Nurse has procedure similar to the Brazilian bum lift to transfer fat from her ...

A nurse has had a procedure similar to the Brazilian bum lift whereby her fat has been transferred to her face to help scarring and her hands for poor circulation.

Amy Daniels, 51, is hoping that the procedure, most commonly used to achieve a rounded bottom, will help the symptoms caused by a chronic autoimmune disorder, scleroderma.

The condition causes the immune system to attack the blood vessels, organs and skin, leaving the patient with scarring and immense pain from poor circulation.

The mother was diagnosed in 2003 after her hands appeared swollen, discoloured and covered in scabs.

Mrs Daniels, from Wisconsin, has previously had stem cell transplants in the past, but was desperate to find a solution to her agonising condition.

She underwent an autologous lipotransfer in December 2018, where her fat was enriched with her own stem cells, before being reinjected into her hands, feet, and skin around the mouth.

Amy Daniels has had a procedure similar to the Brazilian bum lift whereby her fat has been transferred to her face to help scarring and her hands for poor circulation. She was diagnosed with a chronic autoimmune disorder, scleroderma, in 2003. Pictured the day after her transfer

Amy Daniels has had a procedure similar to the Brazilian bum lift whereby her fat has been transferred to her face to help scarring and her hands for poor circulation. She was diagnosed with a chronic autoimmune disorder, scleroderma, in 2003. Pictured the day after her transfer

Mrs Daniels hands are left swollen, discoloured and with poor circulation due to the condition. Pictured before (right) and after (left) having the fat transfer

Mrs Daniels hands are left swollen, discoloured and with poor circulation due to the condition. Pictured before (right) and after (left) having the fat transfer

Mrs Daniels, pictured with her husband Mark, 52, when they first met, first saw symptoms of the condition after the birth of her first child

Mrs Daniels, pictured with her husband Mark, 52, when they first met, first saw symptoms of the condition after the birth of her first child

Mrs Daniels, pictured before and after her fat transfer said: 'Scleroderma has given me a lot of lines, particularly around my mouth. It takes your looks from you, but I'm so past caring'

Mrs Daniels, pictured before and after her fat transfer said: 'Scleroderma has given me a lot of lines, particularly around my mouth. It takes your looks from you, but I'm so past caring'

It is hoped her facial tissue can now be reconstructed and the scarring that comes with scleroderma will be reversed. 

Mrs Daniels said: 'I have a pretty high pain threshold, but the fat transfer, which is also known as fat grafting, hurt.

'I look at all these reality stars and can't imagine how much pain those chicks are in all the time just to look good, while I'm doing it to feel better.'

Mrs Daniels, who is mother to Martha, 19, and Lucy, 15, with her motorcycle designer husband Mark, 52, said she first experienced symptoms of scleroderma shortly after giving birth to her youngest daughter in 2003.

She initially assumed her hands had swollen because of water retention during breastfeeding.

But realised it was something more when they became so sensitive that even simple tasks, like switching on a light and grabbing a pen, would hurt immensely.

By the summer of 2004, her hands also started turning purple and she developed pitting – a type of scarring common in scleroderma patients – on her fingertips.

Consulting a doctor, she was told to keep an eye on her symptoms and speak to a rheumatologist – a medical professional who specialises in musculoskeletal conditions – if they persisted.

Mrs Daniels only started thinking she could have scleroderma after a chance comment from a neighbour.

Mrs Daniels recalls seeing a patient with scleroderma while working. She said: 'My husband remembers me saying at the time that if there was any disease I didn't want to get, it was scleroderma'. Pictured before her 2004 diagnosis in 2003

Mrs Daniels recalls seeing a patient with scleroderma while working. She said: 'My husband remembers me saying at the time that if there was any disease I didn't want to get, it was scleroderma'. Pictured before her 2004 diagnosis in 2003

Mrs Daniels first saw symptoms after the birth of her first child, Martha, with Mr Daniels

Mrs Daniels first saw symptoms after the birth of her first child, Martha, with Mr Daniels

She said: 'One day, completely out of the blue in October 2004, a neighbour said, "Wow, you're so tanned".

'As a nurse, I'd looked after one patient with scleroderma, who had hyperpigmented skin that looked like a super dark tan.

'My husband remembers me saying at the time that if there was any disease I didn't want to get, it was scleroderma. 

'I was terrified that I'd die and not see my kids grow up.'

Seeking an immediate referral to a rheumatologist, who she met with the following month, her diagnosis was confirmed.

Scleroderma is categorised into two main types - localised, which just affects the skin, and systemic, which Mrs Daniels has, and also impacts on the blood circulation and internal organs.

Mrs Daniels was also found to have Raynaud's syndrome, which affects the blood vessels in the fingers, particularly when it is cold.

Many people with scleroderma also have Raynaud's, according to the charity Scleroderma and Raynaud's UK (SRUK). 

They say that 2.5million people worldwide have scleroderma, and in the UK there are 19,000 people diagnosed.

'I'll never forget hearing the news... I just started sobbing,' Mrs Daniels said.

'I was warned that it was very severe, and was affecting my lungs as it was hardening the vessels inside the organ.

'The doctor even said it might be an idea to get my affairs in order. It was awful.'

In some cases of the more severe type of scleroderma, called diffuse systemic sclerosis, there can be potentially serious complications involving the heart, lungs and kidneys. 

When Mrs Daniels was diagnosed, she feared she would not see her children grow up

When Mrs Daniels was diagnosed, she feared she would not see her children grow up

The condition can have potentially serious complications involving the heart, lungs and kidneys. Pictured with Martha and her youngest daughter, Lucy

The condition can have potentially serious complications involving the heart, lungs and kidneys. Pictured with Martha and her youngest daughter, Lucy

Mrs Daniels has had to have stem cell transplant treatment in 2007, which involved aggressive chemotherapy. Pictured after her treatment on Mother's Day 

Mrs Daniels has had to have stem cell transplant treatment in 2007, which involved aggressive chemotherapy. Pictured after her treatment on Mother's Day 

WHAT IS A BRAZILIAN BUTT LIFT? 

A Brazilian Butt Lift uses fat transferred from other areas of the body, such as the love handles, hips or stomach, to provide patients with a fuller derriere.  

Clinics report the procedure, which costs between £6,500 and £10,000, has seen more than a 50 per cent increase compared to five years ago. 

The procedure's nickname was coined in 1996 after Dr Leonard Grossman was filmed performing fat transfer surgery on a patient from Brazil. 

The surgery takes anywhere

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