I had a mastectomy/expander over 9 months ago. Detected skin breakdown, before radiation. After radiation, seroma developed & has been aspirated over 15 times by Dr. Had to have expander removed, & now seroma is draining through 2nd incision mark for past 4 months. Have to wear maxi pads 24 hrs a day as fluid never stops draining. Dr. has given me option to undergo surgery to remove scar tissue & hope that my body will begin to absorb or tram-flap reconstruction. Has any Dr dealt with this?
Answer: Draining months after This has been a long and complicated process for you. The fluid that is leaking may be a seroma or lymphatic fluid. Radiation can cause significant scarring of the normal pathways your body would reabsorb the fluid. The most common way to deal with this issue is by using your own tissue (DIEP, Latissimus, autologous flap tissue) to help create new pathways and rejuvenate the radiated tissue. Good Luck!
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CONTACT NOW Answer: Draining months after This has been a long and complicated process for you. The fluid that is leaking may be a seroma or lymphatic fluid. Radiation can cause significant scarring of the normal pathways your body would reabsorb the fluid. The most common way to deal with this issue is by using your own tissue (DIEP, Latissimus, autologous flap tissue) to help create new pathways and rejuvenate the radiated tissue. Good Luck!
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CONTACT NOW September 30, 2014
Answer: Breast reconstruction with a DIEP flap This is a very difficult problem that I have treated by removing the expander or implant and performing a DIEP flap.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+
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CONTACT NOW September 30, 2014
Answer: Breast reconstruction with a DIEP flap This is a very difficult problem that I have treated by removing the expander or implant and performing a DIEP flap.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+
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April 17, 2014
Answer: 4 Month Old Seroma, Post Mastectomy - still Draining Through Incision, Have any Doctors Dealt WIth This Before? Thank you for your question! I am sorry to hear of your issues with your reconstruction. Radiation therapy certainly has an increased rate of complications in terms of infections and wound healing issues. Given the removal of your tissue expander, you likely either developed a chroming wound issue and/or infection which prompted explantation. Fluid collections are not an uncommon issue in cases such as yours and are sometimes very troublesome. You may require surgical intervention to excise the seroma capsule and try and promote adherence of your overlying tissue back down to your chest wall, along with drains. Hopefully this will resolve the problem. I typically do not consider any definitive breast reconstruction until approximately 6 months post- radiation completion. You will likely need a flap, given your previous history of radiation to your chest, which should significantly ameliorate the issues caused by the radiation. Of which, a DIEP flap is an excellent option! First - your wound healing issue, and or infection, must be controlled first. Hope that this helps and best wishes!
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CONTACT NOW April 17, 2014
Answer: 4 Month Old Seroma, Post Mastectomy - still Draining Through Incision, Have any Doctors Dealt WIth This Before? Thank you for your question! I am sorry to hear of your issues with your reconstruction. Radiation therapy certainly has an increased rate of complications in terms of infections and wound healing issues. Given the removal of your tissue expander, you likely either developed a chroming wound issue and/or infection which prompted explantation. Fluid collections are not an uncommon issue in cases such as yours and are sometimes very troublesome. You may require surgical intervention to excise the seroma capsule and try and promote adherence of your overlying tissue back down to your chest wall, along with drains. Hopefully this will resolve the problem. I typically do not consider any definitive breast reconstruction until approximately 6 months post- radiation completion. You will likely need a flap, given your previous history of radiation to your chest, which should significantly ameliorate the issues caused by the radiation. Of which, a DIEP flap is an excellent option! First - your wound healing issue, and or infection, must be controlled first. Hope that this helps and best wishes!
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March 13, 2012
Answer: Breast Reconstruction
After the skin has radiation, healing is frustrating because the skin is just not as strong as it was before. Discuss this with your surgeon and explore your other options. Perhaps surgery to remove scar tissue is your best option.
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CONTACT NOW March 13, 2012
Answer: Breast Reconstruction
After the skin has radiation, healing is frustrating because the skin is just not as strong as it was before. Discuss this with your surgeon and explore your other options. Perhaps surgery to remove scar tissue is your best option.
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January 12, 2012
Answer: Chronic seroma after radiation.
Chronic seromas following radiation in the setting of an expander do occur. Unfortunately, due to the radiation, they usually do not resolve on their own. Attempts at scar revision and suction drainage can be successful, but the more reliable option is to bring in non-radiated vascularized issue from either a TRAM flap or a latissimus flap. If the skin is thin (and usually is), the vascularized tissue can help salvage this skin and improve the overall cosmetic result of the reconstruction.
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January 12, 2012
Answer: Chronic seroma after radiation.
Chronic seromas following radiation in the setting of an expander do occur. Unfortunately, due to the radiation, they usually do not resolve on their own. Attempts at scar revision and suction drainage can be successful, but the more reliable option is to bring in non-radiated vascularized issue from either a TRAM flap or a latissimus flap. If the skin is thin (and usually is), the vascularized tissue can help salvage this skin and improve the overall cosmetic result of the reconstruction.
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