Mastectomy 18 months ago w/ expander. Hot to touch and still really uncomfortable (not red) - Help

I cannot tell you but if the pain has returned then you need to look at other options.Three
basic forms of breast reconstruction exist. You can use your own tissue,
implants or a combination of the previous two techniques. Your own tissue can
be used in the form of the DIEP flap, PAP flap, SGAP flap or fat grafting.
Implants can be done in one stage or two stage. Two stage reconstructions are
started by placing expanders at the time of mastectomy. Once they expanders are
placed they are able to be inflated as determined by wound healing. The final
time consists of combining any of the above techniques.



If
you are interested in being seen in Austin please give us a call. I know
this is a difficult time for you. The majority of my practice is devoted
to reconstruction for women with breast cancer or who are BRCA+

Thank you for your question! Your signs and symptoms sound very concerningand not common, especially for 18 months. Both warmth and pain are signs and symptoms of the most dreaded complication following implant reconstruction - infection. I would recommend seeing your surgeon and describing your symtpmos as well as for an evaluation. Without knowing your history (e.g., chemotherapy, radiation, etc), it's difficult to tell you other things that may come into play. While medications may in fact cause some of the other pains that you describe, it is also possible that infections may contribute as well. Regardless, I would recommend evaluation by your surgeon. Hope that this helps and that you begin to feel better.

If you have warmth and pain you m ay have an infection. You may also have a strange pain syndrome. Best to see your surgeon.