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Julie_P's avatar
Julie_P
Member
13 years ago

Tissue expanders and reconstruction

Just wondering if anyone out there has recently been through tissue expansion and reconstruction. I had a mastectomy a year ago, and in November, due to the fear of the cancer recurring, underwent a prophylactic mastectomy of the other breast and at the same time had tissue expanders inserted, the best solution for me as I didn't have radiotherapy.

But I'm so anxious now as my chest wall muscles seem to be stretching very unevenly with the expanders and even though the surgeon says he has put more saline in volume in the expanders than he took away with the mastectomy, my right breast looks small (the original mastectomy) and my left breast looks ridiculous - like I've grown guy's pecs up to my shoulder!

Of course I know this is temporary but now the surgeon is asking me whether I've had enough expansions, but I can't tell as the shape is so weird! I'd hate to get this wrong! I guess I'm just looking for some reassurance that it will turn out OK in the end. 

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  • Chris's avatar
    Chris
    Member
    13 years ago
    Hi Julie, I had done exactly the same procedure as you. Also found that the tissue expanders were uncomfortable and flat and not the same shape. I worried about picking the right size, as it is hard to know from the expanders when you have reached what you think is right. One of mine always seemed larger than the other. Three weeks after my surgery, I had a major bleed under the tissue, and it went up to my shoulder almost. I needed it drained and washed out in theatre, and they took off 800mls. When I had the implants put in, it was so much better. I do wish I had gone a tad bigger, because they do seem to reduce in size as the swelling goes. I am wearing my old 14B bras, so am about the same size. I have a few photos, and if you want me to show you, just send me a private message with your email or phone number. Who is your surgeon? Love Chris xx
  • Chris's avatar
    Chris
    Member
    13 years ago
    Hi Julie, I had done exactly the same procedure as you. Also found that the tissue expanders were uncomfortable and flat and not the same shape. I worried about picking the right size, as it is hard to know from the expanders when you have reached what you think is right. One of mine always seemed larger than the other. Three weeks after my surgery, I had a major bleed under the tissue, and it went up to my shoulder almost. I needed it drained and washed out in theatre, and they took off 800mls. When I had the implants put in, it was so much better. I do wish I had gone a tad bigger, because they do seem to reduce in size as the swelling goes. I am wearing my old 14B bras, so am about the same size. I have a few photos, and if you want me to show you, just send me a private message with your email or phone number. Who is your surgeon? Love Chris xx
  • louiseg's avatar
    louiseg
    Member
    13 years ago

    Hi Julie

    Something doesn't sound right there....I had a TRAM reconstruction on one breast in 2003 and then a lat dorsi/expander reconstruction in 2010.  My expansions never made me look like I had pecs up to my shoulder!  I did have a haematoma straight after the surgery which swelled up like that, but once that was taken care of, my new breast looked fine.  When I had the expander swapped for the permanent prosthesis it looked quite a bit bigger than the other side but I decided to wait a few months to see whether it was just swelling - it wasn't and I went back in to have it swapped over for a smaller size a little later.  I am happy with the result now.

    Another thing that could be your problem is that the implants come in different shapes and some of them are fuller at the top (like the first one that I had).  Maybe discuss the shape with your surgeon and tell him that you don't want it to be so full at the top?

    Good luck and make sure you voice any concerns that you have to your surgeon.

    Louise :)

  • Julie_P's avatar
    Julie_P
    Member
    13 years ago
    I' ll be thinking of you today, after diagnosis it was the worse thing I went through. But you do get through it! Be brave x
  • dawngirl's avatar
    dawngirl
    Member
    13 years ago
    I'm going in for the buzz cut today. I have beyond shoulder length hair, fine but an awful lot of it, and with every brush stroke, or hand through my hair today, more of it leaves the building. Even if it just thins out heaps will look utterly awful so have decided to get a number 2 and start wearing the wig today and just get used to it because I have to. I feel sick in the pit of my stomach but what can I do? Other than get over myself which I will eventually. Looking forward to being a year down the track. x
  • dawngirl's avatar
    dawngirl
    Member
    13 years ago
    I'm going in for the buzz cut today. I have beyond shoulder length hair, fine but an awful lot of it, and with every brush stroke, or hand through my hair today, more of it leaves the building. Even if it just thins out heaps will look utterly awful so have decided to get a number 2 and start wearing the wig today and just get used to it because I have to. I feel sick in the pit of my stomach but what can I do? Other than get over myself which I will eventually. Looking forward to being a year down the track. x
  • Julie_P's avatar
    Julie_P
    Member
    13 years ago

    Gosh, that was me exactly a year ago. It was the worst time - but somehow you adjust. Tell yourself its only temporary, I wore a wig to work, I always thought people would be able to tell, but everyone just looked at me (if they noticed at all) and said 'like your haircut!' Lots of shock value for you when you say actually its a wig - I'm bald!!! Are you going to shave it off? I did as I didn't want the daily reminder of hair falling on everything, but in hindsight I wonder if I would have kept just a thin amount of hair, enough to keep going without a wig, as like you I didn't have a long period of chemo to go through.

  • dawngirl's avatar
    dawngirl
    Member
    13 years ago

    Hi,

    I haven't gone this route yet -- thought it awaits me - and I will be doing what you have done (preventative mastectomy of the left).

    Are you in the care of a plastic surgeon or a breast/general surgeon? I have heard of operations not going quite to plan with breast/general surgeons...also that the riding up thing might be caused by the way our own chest muscles are...perhaps you could organise a second opinion with another plastic surgeon?

    Totally understand you wanting to get it right...we go through so much from the start, avoiding corrective surgery at all costs can only be a good thing,

    Wishing you all the best for the next steps.

    x

  • dawngirl's avatar
    dawngirl
    Member
    13 years ago

    Hi,

    I haven't gone this route yet -- thought it awaits me - and I will be doing what you have done (preventative mastectomy of the left).

    Are you in the care of a plastic surgeon or a breast/general surgeon? I have heard of operations not going quite to plan with breast/general surgeons...also that the riding up thing might be caused by the way our own chest muscles are...perhaps you could organise a second opinion with another plastic surgeon?

    Totally understand you wanting to get it right...we go through so much from the start, avoiding corrective surgery at all costs can only be a good thing,

    Wishing you all the best for the next steps.

    x