POSTED UNDER Breast Fat Transfer REVIEWS
Fat Transfer to the Breasts - Winter Park, FL
ORIGINAL POST
To improve my distorted breasts. My journey...
Mel in the sunFebruary 7, 2012
WORTH IT$10,000
To improve my distorted breasts.
My journey started in 2000' with the desire of having the "perfect" breasts when I was very young. I went from a AA to a C and experienced moderate to severe capsular contracture with no resolution after trying to replace them under the muscle technique by another physician on 3 separate occasions.
Recently I chose to have both implants removed by my previous surgeon in August 2011 due to mastitis after delivering my last child as this only enhanced the capsular contracture in my breasts. Unknowingly, this decision would change my life forever. I experienced severe right breast skin retraction to the point of looking like a partial mastectomy due to infection from a hematoma/seroma that had developed after explantation. My husband and I went through soo much emotionally to try and figure out how I could fix this new problem.
After watching a Dr. OZ tv episode, I came upon a fairly new technique where you can inject your own fat into your breasts and amazingly feel soft and mobile like regular breast tissue. This moment was heaven sent to all my answers and I started researching local doctors in the orlando area.
I met with Dr. Hartog in October of 2011 and was amazed of the possibilities that lay ahead of me. I understood that this process "took time" even though I am very impatient and wanted to see results immediately. I was extremely impressed how thorough he was and his staff was amazingly helpful as well. For once in my life, I found a doctor that made me feel important and listened to my concerns. He has always taken time to evaluate my situation before making an indefinite surgical decision in pushing me in the right direction.
This has been a long process as I have worn the brava bra for approximately 12 weeks now and had 2 fat transfer surgeries to date with great success. My right breast may need a little more TLC but it's amazing with the right doctor and the right technique how this can change my life in a positive direction for the first time in 11 years. Dr. Hartog and his staff have been soooo patient with me as I am soo critical about myself and always strive for perfection after the tremendous amount of heartache I have experienced with previous surgeons.
Mel in the sun's provider
Replies (4)
February 10, 2012
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! It's patients like you that make us LOVE what we do each and every day!
August 17, 2015
I experienced deformation when I had my implants removed. Why, oh why, did anyone tell me what to expect? What I expected was to see my old flat breast back. What I got was puckered boob and an asymmetry. Like you, I am still happy to have it done and lived to tell. I went to Dr. Hartog's office and he said he would not recommend having my implants removed and fat transferred. Did not give a reason why, except that he felt I would not be happy with the result. He recommended a small implant with fat transfer. In hindsight, he may have been right. But I did not want implants and I went elsewhere. The doctor I went to was a good technician but not very good communicator. He did his job removing my implants. When I saw the result, he offered to inject fat for another $1500. After that procedure, I saw no discernible difference. It is possible I will need more fat. But I am shopping for another surgeon and getting a second opinion. Best of luck to you. Be healthy and be happy.
UPDATED FROM Mel in the sun
As of today, I have completed 2 more surgeries...
Mel in the sunAugust 31, 2012
As of today, I have completed 2 more surgeries since my last review. The shape of my breasts have become more significantly better and able to feel comfortable in clothes including bathing attire. My 4th surgery was on August 22nd of 2012 and Dr. Hartog was able to finally find the scar band under the right nipple and release it from puckering in followed by injecting more fat soo the scar does not reattach. This is a huge accomplishment in my journey over the year. As of now, I am very happy to be where I am today a year later. I was hoping this was my last surgery but still would like the left breast to be filled in a little more on the bottom crease and towards cleavage to match the right. We have been concentrating on the right soo much that my other breast now looks smaller and not as round. However if you look at my history this is not a bad thing but just needs tweaked.
Replies (26)
August 31, 2012
OH WOW!!!! HUGE difference!!! You are Looking fantastic!!!! Thank you sooo much for sharing :) its soo helpful to us ladies that werent lucky enough to have the perfect outcome after Explant :)
August 31, 2012
Thanks:). I am soo happy to be an advocate for others like myself to show there are great opportunities to fix such a heart breaking situation.
September 19, 2012
Hi Mel in the sun-- wow you do look fab!! YOu have given me and i am sure Elle1991 so much hope for us. I am the same as you or should i say was---Before implants a AA then a C --which i NEVER asked for then after 3 yrs developed CC in my right breast and put up with it for 2 years. On the 4th sept i had explant and now i am in shock as to how my breasts have reacted. It is now over 2 weeks later and no difference, if you have time take a look at my pics--- my boobs look okish when i put a load of mepre tape on but as soon as i take the tape off the nipples push down and into my breasts--they are so disgusting. What a journey you have been on--but now i think it is almost over for you? Your breasts look lovely now. I am so pleased for you. Can you tell me roughly how much a fat transfer cost you each time. All my spare money has gone on these blimmin breasts so i will have to start saving again! Please keep posting---you really have given me hope xxxxxx
September 19, 2012
Sorry to hear you are experiencing some of the same problems. I have never heard of a doc not fully scoring out the CC. My journey is almost over after a year of rebuilding my breasts. I want to have one more to even out my left one since the other is more rounder and lower now.
However I am out of fat to finish it off at this time. My doc has been wonderful and his technique works 100%. In addition to the fat transfer I had to utilize the brava which helped maintain the fat to survive. Without the brava the likelyhood of fat necrosis is high and then you waiste time and money. The reason your nipple is caving in is bcus of scar bands pulling it in. I understand sometimes this can resolve with massage but in my case it didn't bcus my breasts had an infection in turn distorted my breasts to heal. My doc charges $10,000 plus he stores the excess fat in a cryofreeze fat bank for future surgeries for an additional charge. After that point you pay for the amount you want to use later which can run from $300-$1200. The brava was $1000 if purchased through a surgeon vs the website charges $2500. It was a pain to use but well worth the results. Guidelines are to wait 3 months after explant for proper healing. I highly recommend Dr. Hartog bcus he has changed my life as well as his wife who is a cancer survivor needing bilateral mastectomies. This technique has worked for her also. Your breasts have a great shape soo far but it is still quite early. If they don't change or get worse the fat transfer is a great option. My doc would try to release the scar band and then immediately put fat in between the nipple to deter the scar from reattaching. In addition you can fill out other areas you desire to be more plumper as well. My breasts felt hard and lumpy at first but now they feel soft and move like normal breast tissue. It's amazing and worth looking into. If you choose Dr. Hartog I would be willing to meet you there if you like see the results in person. I can't say enough about Dr. Hartog bcus he is an amazing doc. Don't let other docs who are uneducated about fat banking and transfer deter you from having an open mind. My previous surgeon was totally against this technique and stated it doesn't work but I chose to move forward trusting my gut with Dr. Hartog. As you can see I am living proof it does work and Dr. Hartog currently has my case in one of his studies where I get 3D ultrasounds every 3 months to analyze my fat survival. This allows others to see I have experienced minimal to no fat necrosis throughout my surgeries. I hope this helps you and good luck with whatever decision works for you. If I can answer any other questions please feel free to ask:)
However I am out of fat to finish it off at this time. My doc has been wonderful and his technique works 100%. In addition to the fat transfer I had to utilize the brava which helped maintain the fat to survive. Without the brava the likelyhood of fat necrosis is high and then you waiste time and money. The reason your nipple is caving in is bcus of scar bands pulling it in. I understand sometimes this can resolve with massage but in my case it didn't bcus my breasts had an infection in turn distorted my breasts to heal. My doc charges $10,000 plus he stores the excess fat in a cryofreeze fat bank for future surgeries for an additional charge. After that point you pay for the amount you want to use later which can run from $300-$1200. The brava was $1000 if purchased through a surgeon vs the website charges $2500. It was a pain to use but well worth the results. Guidelines are to wait 3 months after explant for proper healing. I highly recommend Dr. Hartog bcus he has changed my life as well as his wife who is a cancer survivor needing bilateral mastectomies. This technique has worked for her also. Your breasts have a great shape soo far but it is still quite early. If they don't change or get worse the fat transfer is a great option. My doc would try to release the scar band and then immediately put fat in between the nipple to deter the scar from reattaching. In addition you can fill out other areas you desire to be more plumper as well. My breasts felt hard and lumpy at first but now they feel soft and move like normal breast tissue. It's amazing and worth looking into. If you choose Dr. Hartog I would be willing to meet you there if you like see the results in person. I can't say enough about Dr. Hartog bcus he is an amazing doc. Don't let other docs who are uneducated about fat banking and transfer deter you from having an open mind. My previous surgeon was totally against this technique and stated it doesn't work but I chose to move forward trusting my gut with Dr. Hartog. As you can see I am living proof it does work and Dr. Hartog currently has my case in one of his studies where I get 3D ultrasounds every 3 months to analyze my fat survival. This allows others to see I have experienced minimal to no fat necrosis throughout my surgeries. I hope this helps you and good luck with whatever decision works for you. If I can answer any other questions please feel free to ask:)
September 19, 2012
Wow Mel that was some detailed message and VERY helpful. It would of been great to of met up but i live in Spain!!!! So that is impossible. And also what is impossible for me is the price! There is no way i can afford this much money. I really hope that something happens to my nipples in the next 6 months. I think i will just have to sit and wait the 6 months then really make a decision then.
Thank you for taking the time to write to me--it was very helpful. good luck with your next fat transfer--- I really do think your breast look so much better now so it was well worth doing it. They look so good in the photos it looks to me that you dont need to go through it again!!! Keep posting xxxx take care
Thank you for taking the time to write to me--it was very helpful. good luck with your next fat transfer--- I really do think your breast look so much better now so it was well worth doing it. They look so good in the photos it looks to me that you dont need to go through it again!!! Keep posting xxxx take care
UPDATED FROM Mel in the sun
Final Update
Mel in the sunJuly 8, 2014
Here I am 1.5 yrs post-op totaling 5 surgeries in all to reconstruct. As you can see I really need another surgery to fix the left side as the shape is not quite right but at this point I can't take anymore surgeries for now. Trying to just accept what I have and it's been a long but worth it journey with Dr. Hartog.
Replies (16)
July 8, 2014
Mel you look great. I don't think I could do 5 surgeries. I go on Friday July 11th for my 2nd and last fat transfer. Am sitting is Brava domes as I type.
July 8, 2014
Thank you. I sure don't miss my "dollies" as I called my brava!! We had a love-hate relationship...lol
July 9, 2014
My husband says he's using mine for target practice, after Friday he says he never wants to see them again...lol
July 9, 2014
Beautiful breasts! You look great Mel. Wow what an epic journey you have been on with them. Mel could you tell me how long you waited between each transfer and how much cc your Dr put in each time? Ps thank you do much for sharing your story x
July 9, 2014
Thanks:). The amount of CC varied each time depending on how much fat I had to work with. If I remember correctly Dr. Hartog did about 200cc each the first time but stored the addt'l fat for the second surgery in his cryofreeze. He specializes in trying to take as much fat as possible and then you can store it for future surgeries. I had almost enough to complete another surgery (I think he's learned after me to be more aggressive on getting more fat when storing) with the leftovers about 150-200cc each. I had to wait 3-6 weeks in btwn for healing and allowing the first set of fat to be accepted by my body. I pretty much wore the brava nonstop for a year. I did take a break after my third one and waited a few months so I wasn't overloading my body with surgeries. After the second Procedure I had to go through more liposuctions each time. At this point I don't really have enough fat to make it worth while to finish the left breast shaping underneath:(. Someday I would like to finish it and also pray a diff tech will be available where I may not need my own fat... If that tech is ever figured out.
July 10, 2014
3-6 six weeks is very close together, my Dr suggested that I could have my next AFT at 6 weeks but have read that 3mths is better. Do you think the stored frozen fat took aaa well as the fresh?
July 10, 2014
Sorry that came out wrong the way I typed it. It was 6 weeks for actual surgery in btwn time spans. I would wear brava at no extra suction for 3 weeks to help blood supply for new transfer success after surgery n then do full brava 10-13hrs with the extra bulb suction for 3 more weeks before my next surgery. All my surgeries were successful fresh and frozen. I even participated in a year of scans through ultrasound and MRI for a year to monitor my breasts which showed minimal to no fat death seen. My breasts have not changed shape or size since my last surgery in Jan of 2013. He did a great Job
July 13, 2014
I also have a messed up breast after removal. I did not have infection,seroma or hematoma. I to had several revisions of implant. Always to become encapsulated. Left side was always the worst. In a sense through out my augmented years I was always self conscious of there appearance. Felt hard when I hugged people. Had to have special cushioning put down to get message. When my implant were removed you could actually feel down between my ribs. So with the first transfer I now have more fat on underneath side and my ribs are as they should be. The fat did not stay/survive in dip above nipple. He also released some of the scar tissue as well. I will be going for my 2nd transfer soon. I hope he can find enough fat to keep me from looking like partial mastectomy...like you said. I have not been in swim suit. Tried some on...just made me cry. I really can't afford to keep doing this. Still glad to be rid of implants. Be glad to find a bra that won't ride up over my left boob. I will get a pic up before procedure. Thank you for sharing your experience.
July 19, 2014
I can't see your scars from augmentation or removal... You are really looking good. Glad you found your doctor. Where did you take the fat from to transfer. Do the sites look ok from where it was taken. I need to have fat transfer for botched lipo done on outer thighs and below butt. I only have fat in my flanks that can be taken. Wanted to know if you had fat taken from there and if so the quality of skin there and if you see cellulite or rippling of skin there. I have these effects on my thighs cause the ps took too much fat out. Thanks
July 19, 2014
My scars healed really well utilizing the silicone scar cream suggested by my doc. I have one left that's being a little more stubborn but otherwise you can't see hardly anything. I had lipo done in the inner/outer thighs, butt, stomach flanks, lower/upper back 5x's. I have some cellulite on the back of my legs but nothing my surgeon did wrong but the normal aging of life. I really can't say anything negative about Dr. Hartog. He's an amazing surgeon. There are things that need to be touched up on my Breast but I always try to remind myself this is a technique that has made my life changed forever for the good. I try not to be critical on myself in wanting a "perfect Breast".
July 19, 2014
I also paid for endermologie treatments that's like a deep massage utilizing a machine. It reduces swelling and smooths out irregularities. I also was told if you wear regular panties or other tight garments after lipo you can get permanent marks/lines where the pressure was placed.
January 10, 2015
What an inspiring journey. Your breasts look great! I'm in the same boat with breasts ruined by implants, and I understand how devastating it can be. I'm pretty sure fat transfer is my only option, because implants wild only do more damage at this point. My question for you is regarding the cost. Was it $10,000 per fat transfer procedure? Or $10,000 total? I've been told that I'll need multiple procedures too, but if it's $10,000 each it's pretty out of reach for now.
Hi Mel, thanks for sharing your experience with us. I'm glad you're getting the results you wanted. Please keep us updated with your progress!