notsogood

Fat Transfer...don't Do It. -Beverly Hills, CA

That's the same line I got...they all tell you everyone else is doing it wrong...but they have the best method.  I was under anesthesia when I had mine done too, that is no anything special, just better for pain.  My PS took it from my thighs, stomach and arms (I'm very thin so he had to take it from several places to get enough fat.  Oh and that's the other thing they don't tell you...removing the fat leaves a rippling effect on your skin...sort of like tunnels...the worst is on my stomach.  I'll never wear a 2 pc swimsuit again...or go sleeveless now either.  I specifically asked my PS about that before the procedure...he assured me it would look great.  Well it doesn't...not even close.  And YES...whenever I gained a few pounds (even when you are very thin like me!)  the fat they put in your face swells up...bags under your eyes, puffy eyelids...and chipmunk cheeks.  Looks like you haven't slept in days and have been on a binge.  Until I had it removed surgically...I had to constantly watch what I ate...then I looked sick cause I was too thin.  It was horrible.  The doctors that use FT, sell you on it big time...then when it goes bad, they just walk.  Some women get worse from the fix.  Having a FT procedure (of any method) is like gambling.  50/50 odds.  And if you lose, you lose years out of your life, and a boatload of money trying to find a fix.  Do you really have an extra $30,000 to fix it if it doesn't go well.  That is what spent...not to mention hiding out for 2 years because I was a mess.  These guys will tell you what you want to hear...don't fall for it!   They give it fancier names like... "micro stem cell rejuvenation" and other such mumbo jumbo.  It is all the same. They all make it sound so easy...and "risk free"  Its just not true.  The latest scam.  Many of us fell for it for the same kind of "big sell".  My current PS has had to stop accepting patients for Fat Transfer revisions because he has been swamped with repair work.  It's that bad. There are so many other things you can do that will be far...far.. less risky...full blown surgery is far better than FT.     

trust me...I was scared out of my mind.  So worried it would get worse.  I did take forever to heal too...a full 3 months.  Still a little dark under one eye...but concealer to the rescue.  At least I feel its me looking back at me from the mirror now.  Never thought I'd miss my face so much, lol!  

Hi OTH...Well...I didn't exactly have a traditional upper and lower bleph.  But he did do a lot of work for under $10,000 and that included an anesthesiologist using twilight for about 4 hours.  He removed the FT fat from under my right eye & smoothed it over with my own fat (and I didn't have much to work with).  He revised the scars in the creases of both eyes to make them less raised, and better placed so you barely see them at all now.  I had ptsosis (droopy eyelid) in my left eye, so he fixed that (that apparently was the most expensive part as expected...as its a complicated surgery)..  Then he removed about 3 lumps of FT fat above that eye  (one still persists, but its a lot smaller...he may try to tweek that one a bit more).  Then my lower lid (the waterline) got dragged down by the fat and was exposed...so he took a tiny tuck in the outer corner of my eye to put it back in place.  My eyes were asymmetrical from the FT, so he evened them up more.  Massry, on the other hand, was only going to do a modified lower-only bleph on 1 eye & take the lumps out over the left eye...he wanted $15,000.  So, yes, his prices are a bit over the top.  Here's the problem though...about 2 months ago, Groth stopped doing FT revisions completely...maybe revision work in general.  He got overwhelmed with revision work...and its a lot more difficult than working with "newbies".  I suggest...not mentioning the "sausage" when you make the appt.  You'll never get beyond the receptionist...I know someone who tried.  Like trying to get past Atilla the Hun.  Just say the consult is for an upper/lower bleph...period.  Once you get in to see him in person...I think he could be persuaded to handle the rest too.  He may seem "all business" but he's actually a pretty compassionate & thoughtful guy.  I actually prefer that to the "tap dance" and self-promotion so typical in BH.  And I don't think anyone could have done a better job, given the mess I walked in there with.  My only complaint would be the office staff, not always accommodating during the aftercare phase.  And I'm not really all that demanding.  I'm a doctor's wife, so I know what "demanding" sounds like, lol!  It's a challenge to get past the front desk to the doc, unless you get aggressive...or tell them the sky is falling...or beg.  Everyone else is first rate.  Fingers crossed that his will work out for you...

Ms Sorry...the FT that stayed around your cheekbone may be able to be removed with microlipo.  I have that on the cheekbone too, just on one side, but I'm too terrified to risk another procedure.  But I know a few gals here...have had some success with microlipo.  Only problem is their particular doc is no longer doing revisions.  He was just  overwhelmed by patients looking for a repair...so he quit doing it.  Wish I could help you with that, but I don't have anyone I can personally recommend right now who does microlipo for FT. 

Ms Sorry...yes I have that same "roping"...or what I describe as a raised line of fat that looks like a thin tube.  My "rope" runs from the corner of my inner eye...down along the side of my nose.  Most overhead lighting makes it more obvious or direct sunlight.  It's just gross.  I've been told by a few plastic surgeons that it is caused by the way the fat is injected.  For a lot of people, some areas will get raised and not go away.  Its basically a tube-shaped soft lump...that is likely to be permanent.  I had my FT over two years ago and its still there.  Its odd, but sometimes it will seem to disappear for a day...then come back the next.  And if I lose weight it is somewhat less noticeable.  But since I am already quite thin, I can't really lose anymore weight without risk to my health.  I've been advised to leave it alone as any attempt to fix it might make it worse.  I've had to just learn to accept it...and just try to avoid certain lighting situations as much as possible...and I wear sunglasses a lot more than I used to.  I've had some success fixing my overall FT disaster with eye surgery...but other issues are just beyond a fix.  Like you, I was told verbally by the doctor that FT was a no-risk procedure...and would simply "freshen" up my look.  He told me the worst that could happen is that it would just absorb in to my skin and go away.  The big lie.