Reconstruction
I was wondering if there is anyone who has had a failed tram flap procedure and what the final outcome was. I am hoping to find some guidance on where to go from here.
Forum Discussion
9 Replies
Hi Chris
After I am healed I will probably do something with my remaining breast as in making it smaller to more suit the reconstructed side. I probably won't do anything until next year as I just need to get over this first.
Thanks for you kind thoughts.
- Hi Klad, what an awful experience you are having. We just assume that the odds will be in our favour when we go ahead with these procedures. They do tell you that complications can and do occur, but it is like about a 1 or 2% chance, and so we just assume it won't be us. What will happen next? Will you keep persuing this reconstruction, or will you just heal and live with things? I'm sorry about your new abdo pain, and hope it will ease off soon. Does your plastic surgeon have a good record of success with this surgery? I know when I was considering this surgery the PS I was consulting in Sydney had a very high success rate. I think he said 1.6% failed, and from this number, another 1.2% were cured following more surgery, leaving the .4% with an unsuccessful outcome. I thought those odds were pretty good, and of course, if healthy and a non smoker, you would hope to be in the 98.4% without problems. Unfortunately radiotherapy does wreck your tissues in that area too. I do hope that this will all improve for you soon. Love Chris xx
- Hi Klad, what an awful experience you are having. We just assume that the odds will be in our favour when we go ahead with these procedures. They do tell you that complications can and do occur, but it is like about a 1 or 2% chance, and so we just assume it won't be us. What will happen next? Will you keep persuing this reconstruction, or will you just heal and live with things? I'm sorry about your new abdo pain, and hope it will ease off soon. Does your plastic surgeon have a good record of success with this surgery? I know when I was considering this surgery the PS I was consulting in Sydney had a very high success rate. I think he said 1.6% failed, and from this number, another 1.2% were cured following more surgery, leaving the .4% with an unsuccessful outcome. I thought those odds were pretty good, and of course, if healthy and a non smoker, you would hope to be in the 98.4% without problems. Unfortunately radiotherapy does wreck your tissues in that area too. I do hope that this will all improve for you soon. Love Chris xx
- Hi Klad, I don't know much about Arginaid, other than it is a supplement for wound healing. You would expect that a plastic surgeon would be doing the best for you, and your wounds, because they like good results. Good luck with your appointment on Thursday. Love Chris xx
At the moment my wounds are covered although blood keeps leaking through and around the bandages. I just keep adding more packing, tissues etc. as it's ruining all my clothes. I see the doctor on Thursday to have my wounds redressed. The only advice I have been given is to drink Arginaid twice daily.
Kerrie
- Hi Klad, that all sounds awful, what a shame this all happened. It is such a long surgery, but with your complications, you must have been under anaesthetic for many hours. I have recently completed bilateral reconstruction with implants, and am very happy with my results. I have 2 boobs both the same in appearance, level on my chest, and I am about a 14B, which is what I was before I had the mastectomies. I also had a major complication, with the development of a huge haematoma on day 20, that required surgery to remove the expander and clean out 800 mls of blood and clot, and cauterize the bleeder. This set me back about 3 weeks, but now all is fine and it hasn't caused any long term issues. Good luck with your treatment and healing. There are some very good healing products that are good for open wounds. What does your surgeon have you using on these wounds? Love Chris xx
- Hi Klad, that all sounds awful, what a shame this all happened. It is such a long surgery, but with your complications, you must have been under anaesthetic for many hours. I have recently completed bilateral reconstruction with implants, and am very happy with my results. I have 2 boobs both the same in appearance, level on my chest, and I am about a 14B, which is what I was before I had the mastectomies. I also had a major complication, with the development of a huge haematoma on day 20, that required surgery to remove the expander and clean out 800 mls of blood and clot, and cauterize the bleeder. This set me back about 3 weeks, but now all is fine and it hasn't caused any long term issues. Good luck with your treatment and healing. There are some very good healing products that are good for open wounds. What does your surgeon have you using on these wounds? Love Chris xx
I had pre surgery to pool the blood for the BIG op to ensure adequate supply to the blood vessels to prevent any of the tissue dying. Unfortunately this didn't work and 1/2 the new formed breast died. Last Thursday I went back into surgery to have the dead tissue & skin removed. Thats 3 ops in 3 1/2 weeks. i could have a skin graft from my leg but that would mean different colour skin on my breast and a big chunk out of my leg so I chose to let the skin grow naturally which I am told takes about 6 weeks ( I am not really sure on this). I am now not sure what to do next. I am told I could have an implant or the dorsi muscle from my back could be pulled around but I told my doctor that I would never do that.
- Hi Klad, what has happened to your TRAM flap? How did it fail? I'm sorry to hear that this has happened, as you would have been through a huge surgery to have this procedure done. Love Chris xx
