POSTED UNDER Facial Fat Transfer REVIEWS
Fat Transfer - Gambling with Your Face - California
ORIGINAL POST
I really liked my face.In hindsight,the minimal...
Good face gone badDecember 25, 2010
$3,500
I really liked my face.In hindsight,the minimal "refreshing" I wanted was something that at my age should have been done with fillers.
Myth 1) It's non-invasive.I was shocked at my appearance after the procedure and was swollen for months.It invaded my life.
Myth 2) It improves skin texture.For all this stem cell talk,I didn't get it. In addition to the broken capillaries,minor injection site marks and rippling at the doner site,my skin looked stretched and had an orange peel appearance when the swelling finally went down. The $4,000 I'd spent on Total FX 6 months earlier to perfect my skin was a total waste after this procedure. I'm now going through another less invasive round of skin resurfacing.
Myth 3) An unpredictable permanent fat solution is better and more cost-effective than other more predictable fillers.If you're willing to risk the probability of permanent lumps and irregularities then go for it.If you can afford to pay to fix the possibility of problems,then take the risk. If you're prepared to use even more fillers to correct the asymmetry and areas that weren't filled so everything matches, go for it. If you are prepared to never look the same, sign up. If you are convinced you won't gain weight and inflate the unwanted transferred fat - then do it. I wasn't prepared for those things and I am one very sad person who didn't know what I had until it was gone.
Tip 1) Don't go for the most charismatic doctor. Go for the critical perfectionist who seriously discusses the cons and takes the time to analyze your face and it's current imperfections.
Tip 2) Have him/her draw a picture of exactly where the injections will be so you aren't surprised where they end up.
Tip 3) Establish expectations. Ask how long you will be swollen and what constitutes swelling vs. final results. Ask what the plan is if you aren't satisfied with the results.
Tip 4) Look at his/her staff. Do you like what you see? They've often had something done and you may be able to gauge how conservative or extreme the doctor may be.
Tip 5) Don't just fall for "stock" photos or carefully selected picture books.
Please note: I'm just sharing my experience and opinion. Some people may benefit from this procedure.
Replies (137)
December 27, 2010
I'm at six months. To some extent, things are still changing.I exercise at least once every day to keep my weight down -as well as the swelling. Ironically, the lower weight is hollowing me out in other facial areas! As I mentioned, I had Juvederm injected to cope with my appearance. On one side, things look worse. That side was a problem from the day I walked out of the procedure. I vocalized the issues several times, but was told it was perfect and would settle. My before pictures do not show the lumps and dents of my after pictures. I'm going through a series of IPLs and eMatrix (4 each) to work on the texture issues. I think it would be too much stress on my skin to go for another Total FX.I'm also looking at Radiesse to fill in my lower cheek to balance what's going on under my eyes.I look a little like Ichabod Crane right now.I've been told I'd have to go without fillers in order to have another doctor go in and do an F/T correction.I don't want steroid injections.I'm already using the Kenalog cream against my better judgment for fear of more skin thinning. The alternative I'd consider is micro-lipo.I'm going to try to continue to supplement with fillers at this point. The more challenged side was very oddly stretched and I think it needs a pinch tuck. . .but I'm not a doctor. For now, I need to wait it out. I feel like a fool for being so vain and wasting so much time and money on this. I don't like being photographed so I apologize for no pictures. At the end of the day,I don't like how I look so we'll leave it at that. My greater sadness comes from knowing I will never wake up to the same face again. I should have let age and gravity take their course, but as a perfectionist who lives in the land of beautiful people that was tough for me. Now I have to make peace with - and own my poor choice to intervene.
December 28, 2010
Please don't despair -- we all make choices and unfortunately some of them turn out to be less than perfect. :( You're not alone. Feel free to lean on us for support if you need it. It sounds like you're well-informed and are doing everything you can to fix this, and that is certainly the first step.
I'm kind of surprised to hear that the F/T hasn't disappeared when you lost weight in other parts of your face. That just seems odd to me, but then, I'm not a doctor either. :)
There is another RealSelfer, ErieGirl, who is in a different situation but is also looking into microliposuction as a possible solution. It may be worth comparing notes with her to see if you can both find a good doctor for it (apparently there aren't a lot of MDs who do this surgery).
April 5, 2011
OMG i am 3 months post fat transfer done by a respected fat transfer surgeon, and it is definitely the worst decision of my life. The fat is uneven not put where it was supposed to be, the bags under my eyes are so awful i have be become quite reclusive and depressed. Worse than that because its kind of self inflicted you don't get a lot of sympathy, as people just tend to think you are to vain.I have suffered terrible thyroid eye disease and thought 'a little bit' where we discussed might cheer me up. HOW WRONG I WAS.NEVER EVER choose this procedure as so much can go wrong, Symmetry/unevenness/ bumps/downtime/ are too name but a few!! If you are mad enough to embark on this journey PLEASE HALT NOW.
April 8, 2011
Well said Leatherhead. . . Unless someone has gone through this bizarre hell, it's hard to understand the loneliness and ongoing regret that you suffer. I don't know where you are located, but there are things that can be done to fix this in the right hands. If you continued to read, you eventually get to the 5FU treatments and I'm now going to undergo Micro-lipo. Fillers around the bumps can help a bit too. At 3 months, you still may have some swelling and there is the possibility that things will improve a bit so don't lose hope. . .!! Let me know if you need anything. Life is too short to regret.
June 17, 2011
Hi Leatherhaed, OMG i so agree with you. I two have thyroid eye disease and when i read your message it could of been mine! I had F/T for the same reasons as you, and it has honestly changed my life for the worst. i have gone throgh such personal trauma i dont look or feel the same person i was, and i don't think i ever will be again. Talk about wanting to turn the clock back. My surgeon totally convinced me i would feel rejuvinated, god how wrong he was.i wish i could of seen this site before, but thats life.
June 17, 2011
I'm so sorry you had to go through this. It is so obnoxious that expectations aren't set. THIS IS NOT some walk-in-the-park procedure like a refill of Restylane. Isn't it amazing how an alteration like this to your appearance can impact how you feel so drastically? You really don't feel like the same person. My facial movements weren't familiar. The blobs and strands of fat I could feel and see when I looked downward were so bizarre and foreign. The FT never felt like it was suppose to be part of me. Somedays I feel like the loss of the inside person due to all this distress and somewhat imposed self-alienation has been equal to the impact this has had on my outward appearance. I just ran into one of the most beautiful girls I know. She has been an anchor woman. She is in her early 30s and said that she wanted a FT under her eyes. She saw dark circles in the mirror that no one would ever notice! I told her if she ever let anyone touch her beautiful face they'd have to deal with me too - cause that would just be outright unethical. Though your case involved the possibility of rejuvenation due to thyroid, there are so many people who suffer from slight to severe body image dysmorphia who are greatly impaacted by our media,social pressure and the growing acceptance of PS. Many doctors are happy to take their money without any questions - and the patient coordinators who are sometimes suppose to "screen" these types of situations aren't qualified to to that either. AHHHHHH!
July 15, 2011
leatherhead? R u serious. ..? Is that really what you think of your patients? Sorry to offend you but you sound like an angry hateful doctor .
July 15, 2011
huh? why do you think this person is an "angry hateful doctor"? Or "his wife"? She sounds like another victim like the rest of us. I'm confused by your post.
November 15, 2011
Leatherhead, I am so so sorry. Had you read these posts before you did this procedure?
December 27, 2010
P.S. I noticed that the title posted says Fat Transer :).
December 28, 2010
Thanks Sharon. I do believe I've lost some of the transfered fat as well. (Keep in mind, I didn't lose a ton of weight.I'm a pretty consistent size 2. I'm trying to hover in the size zero range and as we age that doesn't look as good.) I'm mainly trying to continue to burn and not gain.In addition, one eye is always swollen so sweating helps.My thought is that I look off balance because I have this extra fat where I never had fat before.The doctor created something that wasn't there before and I don't want it. Thus, my face is losing fat more evenly where I would naturally be losing and I have these lumps where fat was placed.The one eye is really off. The doctor said those were natural folds. Seriously?!?! Before surgery, I had natural little skin wrinkles when I smiled. Now I have lump rolls and one eye has a bulge all the time. It also has the appearance of a weird stretch mark or something running through it. There is a lump by my inner eye. I have found some doctors who perform micro-lipo, but I'm really tired of dealing with this at this point.I don't leave home much anymore and have discovered I look good in hats and I cover one eye with my hair.It's nuts. I used to be so gregarious and fun. Now I'm very singularly focused on people staring at my crazy eye. Here's to a New Year!!!!
December 30, 2010
I am so sorry to hear about your situation. The surgeon's last name begins with "C"?
December 31, 2010
As an FYI: I've totaled my December costs in lost attempts to camouflage the fat graft issues. It's outside the scope of the normal maintenance (i.e. Botox,TCAs)that I had done prior to the procedure. It's also outside anything planned after the procedure - since permanent fat was going to be the great long term, cost effective solution!:(! As mentioned, I had done a TotalFX mainly for tightening less than a year ago and had been happy with my skin. I could live with one side - though unhappily. The other one has a lump, a bag and swells all the time (like a festoon?). There's not much more I can do at this point.
December:
$1500 - Juvederm - Three separate rounds in eye, cheek and more in cheek to fill in around lumps and balance one side.
$1000 - Radiesse - Lower Cheek to offset fullness by eyes
$500 - eMatrix - Work on significant unexplained texture issues and attempt to tighten stretched areas and weird eye.
$400 - IPL - Broken blood vessels in cheek area.
Total = $3,400
Planned in January
$400 - IPL
$500 - eMatrix
Planned in February
$400 - IPL
$500 - eMatrix
Planned in March
$400-IPL
$500 - eMatrix
Hours lost in research, depression, writing on blogs:), and the cost of lost relationships and missed job opportunities = PRICELESS
I plan to evaluate again around March. I will stay away from further eye fillers so that the next doctor can make an accurate assessment of the situation to determine if a bleph or micro-lipo should be done and when.
You decide if it was worth it!
December:
$1500 - Juvederm - Three separate rounds in eye, cheek and more in cheek to fill in around lumps and balance one side.
$1000 - Radiesse - Lower Cheek to offset fullness by eyes
$500 - eMatrix - Work on significant unexplained texture issues and attempt to tighten stretched areas and weird eye.
$400 - IPL - Broken blood vessels in cheek area.
Total = $3,400
Planned in January
$400 - IPL
$500 - eMatrix
Planned in February
$400 - IPL
$500 - eMatrix
Planned in March
$400-IPL
$500 - eMatrix
Hours lost in research, depression, writing on blogs:), and the cost of lost relationships and missed job opportunities = PRICELESS
I plan to evaluate again around March. I will stay away from further eye fillers so that the next doctor can make an accurate assessment of the situation to determine if a bleph or micro-lipo should be done and when.
You decide if it was worth it!
UPDATED FROM Good face gone bad
I've described my process for F/T removal toward...
Good face gone badApril 30, 2011
I've described my process for F/T removal toward the bottom of this review. The process has included 5FU injections, fillers, and Micro-lip. I'm not done yet, but you can get an idea of what this all entails. What you'll find is that fat is easy to stick in, and not so easy to get it out!!
Replies (7)
April 30, 2011
FAT REMOVAL MICRO-LIPO UPDATE: I went in for my procedure yesterday. I had some Valium and the area was anesthetized, but I was awake. It was great because my Dr. talked to me about what he was doing at each step and I could communicate areas of concern. (He had also marked me up and showed me his intentions before we even started.) I knew what was going on the whole time. Here's the story: From what I can see, there was really only one tiny area of entry and on each cheek. The sound of the instrument going through the grisly fat and scar tissue is interesting to say the least, but there was very minimal discomfort. I was in mild pain for about two hours post procedure and that was about it. My doctor said he was happy with the amount he was able to remove. I won't know the final results for up to 2 months and I can't even begin to tell what's going on at this point. I'm very bruised and swollen, but nothing unexpected. For some reason, I had a lot of scar tissue. Doctors don't tell you about that when they sell you on doing this crazy procedure. The 5FU treatments I had helped, but the micro broke the tissue up further.Having gone through this nightmare, I just don't get how anyone can tell you that injecting your own fat back your face is completely natural. The fat feels different and IS different! My Dr. did say that for whatever reason, any fat strands that are left behind can continue to grow which was interesting and a bit disconcerting. He also said that you can disrupt the fat one month to 6 weeks immediately after this procedure. I wish I'd known. I would have considered it is because I knew immediately post procedure that the fat wasn't where I'd wanted it. It wasn't just the swelling. That said, my original doctor said that everything looked "perfect". In truth, if it's just swelling, you have to give it time. If you've had this procedure very recently and are concerned about the placement of the fat, you can do something about it sooner than later. I'm so fortunate to have found my new doctor. I'm not going to be perfect and I will always need fillers to fix irregularities and slackened skin, but I'm hoping to somewhat restore my original contours. I'll continue to post.This isn't over, but I'm getting closer.
January 31, 2012
Hey Lumpey. . . I went to Dr. Hoenig in LA, but he got out of the FT revision business this past fall. He has trained his associate, though. If you want to come to the West Coast, we can probably cobble together a list of names for your to contact.
Below is a list of some Doctors on the East Coast: These ARE ABSOLUTELY NOT recommendations since I don’t know these Doctors. I’ve heard some positive things in some cases and mixed in others. These are just some names who do fat and you can research them further on your own. Let us know what you find. I'm sure there are others.
I don’t know their ages, work with 5FU or cortisone, reconstructive history. . . etc. Again – just sharing info.
1) Dr. Louis Bucky – Pennsylvania
2) Dr. Michael Law – North Carolina
3) Dr. James Carraway –Virginia Beach
4) Dr. Robert Schwarcz – New York
5) Dr. J William Little - DC
6) Dr. Lisa Donofrio – Connecticut (She’s a derm and her name used to come up quite a bit for her work with fat. I have not heard anything about her lately, so I’m not sure what the situation is as far as happiness with her work at this point.)
7) Dr. Mark Glasgold – New Jersey (Used to hear his name bantered around in Fat Transfer. Not sure where things stand with him and his work.)
Below is a list of some Doctors on the East Coast: These ARE ABSOLUTELY NOT recommendations since I don’t know these Doctors. I’ve heard some positive things in some cases and mixed in others. These are just some names who do fat and you can research them further on your own. Let us know what you find. I'm sure there are others.
I don’t know their ages, work with 5FU or cortisone, reconstructive history. . . etc. Again – just sharing info.
1) Dr. Louis Bucky – Pennsylvania
2) Dr. Michael Law – North Carolina
3) Dr. James Carraway –Virginia Beach
4) Dr. Robert Schwarcz – New York
5) Dr. J William Little - DC
6) Dr. Lisa Donofrio – Connecticut (She’s a derm and her name used to come up quite a bit for her work with fat. I have not heard anything about her lately, so I’m not sure what the situation is as far as happiness with her work at this point.)
7) Dr. Mark Glasgold – New Jersey (Used to hear his name bantered around in Fat Transfer. Not sure where things stand with him and his work.)
August 16, 2016
Hey, I have gone through he'll with a similar problem and unfortunately I am now severely depressed. People give me very strange looks and I have anxiety. I can't live a normal life and now with a baby I can't even be the best mother. I would like to share a pic with you for consultation if that is possible but not publicly. Did you share a pic here? Nobody gives me an honest opinion when I ask and it's too depressing. They just look sympathetically like nothing can be done. I don't know how much damage you have but I am unrecognizable. Let me know if we can exchange pics and on what, email, whatsapp?
May 8, 2011
9 DAYS POST MICRO-LIPO F/T REMOVAL: I'm still a bit bruised and swollen, but there is definite improvement and I can cover the color with a some "beige magic". Many of the "phantom lumps" I was told I wasn't feeling with my imaginary hands around the "new cheeks" I didn't ask for from the original doctor "I only wish I'd imagined". . . are gone. The volume under the eyes is reduced. One eye's contour is close to being restored. The other is still wait and see. At this point, the final outcome isn't evident. After 10 months of hell I didn't even remember what I looked like, but I will tell you I saw someone more familiar in the mirror a couple days ago. For any of you who have gone through this, I'm sure you can appreciate what that felt like. I don't know if this is as good as will get or if there is more that can be done. . but I can tell you that there is hope and I'm closer than I thought I would be 3 months ago. This experience has been expensive, exhausting, isolating and depressing beyond what I ever thought possible. . . but today I'll counting my blessings and hope that one day I won't look down when people approach me, won't have to wear my hair like Cousin IT to hide, and can put away contant Jackie 'O accessory once and for all. . . I look nuts wearing sunglasses in the grocery store at 8pm at night!
May 8, 2011
I'm so happy for you! I hope this works out for you. I'll keep my fingers crossed. :)
October 24, 2016
Hello, your story has really helped me. just a few days ago I had a fat transfer to my left eyebrow and he put way too much I am a female and now my eyebrow looks masculine I want it removed immediately.. I'm curious to know more about how I can disrupt the fat? I am going to my plastic surgeon today to see if he can just remove the fat for no charge because I did not want this much fat. Please explain to me what your doctor said about disrupting the fat.
UPDATED FROM Good face gone bad
Here's where the story ends: 3 weeks post micro...
Good face gone badMay 22, 2011
Here's where the story ends: 3 weeks post micro lipo and things are going well. As a critical perfectionist, I'll always see the flaws but I'm blessed to have found a skilled Dr. who was able to undo much of the damage. There are some things I have to accept. You can never go back and I'm a year older, the stress has taken it's toll and my once big smile is now tainted with utter fatigue. . ..but it's time to move on. I can at least have a photo taken without looking like someone shoved little sausage links up the side of my nose. I've never publicly announced the Dr. who did this to me. . .the one who took a year off my life and bank account so that he could make a car payment.However,I will confirm that it is Dr. Jonathan Hoenig in LA who has been meticulous in his approach to correcting this. We'll continue with fillers to tweak things and slowly I'm re-entering life. I went out to dinner in my town for the first time in almost a year and held my head up. It was hard, but baby steps. For everyone who comes to this site for hope. . It's there. . .but it doesn't come without patience, research and a price! Good luck everyone.
Replies (57)
June 4, 2011
You should ask your doctor to write down where he will inject fat...
And have them make a copy for you to take home"
I think you should stay away from the critical dr who points out al the imperfections he thinks you have, it is nother way of saying "hey i think your face needs a massive overhaul, let me rearrange things as i see fit." red flag!
Any dr that is too critical is most likely aggressivewhen iT comes to surgery, who wont leave you looking anything like your self, so if you like the way you look, avoid thatkind of doc.
If the dr has bad reviews and does not respond to them online, then ask yourself whatwould happen if you have a bad experience with the dr who ignores patients who have been botched by him.
And have them make a copy for you to take home"
I think you should stay away from the critical dr who points out al the imperfections he thinks you have, it is nother way of saying "hey i think your face needs a massive overhaul, let me rearrange things as i see fit." red flag!
Any dr that is too critical is most likely aggressivewhen iT comes to surgery, who wont leave you looking anything like your self, so if you like the way you look, avoid thatkind of doc.
If the dr has bad reviews and does not respond to them online, then ask yourself whatwould happen if you have a bad experience with the dr who ignores patients who have been botched by him.
July 16, 2011
He ignores patients who aren't rich enough to sue him (he made the mistake of botching one woman who WAS rich enough to sue some time ago) - he gets away with it on various ppl because we don't mean sh*t to him or his business.
He probably knew this before he operated on you.
The only way to "attack" doctors is online but it takes a lot of courage to "out" them.
He probably knew this before he operated on you.
The only way to "attack" doctors is online but it takes a lot of courage to "out" them.
July 27, 2011
Quno , what procedure did you have by the same dr?
And sorry for offending you gdgb
And sorry for offending you gdgb
July 27, 2011
Hi again, well I had fat transfer too. I wish he'd at least ruined something fixable.He way over did my face even though I only asked for small areas. I looked like a balloon for ages. My upper and lower cheeks are like one big unit joined together and I have hard lumps there. Its a tragic situation indeed.
July 27, 2011
Lol, why does it say I posted this in 1969?!! At least fat grafts didn't exist back then (well, I hope not)
June 4, 2011
Good points. If the Dr can show you digitally or inject saline (maybe maybe not) first to show you what it will look like that would be nice too. My current Dr showed me where fat isnwijoit me asking. I own the fact that I diet hold my originally Dr more accoutablw. I thought the post op report was weaknas well. As far as critical perfectionist you are correct. What I meant was a critical perfectionist as far as their work. My original Dr had no problem with the fact that I looked worse thanks to his handiwork. He also didn't spend time looking at my imperfections to embrace them and work with them. Hard to explain. My current Dr. Takes every step slowly and studies everything and really looks to even things out rather than just inject and run. He also explains why I have asymmetry etc. Of course it was after I voiced my unhappiness to my original Dr that he started pointed out my other flaws to take the focus off my complaint. :). Again. I have to own my error in judgment but it doesn't make this pill any less hard to swallow. I hope others take head so you don't have to go through this!! Please.
June 5, 2011
Geez. . I have to stop using iphone and proof better. . .where this phone it comes up with some of the auto changes, I'll never know. I wish you could go back in and fix your posts. "Dr. showed me where fat is without me asking." "didn't hold original Dr. more accountable." "Post op report was weak as well." "he started pointing out my other flaws." "Take heed. . not head.:). Please just forgive other grammatical errors :).
June 5, 2011
No don't always trust those pictures they show you, it is pathetic but unless you cn check the exif data on the photographs, some doctors (few) completely alter their photographs to hide the true quality of their work.
I have never experienced or met any docto that would stoop so
Low ever, until my last doctor who botched an easy procedure and then faked the pictures of my results.
I also noticed that some of his patoents have longer necks on their after pics, lol also the shadows being in the wrong places... Ridiculous!
I have never experienced or met any docto that would stoop so
Low ever, until my last doctor who botched an easy procedure and then faked the pictures of my results.
I also noticed that some of his patoents have longer necks on their after pics, lol also the shadows being in the wrong places... Ridiculous!
June 5, 2011
And btw someone mentioned the dr i went to, let me just say that my opinion on carraway, glasgold, and coleman (fat transfer experts?) is not affected by my bad experience with the dr i went to, coleman looks like he knows what he is doing, i like his pictures, he seems legit so does glasgold and carraway but i am just going by my own opinion since i have not had surgery by them.
I think fat injections are great but the whole guinea pig craze comes from choosing the kind of dr that does not respond to patient complaints about him/him directly, cyber stalking their patients and using yelp to harass them, talk about a temper tantrum, tsk.
Bowman as in PEGgy? I read that too
I think fat injections are great but the whole guinea pig craze comes from choosing the kind of dr that does not respond to patient complaints about him/him directly, cyber stalking their patients and using yelp to harass them, talk about a temper tantrum, tsk.
Bowman as in PEGgy? I read that too
June 5, 2011
Rubyslippers,
Someone mentioned the Dr I went to aswell. I'd bet anything that mine was the same dr as yours in Beverly Hills. You are incredibly lucky he just did your lower eyelids, let me tell you.
Someone mentioned the Dr I went to aswell. I'd bet anything that mine was the same dr as yours in Beverly Hills. You are incredibly lucky he just did your lower eyelids, let me tell you.
June 5, 2011
Just read yr other posts and know for a fact it was the same dr. my complications are even worse. i'm also your age.
Hi "Good face gone bad" -- Thank you for writing such a detailed review of your experience. These tips are so helpful! I'm just sorry you had to go through a negative ordeal to find these out. :(
Do you mind me asking where you are now treatment-wise? Are you getting any other procedures to correct the fat transfer problems?