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When will I be comfortable sleeping on my side after bilateral mastectomy with expander?

mickybFeb 7, 2017
I had bilateral mastectomy with TE August 2016. Expanders replaced with implants 2 weeks ago. When I sleep on my back or side it feels like the muscles and implants are pulling down. When I get up I feel like I have to hold my breasts close for support. I only feel comfortable when I sleep in the recliner with the arms supporting me. I still feel like I have an iron bra on. Is this part of the healing process and, How long before it gets better? Will the filling of having a bra on go away?

Answers (1)

From board-certified doctors and trusted medical professionals
Dr. Robert Whitfield, MD
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Answered on Feb 9, 2017
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Damian Marucci, MBBS, PhD, FRACS

The expanders I use have the port integrated into the expander, so there are no tubes or remote injecting sites. It sound like you may have one of the models that do have a remote port. You shouldn't "feel" any fluid around the port. You may be feeling fluid within a partially filled tissue...

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Damian Marucci, MBBS, PhD, FRACS

Thanks for your question and the answer is all good news. Your sub-muscular breast implants are no where near your hiatus hernia. Your reconstructive surgery will not affect your hernia in any way - although you should remind your anaesthetist about it, as reflux during surgery can be a problem...

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Joel M. Stewart, Jr., MD

I definitely agree with ultrasound of the breasts in this setting. 5 months is quite a long time to be on antibiotics. Perhaps the remaining skin is just edematous (swollen) and there is no underlying bacterial infection. Follow up with your surgeon and let them know your concerns.

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