recon

Question

I would just like to update everybody on my uneven reconstruction.&nbsp;
I went to see my plastic surgeon and he finally admitted that my implants are different sizes. He showed me all the paperwork and i definately have the same size implants so why the difference in size...
He has put it down to my muscle being considerably larger on my right side as i am right handed.
So now i need to have the implant swapped for a smaller one and have a boob lift to correct the pocket that was made by the expander.
AHHHHH... i am so over it so now i have to have another 2 surgeries instead of last one for my nipples.&nbsp;
Oh well, looks like i said good bye to the drains forever a little prematurely LOL.

chris · Answer

Hi Danielle, I'm interested in what you say about your uneven boobs, as mine are also uneven. My PS assures me that they have both the same amount of saline in each, 500 mls. I'm due to have the exhange on January 11th, and a brief conversation about my size suggested that he will still be placing in 2 implants the same size. One of mine , the oldest mastectomy and tissue expander is much larger than the new one. The recent madtectomy was the one that had the huge haematoma develop that needed to be drained. That side feels really tight, and is higher than the other one. I worry that I have already developed capsular contracture, but the surgeon says it is too early. Today I started to have some lazer from the physio to try and soften things, if it isn't too late. I am also right handed 
and my right side is bigger, but it feels bigger because 
the muscle is softer and there is more droop. I hope my
 PS will agree to use different sizes if necessary. Good 
luck. Love Chris x

danielle_ghilar · Answer

hi Chris, it sounds familiar. Please mention to your ps about me. My plastic surgeons name is Dr Barnouti and he works for Australian Plastic Surgery. If he would like to contact him. I have not heard of capsular contracture before what is it?? It sounds as though you are having troubles. I hope everything settles down soon. Don't worry about how things are looking too much that is the great thing about the ps's they can fix pretty much anything.
Where abouts are you having the laser treatments?? I mean which part of the body? Is it painful?
I feel terrible that you are having so many troubles i reccommended that you go for it so i feel responsible for all your pain and i am really sorry.
Just to let you know i had 520 right and left and we are changing the right to a 490 and he has to do a boob lift as the pocket is too big. He has told me that they 'should' be around the same size but he has never promised that they will be exactly the same.
I look forward to finding out a little more about your laser treatments.
(((((HUGS)))) Danielle xx

leonie_moore · Answer

I confirm my thoughts - we are all being used as guinea pigs!!!! &nbsp;It really is hit and miss. &nbsp;I don't know how you keep getting with so many setbacks - tough - I guess. &nbsp;I do hope there are some good times during these challenges. &nbsp;Thinking of you. &nbsp;XLeonie

chris · Answer

Hi Danielle, I saw my palstic surgeon today, and he is happy, and so am I, so we are leaving things as they are. We are putting in 2 anatomical ( tear drop shaped), textured implants, that will be about 1 cm  nartower than what I have at present. They will be 495 mls each, which is about a C cup. If the left one stays a bit higher, he can fix that easily. I'm having the laser treatment over all the tight and spasming chest muscles on my left side. It apparantly helps to break up scar tissue formation and helps to stimulate healing by helping to remove built up waste in the lymph system and surgical site. Something like that anyhow. My surgeon seemed happy enough for me to continue, and I did notice an improvement in the muscle after the first session. If it softens enough, it will probably look the same size as 
the other one, which  I think looks larger as it has 
drooped abit as the muscle has relaxed on the old side.
Capsular constracture is the formation of very tight scar tissue around the implant that pulls it up and distorts the implant. It is more likely to happen if you have had radiotherapy. It is normal to make this scar pocket around any sort of implant, but usually it doesn't tighten and distort things.
Love Chris xx

chris · Answer

Hi Danielle, when is your surgery going to be done to change  your implants? Can you remember back to your expansion days, how much fluid you had put in? I have 500 mls, and the surgeon is putting in implants that are 495 in volume. He hasn't increased my expanders beyond the 500 mls, as he said the skin is stretching, and it will all soften up with time. I read somewhere that they like to expand you about 30% larger than your new implants will be, to allow for droop. I've brought this up several times, but he doesn't feel it is necessary in my case.   Did this hapoen for you, and if so did it cause a natural droop, or did it cause the pocket to be too big?
Love Chris xx

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