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fat transfer

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Comments

  • Krooz
    Krooz Member Posts: 66 ✭
    During my investigations for fat grafting for full reconstruction (AFT) most PSs told me that a small amount of fat-filing or lipo-filling can be covered under medicare and done in the Public system when it's part of other breast reconstruction procedures.  I suspect @unknown can get it done publicly because it's a second reconstruction.  If it's classed as a revision procedure it can be claimed.  A revision would be to fill a gap from another reconstruction.  However, for full reconstruction fat grafting may not be claimable.  On it's own is classed as cosmetic.  In my case the PS has inserted a saline expander to stretch the skin prior to fat grafting and therefore I could claim most of the surgery & hospital fees and some fat grafting in the first procedure.  I will also be able to claim most when he removes the expander.  I may have to pay for about 1 hour of fat grafting fees from time to time.

    It sounds like some PSs are more generous with fat grafting and use a Medicare item allowing for revision, others use the cosmetic item number.

    Something else I was offered, one PS wrote to the Tax office and obtained a GST exemption for my fat grafting because it was for breast reconstruction.  This was a surgeon who wanted to do all of it privately and it was going to cost me a bomb!  But for any out of pocket 'cosmetic' procedure this could at least help a little.  Krooz
  • Krooz
    Krooz Member Posts: 66 ✭
    Sorry @unknown - I mentioned above that this might be your second reconstruction.  I was getting confused with someone else I was chatting with about the AFT procedure on the RYC site.  I think this is your first reconstruction.  Which PS is offering this to you and which hospital - I am in Melbourne and wonder if its one I the people I spoke with.
  • Krooz
    Krooz Member Posts: 66 ✭
    @Cate64  I am interested to hear about your fat grafting at the Northern Hospital.  Was this for full reconstruction or for filling after other reconstructions?  I think this option should be available for women to consider so I'm keeping note of who to refer women to if they as.

  • Cate64
    Cate64 Member Posts: 446 ✭
    @Krooz for fat filling after an s gap rsconstruction
  • melclarity
    melclarity Member Posts: 3,534 ✭
    @Krooz and @unknown I just wanted to say Im also in Melbourne, Ive always been a private patient but my Surgeon and Plastic Surgeon did me through the Public System for Mastectomy/Diep Flap recon, my revision will also be done public and my Plastic Surgeon does fat transfer from other places if he feels its necessary and I have NO OUT OF POCKET as its all been done public and is part of the initial surgery. Cheers Melinda xo
  • unknown
    unknown Member Posts: 45 ✭
    Hi Krooz re your post in May 2017.  was your fat transfer successful? Ihope it was and that you are pleased with the result. did you have fat transfer for a complete breast reconstruction?  I am still looking at having a preventative masectomy for right breast (had masectomy & reconstruction for left breast in 2015).  can you recommend any surgeons in Melbourne who use fat transfer for complete reconstruction>  cheers xxx
  • kmakm
    kmakm Member Posts: 7,974 ✭
    @Krooz See above  :)
  • EllieC
    EllieC Member Posts: 4 ✭
    I am interested in learning if using fat grafting was successful. My surgeon has suggested that it could work instead of an implant
  • melclarity
    melclarity Member Posts: 3,534 ✭
    @EllieC are you meaning fat grafting as in a Diep Flap Recon? where they take a flap of skin from your stomach and reconstruct the breast? I had that done 8 years ago. With it they also do lipo. There are pics of my journey in the closed group breast reconstruction. I did have some necrosis but the surgeon fixed it in the revision surgery. So I'd say it's successful. 
  • EllieC
    EllieC Member Posts: 4 ✭
    Thank you for your reply. I'm glad it went well. I mean where they suck fat out of an area like stomach and put it into the breast (after expander). As opposed to using a silicone implant. 
  • melclarity
    melclarity Member Posts: 3,534 ✭
    @EllieC Yes so for my diep they took a flap of skin from the stomach with blood vessels etc and created the breast. They also  did lipo all over my torso and filled breast with fat. I couldnt have an implant as this was my 2nd bout of cancer and radiation had made the skin too thin. I'm glad really as I didnt want an implant. :)
  • Mez_BCNA
    Mez_BCNA Administrator, Staff, Moderator Posts: 1,202 ✭
    HI @EllieC you may like to join our private group to gain more insights and discussions about different reconstruction procedures Choosing breast reconstruction

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