48, Fat graft breast & face - Denver, CO

Wowwza!- Thanks so much to all the sisters for your kind comments! Hopefully sharing my experience is giving you the courage to move forward with your personal choice to age gently and gracefully while trying to not look like we have had obvious work done. :) I have my 4 week follow up a week from today. Ill post new pics then, and answer the numerous questions regarding 'how much was harvested ad grafted". Right now my mid section is still rater sore, tender and has that numb feeling. Sleeping at night is still challenging, but better if I take a valium right before heading to bed. My breasts are what's really irritating now heading into week 3. Tissue, cells etc... is clearly mending, sealing, healing and starting to connect. Breasts are constantly sore and tender and I get the occasional "quick shooting zap" of pain ( mostly in my nipple area) - which Im attributing to nerves reconnecting. Other than that- my shiner under my eye is almost gone ( YAY!) and my energy has picked up just slightly.... still on the way lower end of high. I had so many plans in my mind for the weekend, but my body told me otherwise and I ended up just resting and taking it easy- which I think was wise, and sounded way more appealing than shopping, and running errands.

Internet is a great resource for information to decide what is best for you. Fat grafts appealed to me because it was basically a bi-product of my breast surgery, is natural and has lasting results. I can see I have lost volume ( in my cheeks/face) from day 1- and this is to be expected. But I see an appealing difference in the added volume that remains which looks more settled, natural and not so swollen now. So far, so good. My 4 week post op is next week, and Ill update with pics & answer the 'how much fat was moved around' questions. My shiner is finally 100% gone. YAY! It has been 23 days for it to finally hit the road. I still tire very easily, tylenol by day and sleeping better at night by taking a perkoset. My breasts are still very sore, tender and sensitive and now itchy. After about 6 hours of walking around at work they let me know they are done and to please go home, rest and be still. Still wearing the surgical tape and vest bras. I think wearing the vest bras 24/7 for 6 weeks is the standard deal. My breasts still look really good, and I'm looking forward to when the tape finally comes off ( I think that's 6 weeks too) and I can massage them with vitamin E oil... ummm... that sounds so soothing right now... :)

Can't wait to read more... thanks for the updates!

Ill find that all oout this week! And thank you for your kind words. She did fat grafts to my tear troughs, cheeks, temples and Nasolabial folds. You can read about that in my follow up postings...

Thank you, That is very kind of you to say. I do think the fat transfers to my face have diminished some. I have a follow up again next week where we will discuss my progress and possible future steps. I knew going in that there are no guarantees with fat grafting. The grafts need time to "graft" and then 'fluff' meaning the fat cells actually need to grow- 'fluff'. They have told me I need to be patient and let my body reveal the real results. It just takes time for the body top heal and reveal. My cheeks still look refreshed and - I guess gently plumped. I think the marionette lines from my nose to mouth are loosing the plumpness from a few weeks ago. I don't recall any of my facial grafts ( including temple) being painful, but I was also taking narcotic painkillers for 2 weeks. I'm just being patient for my body to continue to heal, see what fat 'fluffs' and make decisions with how to proceed if in a month or so. If I still want additional touch ups, that may be with additional fat grafts in her office- or perhaps maybe just a little bit of filler. Ill consider options under her recommendation. I for sure don't want my face to have an obvious overstuffed plastic doll face look. I want to look like I am naturally and gently aging in a beautifully soft way for my age. :^ ) Lipostructure .com is a trustworthy site to learn about fat grafting.

Speaking of fat "fluffs", I was following a PWE on Realself, whose Dr was Dr Ditesheim. After 6 months she had lost a good percentage of the transferred fat, but by 1 year later, her face gave off a new soft and pleasing natural appearance. She was extremely pleased with it as I'm sure you will be also. I'm sure it is the "fluff" that you spoke of...the actual growth of newly attached fat cells. What Narcotics were you on, and did you have a full face fat transfer? Did you have trouble sleeping in an upright position? How long did your lipo site bother you? As you can guess, I am programed to have the facial transfer, but do have constant headaches due to allergies and arthritis in the neck (can't sleep on my back) . I am a constant user of Advil because of these 2 factors and worry if their use would be quarantined. I know the narcotics usually cause all kinds of stomach and constipation problems. Did you suffer with that while on the narcotics? Again, thank you for your posts, and good luck with your newly enhanced breasts. You certainly look much younger than your age, and I know you will enjoy the "new you".

Thank you for your feedback. I have heard the same about the fat grafting. Its a slower process for the fat cells to grow/fluff- but you gain long lasting results which don't require regular visits for fill -ins or injections. You have asked many good questions, which I have answered all of them in my entire postings. If you start from the beginning of my documented journey ( I have written quite a lot of detail so others will know what the experience will be like) I promise you will receive all the answers to your questions! Dialuded made me almost have amnesia- so I switched to Perkoset which worked just as well and I was more lucid. I could not take anything after the narcotics except Tylenol which has never done anything for me. Yes, its uncomfortable, tiring and an emotional experience to go through, but coming up on 5 weeks, I have no regrets and Im feeling more like myself the last few days. Be kind and realistic with yourself and consider 6 weeks about the time you will start to fell like your "new" old self again! Please let me know if after reading all my posts you have any remaining questions and Ill do my best to answer them for you. Best wishes!

Dear Odaspal, You are correct that you did answer many of my questions previously. Sorry about that and I should have read your notes more carefully. I'm sure more questions will come up as I get closer to a date for the transfer. I will be seeing a PS for a 2nd time, as he had very nice before-after pictures, and hopefully, at that time, will set a date. Had previously chosen another local Dr, but after reading his most recent reviews, have reconsidered. He was a very personable Dr...but when one is selecting medical ability , you chose ability over pleasantries. You are correct in checking and double checking your PS with a fine tooth comb before you make any final decisions. It would have been ideal to chose your Dr but I live on the opposite coast, and I prefer a Dr close by, in case of any problems. It's been about 5 weeks now since your surgery. Are your breasts still as tender? Are your cheeks still as full and round?Did want to ask you...does the Dr measure the exact amount going into each breast/cheek to be sure they are symmetrical, or does he balance the 2 sides visually? Since the body is not symmetrical, I would think he might have to adjust the fat accordingly. Also, is the surgical lipo site still very sore and bruised? From past

sorry...computer jumped ahead of me...From past fat transferees, it appears that this is the most sensitive and last area to heal.

Will do for sure! Check back in a week or so.... Thx

I will. Thank you. :))

So kind- Thanks. I'm look and feel better everyday. I'll post new photos at week 4. :)