Forum Discussion

TinaW's avatar
TinaW
Member
12 years ago

2nd expansion

hi ladies, today I had my second expansion and my last yipeeee! I was in a fair bit of pain after my first expansion (130ml) in each side so today the first thing i said to my surgeon was that I don't want as much in and explained why. He said that's fine but I'll be coming back for expansions for some time and will have to have a few,so I said in other words I need to suck it up and just go for it and have pain for two days or so etc etc, so that's what I've done. I had 120ml, on top of the 50 that I had in at the op plus my 130 from the first expansion. when it was over both the surgeon and I agreed I am a good sized c cup and that I don't need anymore. I have my implants in around 4 weeks, not bad to say I had my double mastectomy on 22nd November. So now I'm in bed in a fair bit of pain but it was expected so I'm resting up before back to work tomorrow xx

11 Replies

  • LisaC's avatar
    LisaC
    Member
    12 years ago
    My surgeon said they go through the same scar and it had to be done this way due to where the cancer was. Everybody's situation is different I suppose. My skin was a bit wrinkly too but it is stretching out more and more. For the op I was told a week to heal but I also didn't ask about being able to work!! I will ask at my pre-op appointment. Yes - yucky drains. It will be a race who goes first. Hope you are a bit more comfy today xx
  • Janey235's avatar
    Janey235
    Member
    12 years ago
    Hope you were able to get some sleep last night Tina and dream peaceful dreams. I know those itches. Still get them now. It's a weird feeling having an itch you can't scratch. One day at a time darling girl. Janey xxx
  • fionaf's avatar
    fionaf
    Member
    12 years ago
    Hi Tina I have had expanders in since May 2013 and am having them exchanged in early March this year. My breast surgeon will go back through the original scar to replace. My incisions are quite different to that YouTube clip. As my surgeon does oncoplasty it is like a breast reduction scar. Comes down from where my nipple used to be and underneath my breast, so my scarring is quite invisible and he will only go back in thru the incision coming down from nipple area. Saw a friend in hospital yesterday who had a single mastectomy last year and exchange done yesterday by same surgeon as me and it looks fantastic. Good luck with your op. in few weeks. Cheers Fiona
  • fionaf's avatar
    fionaf
    Member
    12 years ago
    Hi Tina I have had expanders in since May 2013 and am having them exchanged in early March this year. My breast surgeon will go back through the original scar to replace. My incisions are quite different to that YouTube clip. As my surgeon does oncoplasty it is like a breast reduction scar. Comes down from where my nipple used to be and underneath my breast, so my scarring is quite invisible and he will only go back in thru the incision coming down from nipple area. Saw a friend in hospital yesterday who had a single mastectomy last year and exchange done yesterday by same surgeon as me and it looks fantastic. Good luck with your op. in few weeks. Cheers Fiona
  • mum2jj's avatar
    mum2jj
    Member
    12 years ago

    Well done to you.  I hope the pain is bearable.  Also hope the itch subsides. As  i don't have implants/expanders I can't give much advice but lots of sympathy.  Great you got your desired amount in just a couple of fills.

    take care

    Paula :)

  • TinaW's avatar
    TinaW
    Member
    12 years ago
    Thanks Janey, Mmm it hurts to move at the moment and I've got an itch, it's like inside my boob so I can't scratch it, it's driving me bananas! as I can't sleep I've been googling pics of women who have had the swap op and read a few stories. One woman had liposuction to get rid of her side mounds and I have them too so my list for the surgeon is growing. I have noticed that a lot of the pictures of just before the expander/implant swap was that most had smooth skin and mine is all wrinkly still so hope it irons out in the next month. I'm going to try and sleep and dream of the day I can lay on my side. Xxx hope you are ok? x
  • TinaW's avatar
    TinaW
    Member
    12 years ago
    Thanks Janey, Mmm it hurts to move at the moment and I've got an itch, it's like inside my boob so I can't scratch it, it's driving me bananas! as I can't sleep I've been googling pics of women who have had the swap op and read a few stories. One woman had liposuction to get rid of her side mounds and I have them too so my list for the surgeon is growing. I have noticed that a lot of the pictures of just before the expander/implant swap was that most had smooth skin and mine is all wrinkly still so hope it irons out in the next month. I'm going to try and sleep and dream of the day I can lay on my side. Xxx hope you are ok? x
  • TinaW's avatar
    TinaW
    Member
    12 years ago
    thanks Louie x That clip is great Lisa, I didn't know where the incision is made when replacing the expanders for implants, on the clip it looks like the same incision as where my mastectomy scars are, do you know? crap, I didn't even think about those awful drains having to be in again Aaahhh the thought! my boobs look like wrinkly weird shaped square bricks, well one does and the other is slightly better. Hopefully the wrinkles will disappear over the next few weeks. I'm going to google swapping expanders for implants now as I haven't really thought about the actual op and what's involved, I thought I might be able to go back to work the day after the op, maybe not xxx
  • LouiseTurner's avatar
    LouiseTurner
    In Memoriam
    12 years ago

    Great to hear that you are progressing so quickly Tina. I cant imagine the pain from expanders that you girls go through. You are tough chickies.

    LouieXXX