POSTED UNDER Breast Fat Transfer REVIEWS
Breast Augmentation Through Fat Transfer - Palo Alto, CA
ORIGINAL POST
I wasn't comfortable with implants, but wanted...
momof3CAApril 30, 2012
WORTH IT$8,000
I wasn't comfortable with implants, but wanted larger, fuller breasts. I had breastfed three children, and simply wanted restoration. I was willing to adhere to the complete Brava regimen, both pre- and post-surgery, and it made better sense to me to use my own fat than carry around a foreign object for the rest of my life.
This procedure is not for those who want instant gratification, and Dr. Greenberg was very involved throughout the weeks-long process. I'm still just a few days out from surgery, so I honestly don't know how much I'll ultimately retain (I'm using the Brava system, so retention should be high barring unforeseen complications), but am confident that Dr. Greenberg's skill and training have insured the best long-term result.
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Replies (58)
May 8, 2012
Looking forward to seeing how much of an increase you get. Please keep us posted!
May 25, 2012
I'm just a few weeks out, but am post-Brava (3 weeks required after surgery), and still seem to be retaining an inch (1 cup size). I'm now a 36C, was a small 36B. And I have smaller thighs and a flatter stomach, which is an awesome side effect ;)
May 25, 2012
Ooh, yes! Glad it's working. Bigger boobs + smaller thighs & abs? Where do I sign-up?! :)
May 25, 2012
Hi there thank you so much for your review :)!
I was wondering what kind of lipo you got and if there was bruising and pain at all? And how long you will be wearing your compression garment?
Please let me know thanks :)!
I was wondering what kind of lipo you got and if there was bruising and pain at all? And how long you will be wearing your compression garment?
Please let me know thanks :)!
May 25, 2012
The fat for transfer into the breasts comes from the waist and thigh areas. Mine was specifically taken from my inner thighs/knees, plus a bit from my stomach, though where it's taken will vary by person (outer thighs, flanks, etc.). To be perfectly honest, the lipo was super painful on my thighs (stomach was fine, just a bit sore), and I had major bruising on both my thighs and breasts (transfer site). This may have been reduced a bit w/herbs (arnica, bromelain), but my doctor and I made the decision not to use them as it is currently not known how they affect the take of the fat graft.
I'm over a month out, and just stopped wearing my compression garment. My doc asked me to wear it for 3 weeks minimum, then as desired after that (it feels better to wear it). Three weeks post transfer is the amount of time you'll wear the Brava device, as well, so expect a reasonable time commitment. Bruising at this stage is completely resolved, though I do have some residual tenderness everywhere. It gets better every day.
Am I happy with my result? Absolutely. My thighs are smaller (there's still some swelling, which as I understand is quite normal at this stage), and my breasts are a cup size larger and very nicely shaped.
The only disappointment is that you come out of surgery VERY large, then lose quite a bit of volume as you heal. Even though I went into surgery knowing I wouldn't be able to keep the super-sized boobs, I very quickly grew fond of them (I came out of surgery a full 36D, now I'm a 36C, started as a 36B). I suppose this is why surgeons often recommend that implant patients go larger than they think they'll want (remember that fat grafting, even at maximum transfer amounts of 250-300 cc's/side, will only get you about a cup size if you pre-expand w/Brava and follow post-transfer protocols).
Hope this helps!
I'm over a month out, and just stopped wearing my compression garment. My doc asked me to wear it for 3 weeks minimum, then as desired after that (it feels better to wear it). Three weeks post transfer is the amount of time you'll wear the Brava device, as well, so expect a reasonable time commitment. Bruising at this stage is completely resolved, though I do have some residual tenderness everywhere. It gets better every day.
Am I happy with my result? Absolutely. My thighs are smaller (there's still some swelling, which as I understand is quite normal at this stage), and my breasts are a cup size larger and very nicely shaped.
The only disappointment is that you come out of surgery VERY large, then lose quite a bit of volume as you heal. Even though I went into surgery knowing I wouldn't be able to keep the super-sized boobs, I very quickly grew fond of them (I came out of surgery a full 36D, now I'm a 36C, started as a 36B). I suppose this is why surgeons often recommend that implant patients go larger than they think they'll want (remember that fat grafting, even at maximum transfer amounts of 250-300 cc's/side, will only get you about a cup size if you pre-expand w/Brava and follow post-transfer protocols).
Hope this helps!
May 25, 2012
Wow thank you so much for your detailed reply that was very helpful....Can I ask you what type of lipo did she use? And also, did you start using the brava again right after surgery? Thanks Again!
May 25, 2012
I unfortunately don't know the type of lipo specifically (my brain is a muddle of information at this point), though my surgeon trained in the procedure w/Kouri in Miami (developer of Brava and pioneer of fat transfer to breasts), so she uses his same protocols. I had my arms done at the same time, and I know she used a different type of lipo for my arms - as arm fat can't be transferred because it's too fibrous, we didn't need to worry about using the more "gentle" technique on that area (the quotes are there because my arms didn't hurt at all, no bruising...as I mentioned, thighs were brutal).
I wore the Brava for 6 weeks before surgery (this is just how it worked out w/my surgery date, protocol is 4 weeks), and 3 post. You get about an 18-24 hour break post surgery, then wear it continuously for 72 hours, then finish out the 3 weeks at 10 hours/day, worn at night. As I understand, Kouri has been fiddling with his post-surgery recommendations a bit, so the actual requirements may vary slightly at this point from what I had to do.
Happy to answer any more questions you might have.
I wore the Brava for 6 weeks before surgery (this is just how it worked out w/my surgery date, protocol is 4 weeks), and 3 post. You get about an 18-24 hour break post surgery, then wear it continuously for 72 hours, then finish out the 3 weeks at 10 hours/day, worn at night. As I understand, Kouri has been fiddling with his post-surgery recommendations a bit, so the actual requirements may vary slightly at this point from what I had to do.
Happy to answer any more questions you might have.
July 3, 2012
Hello, thank you so much for your review on Brava. I am going to be doing Brava in 6 months. My ps also trained under Dr Kouri. My story is a little different than yours. I am having breast implants removed on July 6th (3 days to go) and my ps suggested the Brava system to me because I know longer want implants, 30 years having implants is long enough. He is going to explant them and he said let my body heal for 6 months and then do the Brava. I know it takes alot of determination to do the system. My implants were put in to corrected assymetrical breasts and now I have cc, so out they come. Please keep us posted on your results as the months go by. I'm very interested to hear how you are 6 months out.
July 3, 2012
BeagleBaby1 - All the best with your explantation and future AFG. Yes, Brava requires serious fortitude...but if you're committed, it's worth it!
According to my doc, Khouri says that what you have at 3 months is what you're going to have. I'm nearly there (over 10 weeks post surgery), though my informal research (via a forum for AFG w/Brava patients) seems to indicate that most people have settled to their final size by 6-8 weeks. I can honestly say I haven't noticed much (if any) change for a while now, so I think I'm at my final result.
I'm still holding at a 36C (my original size was 36B), though I've lost a bit more fullness from where I was at my previous post (1 month out). Perhaps 1/4" projection. I'm reasonably happy - yes, I miss my larger boobs (both pre-surgery, Brava-enhanced size and post-surgery swelling), but my goal was a cup size and I got a cup size. If you have reasonable goals, it's a great alternative to implants.
According to my doc, Khouri says that what you have at 3 months is what you're going to have. I'm nearly there (over 10 weeks post surgery), though my informal research (via a forum for AFG w/Brava patients) seems to indicate that most people have settled to their final size by 6-8 weeks. I can honestly say I haven't noticed much (if any) change for a while now, so I think I'm at my final result.
I'm still holding at a 36C (my original size was 36B), though I've lost a bit more fullness from where I was at my previous post (1 month out). Perhaps 1/4" projection. I'm reasonably happy - yes, I miss my larger boobs (both pre-surgery, Brava-enhanced size and post-surgery swelling), but my goal was a cup size and I got a cup size. If you have reasonable goals, it's a great alternative to implants.
Hi there, thanks so much for sharing your experience with us. I'm glad everything worked out well for you!