Mold inside tissue expanders?

Since your expanders were placed in 2005 I hope you were able to complete expansion.  If not, you may be well served by additional surgery to create more favorable pockets followed by routine tissue expansion.  The most significant issue with having the expanders in so long is the inability to take... more

I have had paitent's "disappear" with expanders (in place) due to varying reasons. Once came back 18 months after it ruptured.  There are also combination expander/implants that are meant to stay in that long. However, it is more likely that your surgeon would have told you... more

There are sporadic reports of fungus in implants/expanders, but these are the result of contamination of the saline instilled in the devices. The time an implant spends in the body has no effect on probability of infection, especially fungal types.

While there have been anecdotal reports of fungus and mold growing in implants, it is very rare. It is a good thing that expanders can be used as long-term implants if necessary, but if they were not intend as such by your surgeons, you such consider having regular saline or silicone gel implants placed soon.

Tissue expanders are really a specialized breast implant.  What is important for you to know is that they are made to the same sterility standards as regular implants.  Regular implants should not have mold in them, neither should your expanders.   I would recommend that you go back in the near... more