you feel comfortable with. Wishing you the best!

Are you going to be using the BRAVA system up until your surgery? I have read studies that show that 70% of the fat transferred with use of the BRAVA stays and, conversely, 100% does not stay without the use of the BRAVA. Just wondering if your surgeon cited these studies for you or gave you any additional information about that?

I am scheduled for explant surgery and fat grafting October 27. You mentioned the lypo being painful. Did you have a large scar from that procedure - how long did it take to feel better and did you have to wear a special wrap on your stomach? For some reason I am more concerned about that - I cannot wait for the implants to be gone . Thank you for sharing your experience.

Good Luck!!! Be sure to have pain pills and time off work. It took me almost 3 weeks to feel good after.

Are you local in San Diego or flying in for this procedure? I do wish you the best, and am sure there are satisfied customers of Cielo. I had a consult there and decided not to have the procedure done there for several reasons. 1) I felt extremely uncomfortable with Dario (the owner) in the room with myself and Dr. Schneider. I should have had the option for a female chaperon. 2) While Dr. Schneider is a retired board certified plastic surgeon, Ceilo itself does not offer the option for either/both implants AND fat transfer because they don't use a surgery center. I do not want implants, but I feel I would get a more objective opinion from a doc that offered both. Otherwise they are just trying to sell you on whichever product they offer. 3) The procedure is done with local anesthesia in the office. I would personally feel much safer in a surgery center to have this done. While I am personally comfortable with general anesthesia (and prefer it, as it is less painful during the procedure since you are "out"), I understand that others do not always share this opinion. According to Dr. Schneider (and other docs), the use of local anesthesia may limit the amount of fat that can be taken out and transferred. 4) Dr. Schneider, when examining me, let it slip that he didn't think I was the "best candidate" for fat transfer and that implants might be a better option. He immediately backtracked and corrected himself when Dario gave him a 'look' and jumped in, telling me how I am a perfect candidate for the procedure. I am a small 34B. From your pics, I would guess that you are even smaller than I am now. Many docs will tell you they can only inject up to 300cc into each breast, and to expect the 50% take rate (allowing them to manage patient expectations), and that to get anything more than a 1/2 cup size difference, more procedures are needed (which, ironically, fits well with the limits of local anesthesia). This may be true, very much due to to individual breast elasticity. However, the surgeons training in and knowledge of breast fat transfer techniques are also of just as much importance. The 150cc transfer to each breast isn't going to make a major difference even if your chest measurement is extremely narrow. 5) While I also thought Dr. Schneider was knowledgeable (he was formerly a head plastics guy at Scripps) and put me at east in the consult, I did some local digging and was informed by personal references of procedures that he did where the results didn't meet expectations. Keep in mind these are just a few instances within many years of his practice. However, it was concerning, especially since these procedures took place in a general surgery center, not a local office. I have personally been to several consults here in Southern California (to offices that do just fat transfer, others that do only implants, and few that do both), as well as other geographies while traveling. While I have not yet scheduled the surgery, I have learned a lot in my exploration. 1) Go to a board certified plastic surgeon who uses an actual surgery center and anesthesiologist. You will be safer. 2) Make sure the surgeon does both fat transfer and implants. S/he will likely offer a more objective point of view on what is optimal for your body. 3) More fat can be harvested, transferred and kept when (1) you are under general anesthesia and (2) your doctor is well trained in this procedure. 4) Be wary of places that base pricing/fees on lipo on specific body parts. Yes, the surgeon should tell you his opinion on best harvest sites, but sometimes harvesting less from more areas is better for your overall body appearance (less risk of future lipo effects). I encourage you to look at the results on of Dr. Bednar (Charlotte NC), Dr. Delvecchio (Boston, MA) and Dr. Hammond (Grand Rapids MI). All of these doctors are able to transfer more fat (300-700cc) to each breast with a higher "keep rate" than what you would see in many local surgery offices. I have chosen my doctor (none of those listed) because he is a board certified plastic surgeon who uses several option (fat transfer and/or implants) in his practice; he has been trained in France on this procedure and has gone back for continuing training there, and has worked with Dr. Delvecchio, using the latest techniques. His quote to me was inclusive of surgery center fees (general anesthesia), and several harvest sites (full lateral thigh, hips/flanks, abdomen and arms) taking the right amount of fat from each so as to leave me with an optimal figure - for approximately half of the amount of my quote from Ceilo (I assume for $5900 inclusive, you only have a couple of harvest sites). He thinks he can get me the results I want (full C/small D) in one procedure, where Ceilo told me I definitely needed to stage this to get the results I want. My doctor is not local to Southern California (where prices seem to be higher than elsewhere), so I will be traveling for the procedure, but fortunately I have family in the area and can get there for the encouraged (no cost) follow-up appointments. Just my two cents based on my own learning journey. Good luck to you!

Your results are beautiful. Congrats!!!

I can hardly tell if there is any bruise in your thigh. What tool does the doctor use to harvest the fat?