Tissue expanders and reconstruction

Hi Deb,

Do you know the weight of the tissue that they removed from each of your breasts?  I used this as a gauge to where I wanted to be.  You can't judge the size based on the expanders as they are sit very high at the moment and aren't the right shape.

I ended up going up a cup size which from memory is about 100-200ml but it depends on your size as there is no standard measurement.

On average they took about 300g of tissue from each of my breasts and I was expanded to 450ml.  When I had the implants put in and the support bra removed, I was a bit disappointed but after they settled in after a couple of days of surgery I was really happy.  Although, I couldn't really remember what having breasts was like because I hadn't "seen" them for about 4 months.

I hope this helps.

Wendy

Hi Deb,

Do you know the weight of the tissue that they removed from each of your breasts?  I used this as a gauge to where I wanted to be.  You can't judge the size based on the expanders as they are sit very high at the moment and aren't the right shape.

I ended up going up a cup size which from memory is about 100-200ml but it depends on your size as there is no standard measurement.

On average they took about 300g of tissue from each of my breasts and I was expanded to 450ml.  When I had the implants put in and the support bra removed, I was a bit disappointed but after they settled in after a couple of days of surgery I was really happy.  Although, I couldn't really remember what having breasts was like because I hadn't "seen" them for about 4 months.

I hope this helps.

Wendy

Hi Julie, I have recently joined BCNA & came across your discussion thread. A few months have passed now since your last post on this thread & I am hoping all has gone well for you. I had a double mastectomy in August with immediate insertion of tissue expanders. I too have one expander sitting very high which I have been advised will be corrected at time of exchange. I currently have 450ml in each side & am finding it difficult to determine what volume I should be expanded to for the desired final size as it is so difficult to tell with these odd shaped expanders!! Are you aware of any guide as to what the expander volume should be to achieve a particular cup size? Also, did your ps recommend expansion beyond the volume of the final implants & if yes, by how much? Thankyou in anticipation of your reply. Cheers Deb

Hi Julie, I have recently joined BCNA & came across your discussion thread. A few months have passed now since your last post on this thread & I am hoping all has gone well for you. I had a double mastectomy in August with immediate insertion of tissue expanders. I too have one expander sitting very high which I have been advised will be corrected at time of exchange. I currently have 450ml in each side & am finding it difficult to determine what volume I should be expanded to for the desired final size as it is so difficult to tell with these odd shaped expanders!! Are you aware of any guide as to what the expander volume should be to achieve a particular cup size? Also, did your ps recommend expansion beyond the volume of the final implants & if yes, by how much? Thankyou in anticipation of your reply. Cheers Deb

Hi Julie

Thanks for sharing. At this stage I am looking down and thinking OMG, really, is this it? So I guess , athough no one wants to go through more surgery it is good to know some things are 'fixable'. I think I had a very simplistic view of the second stage, I heard the the surgeon said about it originally but at that point I was focussed on getting rid of the 5cm tumour and not having breast cancer, waiting for pathology results etc. So I have realised it is all way more complicated and although you get warned about possible problems it doesn't actually seem real until you come home after the surgery. I am confident in the PS and his nurses are great so i am just going to hang in there, literally, well more like swish in there, and wait the 3-6 month until they are all settled.

 

Hi, hope everything settles down for you, it does take time. I haven't heard of the compression bandage being worn after implants but hope this gives you a better outcome. I'm almost at the three months mark post surgery, but sadly it looks like I may have to go back in for some further work to my right breast which was my original mastectomy. My left breast is a lovely shape now, that was the one with the bizarre high implant . Because of that the surgeon did extra work to that side to make sure that it dropped to where it should. However now the right implant is being held back by scarring and won't drop as it should giving me a flat look on that side, and a very uneven look overall! I thought I'd seen the end of hospitals but its still ongoing, very frustrating.

Hi, haven't been on here for a while and just found your posts. I have just had stage 2 done of my reconstrucion - so tissue expanders out, real fake boobs in. I too had really high uncomfortable expanders - my ps thought the left expander my have rotated 90 degrees, it was really obvious. I also felt the shape was kind of truncated - cut off so not rounded. So since the silicone implants way less hard and fake feeling, much lower and softer although two weeks after surgery there is still some swelling. My PS wants me to wear a compression garment for 6 weeks, 24/7. I was originally quite large - I think your size does matter as well as chest shape etc. So my implants are quite large but compared to my original breasts I look flat - compression bra adding to the mono boob look as well. I have had more pain with this surgery than the original mastectomy but since I virtually had none then it really isn't bad and I haven't had to take any medication.

 

Hi, haven't been on here for a while and just found your posts. I have just had stage 2 done of my reconstrucion - so tissue expanders out, real fake boobs in. I too had really high uncomfortable expanders - my ps thought the left expander my have rotated 90 degrees, it was really obvious. I also felt the shape was kind of truncated - cut off so not rounded. So since the silicone implants way less hard and fake feeling, much lower and softer although two weeks after surgery there is still some swelling. My PS wants me to wear a compression garment for 6 weeks, 24/7. I was originally quite large - I think your size does matter as well as chest shape etc. So my implants are quite large but compared to my original breasts I look flat - compression bra adding to the mono boob look as well. I have had more pain with this surgery than the original mastectomy but since I virtually had none then it really isn't bad and I haven't had to take any medication.

 

Hi Wendy An update: I saw the plastic surgeon and when I suggested that I didn't think the shape was exactly what I wanted, he said that right now I have the chance to influence the shape. Apparently until your body builds scar tissue etc the implants are still free to move, so I immediately hit the shops to be fitted for a really supportive sports bra which I now wear 24/7! He's a man of few words my plastic surgeon, so glad he happened to mention this important fact! I' m reassured by your posts though that the breasts will soften and hopefully drop a little. I just need patience!

Hi Wendy An update: I saw the plastic surgeon and when I suggested that I didn't think the shape was exactly what I wanted, he said that right now I have the chance to influence the shape. Apparently until your body builds scar tissue etc the implants are still free to move, so I immediately hit the shops to be fitted for a really supportive sports bra which I now wear 24/7! He's a man of few words my plastic surgeon, so glad he happened to mention this important fact! I' m reassured by your posts though that the breasts will soften and hopefully drop a little. I just need patience!