Forum Discussion

Anais_Right's avatar
Anais_Right
Member
11 years ago

Could you share your experience - breast reconstruction

Hi! How are you doing? I'm new to this group. I was diagnosed with a BBC about a year ago. I'm waiting for having breast reconstruction done with expanders and implants. I'm scared with this surgery, cos I've read some possible complications that may occur (capsule contracture, infection,rejection of implants, a kind of cancer?...) I'd appreciate if you could share your reconstruction surgery and postsurgery. I'd like to get first hand infromation, that's from you ladies. Could you please specify if you had radiotherapy and other health issues before breast reconstruction, the kind of protheis you have and how long do you have them? Thank you very much.

Reconstruction

5 Replies

  • HazelB's avatar
    HazelB
    Member
    11 years ago

    hi Anais, my experience may not be that useful either: when i was diagnosed back in late 2005 I had a lumpectomy followed by a full masctomy in early 2006. As i dont like hospitals or Drs (no disrespect, just a personal preference to see as little of these good people as possible) i opted for a reconstruction at the same time as the masectomy.

    I had an implant put in: it was a Johnson one i think and could be inflated (or deflated) with saline solution. When they first put it in it was mainly as a place holder to stop the skin shrinking (well that was my understanding). Typically, folk have the initial one taken out and another put in - in my case we chose one that could be adjusted via a port and saline solution. So once i'd healed from my main surgery i'd see the plastic surgeon for 'adjustments'. As i'm quite thin, the port stuck out a bit and i got fed up with it. My new boob looks normal in a bra but without it i'm lob sided. This isn't a problem for me as I was not well endowed to start with. 

    That was in 2006 and here we are in 2014 and i've not had any issues with it since: i think mine has either a 20 year or 30 year life and then may need to come out

    Can i suggest writing down any concerns/ questions you have - before my surgery there was quite a lot of written material available which helped ease my concerns

    With love and light,

    Hazel

  • Robyn_W's avatar
    Robyn_W
    Member
    11 years ago
    I can't be of help with what you are asking,but if you look on the right side of the page you will see 'most popular tags' and there is a reconstruction one.Just try clicking on that.Cheers Robyn