After Radiation - How Long to Wait Before Replacing Expanders w/ Implants?

With radiation therapy, the tissue can become firm and lead to contracture around the implants, but it usually improves over time. This can be a couple of months or up to a year and your plastic surgeon can advise when things soften up enough to proceed. Many surgeons have found that the use of an acellular dermal matrix such as Alloderm can help overcome some of the effects of radiation. It may also be advantageous if the expanders are fully inflated before the radiation treatment is started.

Usually I wait about 4-6 months to exchange a tissue expander for an implant after radiation treatment.

The time between placement of tissue expanders and the permanent implantsnis usually about 3-4 months. This will be longer if post operative chemotherapy or radiation is necessary.