Hollow appearance in chest area after reconstruction. (Photo)

Question

Feb. I had reconstructive surgery with silicone implants after double mastectomy October 30. What are all the tiny pea size things I feel in each breast? There is also much heaviness. Will this ever go away? Sometimes it's hard to breath. Is this normal? lots of rippling, can't lift myself. Left breast is bigger than right & more squared. Right breast looks normal, but fallen more than the left. Hollow at top of each breast & the manubrium is very noticeable. Is this all normal?

Robert Whitfield, MD · Answer

There are options regarding change the Upper pole areas that are hollow with fat grafting.  The tightness you feel and the heaviness are much more difficult to comment on without an examination.  We would be happy to see you in Austin if that is possible for you.

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+

Gabriel Kind, MD · Answer

Hello and thank you for your questions. I am sorry that you are having these problems, and hopefully by now they are improving. It is difficult to assess without examining you, but many women experience chest tightness or heaviness after implant reconstruction. Physical therapy can be very helpful to reduce tightness and discomfort. It is important to see a physical therapist who has experience treating mastectomy patients. It may be possible to improve some of the things you describe, such as the hollow areas at the tops of the breasts, which can frequently be treated with fat grafting.

Hollow appearance in chest area after reconstruction. (Photo)

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Hollow appearance in chest area after reconstruction. (Photo)

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