How long does tightness and numbness last after implants are placed?

Hi, I'm Faith I just had a nipple sparing mastectomy both breast due to cyst, tumors. I'm 2 weeks post op. I hate the feeling I have ripples and very heavy breast. My pc put back 650cc I'm 5/2 118lbs. I had sagging skin from2 children. My implants are Heavy and had to be put in front of my muscle. Very numb at this time.. expected as much. I have ripples it sucks. I was left with no tissue to work with anyone else? Help!!

My initial reconstruction for bilateral mastectomies was in 2006. From day one I experienced hard, painful, implants. I had 4 surgeries to relieve contractures. After living this way for six years, I sought out help and another opinion from a different surgeon. (The initial surgeon had assured me that it was as good as it was going to get.) My implants were sitting in the wrong place in my chest, were too small, and being squeezed again by contactures. To make things worse, the pocket created for the implants was not being used which created ugly, hanging skin on the bottom of both breasts. All the pain of tissue expanders and the man didn't even use the skin! I am over the moon and happy to report that I am 8 days post op for my second reconstruction AND a tummy tuck! My breasts are soft and full and I no longer feel like a deformed human being. While I am sure that some tightness is normal, it is not normal to feel continued tightness and pain for an extended period of time. I wish I had sued the initial "surgeon". I am so happy I decided not to live with it any longer! If you do not experience relief and something tells you that something is just not right, seek out another, highly qualified, surgeon. You are worth it and your life will improve dramatically!

and i still have all my feelings in my breast as well i do feel everything touch and well u know,, its amazing i do have all that for how many surgerys i have had... the doctor is really surprised as well that i can feel still even after haveing nipple reconstructed as well and had to have them removed to redo all over again but yes i have feeling , u cant even pinch them i feel it lol,,, that means i guess all my nerves have rejuvenille to a full heal and thats good but after this next surgery of nipples i will let you know if i still have feeling :_) which i do believe i will...

Hello,
Yes I still have to do some little contouring and nipples and then the tattooing but it will be a breeze no problems there i have already discuss all this with my doctor and i dont see any problems and they will look alike more when done completely do have some issues but not nothing that can be fixed they dont look at bad as they did before this surgery they have alot of roundness and fullness which i didnt have and a cleaves which i didnt have before now i feel alot better with this surgery they fit better in my bra and they look good without a bra in my shirts they are even at least too.lol,, i had that capular contraction it suxed and i am still hopeing i dont get it again which the doctor says i wont they are looking good, and they feel soft and like normal breast do, and they hang right also and when i get the contouring done with the extra tissue and getting my nipples redone to match they will look awesome. just worried that her surgery did go well and shes not haveing that as well they say it happens around 10weeks or so after surgery thats why i responded to her question.. but i always say if your in doubt go get a second dr's advise wouldnt hurt..:)) and thanks for the answer and the reply as well,, and you also have a wonderful thanksgiving :))))

Wow, S.Fry, I was floored when I read your post....That is amazing that you didn't have either. Did you have tissue and/or nipple sparing surgery, which possibly could explain our different experiences? I am so happy for you, as it sometimes bites having to use my memory during those intimate moments, vs actually being able to experience feeling my spouse's touch.

I was going to ask if Riley2 had cosmetic implants or if she'd had reconstructive surgery with implants after a mastectomy, saline or silicone?

I had a bilateral mastectomy 7 years ago and everything I'd read told me to be prepared for numbness and tightness once the final implants were placed, so I asked my surgeon if it was temporary or long term, he told me the tightness should loosen up within a few months if I am massaging as he'd instructed, however the numbness would be long term as the nerves would not regrow. I have found in my personal experience, that both of his answers were correct. Don't get me wrong, it's not like I can't feel anything at all, but it's more pressure felt as a result of knowing that the doctor or my spouse is touching me than it is the sensitive touch I had prior to surgery. However that could have a lot to do with the fact that I have VERY little tissue remaining and had nipple reconstruction.

Riley2, when do you go back for a recheck with the surgeon? If you don't currently have an appointment scheduled, I would go ahead and schedule one to make sure that you're not experiencing capsular contracture, which would cause a tightness in the breast but given how recent your procedure was done, I'm thinking you're more than likely fine and just making a precautionary check.

Good Luck and feel free to contact me if I can offer any other information for you.

T

I posted your question in the Q&A section. You can click here to see it. Since it was just published there won't be any answers yet, but you can check it in a couple of days to see if doctors have shared their thoughts on this.

Hope it is helpful!

 

I didnt have any tightness after i had my implants in, do they feel hard? they should be soft and since it was in sept they shouldnt be tight by this time.. and for numbness that could take up to 6months it did with me the first time i had implants but i had breast cancer and had 3 different surgerys and this last surgery im 11weeks out now from my surgery and my implants are soft and nature feeling and i can feel my breast without numbness so i am kinda concerned here with yours. feel free to contact me if you would like, my first i didnt feel anything for 6months but i also had a car wreck the same day but all my other surgerys i had feeling in my breast and the little numbness i did have from problems which i had alot of problems with my implants but this last one i got a second doctor and his surgery and care has been the best i ever had and my implants or my breast are like real breast even though i had a bilateral mascetomy removeable of both breast. this last surgery i have had no problems with anything like that , thats why im kinda concerned when you say numbness and tightness.. maybe i would get a second doctor to look at them they should be like normal now atleast not tight ...