Brava Machine, fat grafting reconstruction update.....

2»

Comments

  • Different Ballgame
    Different Ballgame Member Posts: 868
    #22
    Thank you Vicki & Dustylady
    Dear Vicki and Dustylady.

    Thank you so much for responding to my question.

    Just out of curiosity how did you find Dr.Khouri and his Brava machine?

    Dustylady, I am assuming that your Brava machine also was $1,000.

    Lots of Hugs,
    Janelle
  • dustylady
    dustylady Member Posts: 13
    #23
    Different Ballgame said:

    Thank you Vicki & Dustylady
    Dear Vicki and Dustylady.

    Thank you so much for responding to my question.

    Just out of curiosity how did you find Dr.Khouri and his Brava machine?

    Dustylady, I am assuming that your Brava machine also was $1,000.

    Lots of Hugs,
    Janelle

    Overall, yes....but I paid
    Overall, yes....but I paid less for each pair...I had to have several pairs, as during the expansion process, I would outgrow the domes. So I ended up with 3 pairs and all tolled, I probably did spend around $1,000 for the domes.

    I found Dr. Khouri by looking through some of the discussion boards...think there was a thread on BreastCancer.org or the Susan Komen site....then I googled the Miami Breast Center...from that point, I called and made an appointment and had a consultation with Dr. Khouri. I had also found information on his clinical trial.
  • Reikigemgirl
    Reikigemgirl Member Posts: 278
    #24
    dustylady said:

    Overall, yes....but I paid
    Overall, yes....but I paid less for each pair...I had to have several pairs, as during the expansion process, I would outgrow the domes. So I ended up with 3 pairs and all tolled, I probably did spend around $1,000 for the domes.

    I found Dr. Khouri by looking through some of the discussion boards...think there was a thread on BreastCancer.org or the Susan Komen site....then I googled the Miami Breast Center...from that point, I called and made an appointment and had a consultation with Dr. Khouri. I had also found information on his clinical trial.

    Janelle.....
    When I went to the plastic surgeon that my general surgeon recommended, he offered the Brava machine method. He is just starting to use it so I am in a study for it. I will be his 4th patient. My doctor's nurse told me to go to the Miami Breast Center site and to read all about it, she also gave me a CD to watch that explains how to use the machine and how to put the domes on. I went in for a consultation with her before I saw the doctor so that she could explain all of my options to me and I could make up my mind somewhat before I saw the doctor. Then when I met with him, I told him I wanted to do the brava method and he explained it to me in more detail.

    When you go to the Miami Breast Center website, look at the reconstruction pictures they have on there. That is what helped me to decide to use this method, seeing the results that other patients got. Plus, I didn't want my stomach muscle cut like they do for the tram flap procedure and I didn't want implants. Those were my other options.

    Since I am only using the machine for one breast, when they ordered my domes (it comes with 2) they got me one in my size now and the other one, the next size up so that I don't have to spend more money on domes. Hopefully, 2 is all that I will need.

    I also read the testimonials on the Miami Breast Cancer website too and all about the trials. There is a lot of info. there.

    Sincerely,
    Vicki
  • Reikigemgirl
    Reikigemgirl Member Posts: 278
    #25
    Facebook Page
    I just found Miami Breast Center has a Facebook page. There are excellent before and after pics using fat transfer. Up at the top of their page click on the banner of before and after fat transfer pictures and then you can view them. Very impressive proof of how this procedure works.

    Thought I'd share,
    Vicki
  • Reikigemgirl
    Reikigemgirl Member Posts: 278
    #26
    Two week update.....
    Well, I have been wearing the machine for two weeks now and I have to tell you, I can pinch skin and when I take it off their is a definate round circle of raised skin. So it is working.

    It has gotten a lot easier to wear and getting ready to put it on has turned into second nature.

    Tuesday I start wearing it for three days straight because my surgery is Friday. You wear it into surgery and the doctor takes it off when he is going to do the fat transfer.

    Hope this helps someone considering this method.

    Love and Light,
    Vicki
  • ladybug22
    ladybug22 Member Posts: 646
    #27
    May i ask you what u are
    May i ask you what u are having done. you had i b c right. i am wanting have reconstruction now been 3 years. i hadf i b c

    thanks
  • Reikigemgirl
    Reikigemgirl Member Posts: 278
    #28
    ladybug22 said:

    May i ask you what u are
    May i ask you what u are having done. you had i b c right. i am wanting have reconstruction now been 3 years. i hadf i b c

    thanks

    I will have liposuction on my.....
    chin and upper body with the first fill. That is to get the fat to use for the fat transfer that goes into my masectomy side. They are also doing a lift on the breast I still have so that they will match when we are done.

    Ladybug 22: Yes, I have IBC and it has been one year for me that I waited to have reconstruction. You wear a dome that applies suction to the masectomy side and stretches the skin out so that they can get some fat transfer in it.

    Their are reconstruction pictures on the Miami Breast Center website or at their facebook page if you want to find out more information. They also have info on the brava machine that I have to wear at www.Brava.com

    Haven't seen you on here, as of late, how the heck have you been? I hope you are doing good.

    Love and Light,
    Vicki
  • Megan M
    Megan M Member Posts: 3,000
    #29
    Reikigemgirl said:

    I will have liposuction on my.....
    chin and upper body with the first fill. That is to get the fat to use for the fat transfer that goes into my masectomy side. They are also doing a lift on the breast I still have so that they will match when we are done.

    Ladybug 22: Yes, I have IBC and it has been one year for me that I waited to have reconstruction. You wear a dome that applies suction to the masectomy side and stretches the skin out so that they can get some fat transfer in it.

    Their are reconstruction pictures on the Miami Breast Center website or at their facebook page if you want to find out more information. They also have info on the brava machine that I have to wear at www.Brava.com

    Haven't seen you on here, as of late, how the heck have you been? I hope you are doing good.

    Love and Light,
    Vicki

    Vicki, I find this so
    Vicki, I find this so interesting and am ignorant as to how it works. Thanks for letting us all go along with you during this.


    Good luck,

    Megan
  • dealdale
    dealdale Member Posts: 6
    #30
    wishing Vicki good outcomes from her surgery 25th
    Vicki,
    I have been thinking of you and hoping all has gone well post surgery 3/25.
    I have a hard time figuring out how to find the latest posts from you on this site.
    Thinking of you and appreciate your sharing.
    I wonder if there is a better way to stay in touch since I will soon begin this procedure and am anxious and in need of support and information.
    Blessings,
    Diana
  • Reikigemgirl
    Reikigemgirl Member Posts: 278
    #31
    dealdale said:

    wishing Vicki good outcomes from her surgery 25th
    Vicki,
    I have been thinking of you and hoping all has gone well post surgery 3/25.
    I have a hard time figuring out how to find the latest posts from you on this site.
    Thinking of you and appreciate your sharing.
    I wonder if there is a better way to stay in touch since I will soon begin this procedure and am anxious and in need of support and information.
    Blessings,
    Diana

    Diana.....
    You can always private message me through CSN chat. I sent you a message so that you can see how it works. I'll be happy to answer any questions or to lend an ear, anytime it is needed.

    I go to the doctor today for my surgery follow-up and I can't wait for him to see how much breast I have grown already and to find out when my next fill will be. I am sitting here with just a t-shirt on and it looks like I have two breasts, the brava one has grown so much since I had my surgery.

    Feel free to contact me anytime.
    Love and Light,
    Vicki
  • jnl
    jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member
    #32
    Reikigemgirl said:

    Diana.....
    You can always private message me through CSN chat. I sent you a message so that you can see how it works. I'll be happy to answer any questions or to lend an ear, anytime it is needed.

    I go to the doctor today for my surgery follow-up and I can't wait for him to see how much breast I have grown already and to find out when my next fill will be. I am sitting here with just a t-shirt on and it looks like I have two breasts, the brava one has grown so much since I had my surgery.

    Feel free to contact me anytime.
    Love and Light,
    Vicki

    An amazing procedure!
    An amazing procedure! Wishing you luck Vicki and I keep watching for your updates.


    Hugs, Leeza
  • dealdale
    dealdale Member Posts: 6
    #33
    Reikigemgirl said:

    Diana.....
    You can always private message me through CSN chat. I sent you a message so that you can see how it works. I'll be happy to answer any questions or to lend an ear, anytime it is needed.

    I go to the doctor today for my surgery follow-up and I can't wait for him to see how much breast I have grown already and to find out when my next fill will be. I am sitting here with just a t-shirt on and it looks like I have two breasts, the brava one has grown so much since I had my surgery.

    Feel free to contact me anytime.
    Love and Light,
    Vicki

    Hello Vicki,
    Well I just
    Hello Vicki,
    Well I just figured out how to locate your posts and I believe this is the last one I located. So I now know you are in Florida and how the post op has gone. I am so happy for you!!! I hope since this posting of 4/5 all has continued smoothly.
    I can feel the joy of seeing two breasts while you are wearing a T-shirt.
    Funny how it sounds that the breast has grown. Does it continue to grow post the fat transfer?
    Thank you for your courage to proceed with this method that is still in clinical trial but is a step toward offering us all more options to choose from.
    I did send a personal email asking some questions to help me consider how I may plan for a leave from my work to undertake this clinical trial as soon as it approved in the hospital of my hometown.
    Thanks again and wishing you many blessings,
    Diana
  • Angie2U
    Angie2U Member Posts: 2,991
    #34
    dealdale said:

    Hello Vicki,
    Well I just
    Hello Vicki,
    Well I just figured out how to locate your posts and I believe this is the last one I located. So I now know you are in Florida and how the post op has gone. I am so happy for you!!! I hope since this posting of 4/5 all has continued smoothly.
    I can feel the joy of seeing two breasts while you are wearing a T-shirt.
    Funny how it sounds that the breast has grown. Does it continue to grow post the fat transfer?
    Thank you for your courage to proceed with this method that is still in clinical trial but is a step toward offering us all more options to choose from.
    I did send a personal email asking some questions to help me consider how I may plan for a leave from my work to undertake this clinical trial as soon as it approved in the hospital of my hometown.
    Thanks again and wishing you many blessings,
    Diana

    Diana is so right about
    Diana is so right about thanking you for your courage to go thru this Vicki. I read your posts in amazement and am praying it all works out fantastic for you.


    Hugs, Angie
  • DebraLynn
    DebraLynn Member Posts: 1
    #35
    Reikigemgirl said:

    Dustylady......
    So happy to hear from someone who is doing the same procedure as I am. I was going to post today because I have to start using the hand pump today. They said after a week (it's a week today) that I have to use the hand pump along with the sports box, 3 times a day for 3 minutes at a time, for an hour each time.

    Thanks for the website that I can go to for further encouragement and to read incase their are questions I have that need answered.

    I am amazed that you are getting almost a full C for your size afterwards. I can see the skin stretching and my belly is what they are going to use to fill my breasts with. Also, skin from my chin, as I understand it. I think he is doing the chin for me as a favor to get rid of my double chin.

    I am the 4th patient for my doctor using this procedure. One dropped out so far but the other two are doing good from what I have heard.

    I have my surgery on the 25th of March and he is going to do a breast lift on my left side and then try to match the right side with the left with the fat grafting procedure. Liposuction on my chin and belly. How does it feel after the liposuction, pain wise? Did you have to wear a compression garmet afterwards? They say I will wear one for 3 weeks straight and then for 1/2 a day the next 3 weeks.

    Off I go to check out that website link you gave me. Thanks so much for sharing about your surgery with me. I appreciate it more than you know.

    Love and Light,
    Vicki

    BRAVA/Reconstruction
    Hi,
    I hope you are well and still checking posts. I am one year into bc with multiple failed reconstruction attempts. I also have discoid Lupus and had thinning of the skin from cortisone shots. Messy to say the least!

    Just wondering how you are doing, did the BRAVA system work for you. Would you recommend it?

Discussion Boards