Do breast reconstruction tissue expanders cause any pain as they expand?

It seems like a tissue expander would be painful as it stretches the skin - am I crazy?

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15 answers to “Do breast reconstruction tissue...”

A: It can hurt sometimes, especially if you are slim.

By Lisa B. Cassileth, MD - Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

If you think about it, an expander is not really expanding your skin very much. Especially if you have received a skin sparing mastectomy, your skin is very close to the right amount of skin that you need. The expander is really stretching out the muscle, which is flat to your chest at the time of mastectomy,... more

A: You shouldn't have pain from breast reconstruction expanders

By Steven H. Williams, MD - Bay Area Plastic Surgeon

In my San Francisco area practice we perform autologous and implant reconstructions. Breast implant reconstructions typically need to be performed in stages. The first stage is the placement of a tissue expander that has a much thicker shell and a specialized port designed to allow injections to expand... more

A: Expansion can have minimal discomfort if done properly

By David A. Robinson, MD - Munster Plastic Surgeon

Placement of tissue expanders following breast reconstruction is a very common method of reconstruction. The process involves injecting saline, through a port in the expander, in the office on a weekly basis. The amount of saline placed is determined by your plastic surgeon at each... more

A: Gentle expansion after breast reconstruction should not be painful

By David Shafer, MD - Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Marcia, You are not crazy. Aggressive expansion can be painful. However, if you do not rush the process and use appropriate medications, such as pain medications and valium, gentle expansion of the muscle/skin envelope does not have to be painful. Additionally, if your surgeon uses Alloderm or some other... more

A: The discomfort from expanders is usually minimal

By Shahram Salemy, MD - Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Breast reconstruction with tissue expanders and implants continues to be a very popular option for women with breast cancer. After the expander is placed, saline is used to slowly fill the expander and stretch the skin on a regular basis-- this can vary from every week to once every several weeks. ... more

A: Breast reconstruction tissue expanders can cause pain but usually not

By John P. Di Saia, MD - Orange County Plastic Surgeon

Hello, Sensations are blunted a great deal by the mastectomy (surgery to remove the breast with the cancer) that preceeds tissue expansion. Sometimes patients feel a little discomfort but usually they are numb. A feeling of "pressure" with expansion is more common which is not uncomfortable. Best... more

A: May be a bit uncomfortable but not painful.

By Kari L. Colen, MD - New York City Plastic Surgeon

Tissue expanders are used for many different purposes in plastic surgery. The most common is for breast reconstruction. In order to fill the tissue expander, a small needle is passed through the skin to the injection port. This port can be part of the tissue expander, or separate from it. Injectable saline... more

A: Expanders are well tolerated

By Richard P. Rand, MD - Seattle Plastic Surgeon

The first time the expander is inflated, there is often anxiety on the part of the patient but once they realize that the process is easy and usually painless, they tolerate the remaining expansions well. The first expansion might cause some very mild discomfort, but the subsequent ones are quite smooth.

A: Tissue expanders may cause discomfort

By Steven Wallach, MD - Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

As the tissue is expanded, it can be uncomfortable for some patients. Most tolerate it extremely well. Some patients prefer autologous tissue reconstruction just to avoid these intermittent steps of treatment after expander placement and then subsequent additional surgery for the permanent implant placement.

A: Tissue expander pain happens

By Otto Joseph Placik, MD - Chicago Plastic Surgeon

In my experience as related by my patients, it is not unusual for patients to tolerate the expansions as they occur. However, they often reported discomfort 4-6 hours later which could be managed with tylenol or pain medications. If a patient experienced pain or excessive tightness during the expansion... more

More answers to Do breast reconstruction tissue expanders cause any pain as they expand?
Atlanta - Pain gets beter with time
Birmingham - Tissue expanders should not
Englewood - Very Little pain with expansion - breast reconstruction tissue...
Los Angeles - Pain may be a determinant of rate of expansion
Orange County - Expansion should be done short of pain

Comments

Terri Bond
unregistered guest

19 Mar 2009

Had left mastectomy - wearing a breast form...can I still wear it with the expanders? so as not to look lopsided?

Ann Jennings
unregistered guest

18 Apr 2009

Yes, I am very skinny and found it quite painful, even with Tylenol 3 for pain. I found it particularly painful immediately following each expansion. I had delayed reconstruction and was never told about skin sparing mastectomy, so my skin was very tight. I slept in a semi-prone position in a recliner for a few months. I could not stand to lay flat. Don't intend to scare you, and still would do it again but I wish someone had told me what I was in for. Don't let people minimize your pain or think you are unusual if you are in pain. Make your doctors aware of it. Good luck to all who face this. It takes courage and strength but you can get through it.

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Laurel
7 posts
22 May 2009

I had bilateral breast reconstruction with expanders. I had very little pain during expansion. each fill was 100 cc there was only pressure and tightness. I hope this is helpful

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