POSTED UNDER Breast Implant Revision Reviews
Revision for CC 1.5 weeks post-op (Mar. 27,2014)- Capsulectomy, Strattice, and New Implant - Houston, TX
UPDATED FROM scrappy37
8 months post
7 months post op
WORTH IT$9,000
Hi Ladies! I thought I should update my post since I practically fell off the face of the planet since my last one. Also, I never posted updated pics, but now is probably a good time to show after it all settled. I am happy to report that i am now 7 no yhs post op and have not had a recurrence of the capsular contracture! Yay! If any of you are considering getting the Alloderm or Strattice, my advice is to make sure your doctor has had plenty of experience doing them before he/she does you! If he/she does not, I would consider another surgeon who has. My doctor did NOT have me massage after the strattice, so don't do it if you are thinking about it. It needs to heal first. If you have any questions, just let me know. Otherwise I hope all is well with you! I'm glad I had the strattice done and got to keep my boobs! =) i can't seem to post pics from my tablet, I'll try again after posting this
scrappy37's provider
Replies (5)
November 24, 2014
i have just had strattice on my left side to correct several problems (including rippling and repeated pocket revision), did your strattice feel hard or lumpy at 1st over the skin?
November 25, 2014
Hi Sillykim....good question! I remember my breast felt firm, but I do not recall it ever feeling lumpy. I could not get it to move much but I didn't try too hard either. If you are thinner than me, its likely that you have less fat between your skim surface and the Strattice. I don't think lumpy sounds right, but you may have to just give it some time. My understanding is that it takes about 6 months for the Strattice to become integrated Into your tissue. Now I don't know if that is "just" integrated or not fully integrated. If you just had it done give it a few months to decide if it helped you or not. I'll take a peek at your profile now.
November 25, 2014
Oh, I guess you don't have a review. I did see some of your comments including that you've had 5 surgeries in 16 months. That's crazy! And I'm feeling for you. Were they all with the same doctor? And how much time to heal between? 3 months?
November 25, 2014
Between 4-6 mths. I just had 7th surgery since sep 2012. Yes it's crazy - I'm on 3rd implants (hated the Brazilian furries I had put in 6 mths ago to prevent caps contracture - they were so hard) yes Iv had same Dr although he has brought in 2 other plastic surgeons for their opinion on several occasions. I'm still bandaged up but fingers crossed everything is ok from now on, I can just see my skin is raised and feels "spongy" over the strattice.
November 25, 2014
I would agree that it definitely felt different than the last time. The sponginess is fluid built up under the skin. I've had that- it goes away. I also had a drain. Do you have one of those? Yes, fingers crossed! Time will tell, but please give it 6 months =) Everyone I have talked to that got Strattice hasn't gotten the CC back. Fitdiva that just posted above is one of them. Good luck!
November 25, 2014
thanks for your reply, yes i have a drain in, its really hurting me at the part where its coming out of my skin (I can't see tho as its under dressing).... although i know already, i prefer feeling this 'sponginess' to what i could feel before - my skin felt so thin before that i could literally feel the implant and 'pop the ripples in and out' with my finger! was horrible. i can't feel the implant at all right now :)
November 25, 2014
Glad to see you are doing so well!!! Heres to strattice!! Lol.
November 26, 2014
Im doing great! Boobies are looking good!! No problems here either. I only wish i did strattice sooner. Im a happy girl!!
November 26, 2014
Cheers to Strattice!!! If anyone on this review is looking for a second consultation for a revision with Strattice in Houston, Dr Boynton has 9 years experience with it and I had zero problems since my revision 5 months ago :)
May 16, 2015
Hey scrappy! So good to hear!! The more I look at your pics, the more i'mkicking myself for not doing imf incisions. Siiiigh. You look great!
UPDATED FROM scrappy37
3 months post
2 month scar pics
I am attaching some pictures to show the scars. You will see that the revised boob (my left) has a much larger scar which is due to having Strattice inserted. I have been recently introduced to essential oils and so I have been putting Lavender and Frankincense on the left half of my scar and Scar guard on the right half. I gotta say, the essential oils don't seem to be doing anything for it but maybe I really needed the Helichrysum which is super expensive. The other pic shows what my original scar looks like, which is on my right boob. I am half Asian so my scarring is usually darker than Caucasian people and seems to take longer to "disappear". My original scar looked pretty good after a year. I need to take a frontal and another profile shot. I'll work on getting that taken and added. Laying on my stomache, on that boob is still a little painful. It feels like something is pulling, But so far so good!
Replies (1)
June 7, 2014
My scar Linda looks similar and I have the drain scar too:( hopefully it lightens with time
June 27, 2014
Yeah, I've been rubbing the drain scar with the scar fade gel, too. That one is more visible than the long one at the crease.
UPDATED FROM scrappy37
3 months post
2 months Revision post op
2 months post op and am doing fine so far! Now I am just waiting for the scar to go down. I just started getting into essential oils and have been using Lavender/Frankincense on one half of my scar, and Scar away on the other half. Just to see if one works better than the other. Not sure what I think k about it right now, no conclusive results. Doc never instructed me to massage the revised boob. Sometimes I have a pain in it that I didn't have with the initial augmentation. But its bearable, it seems to be related to the position of my body, like if I am laying on it or something. I think it has something to do with the strattice sewn in there. Maybe its getting pulled? I think i heard it takes 6 months to get partially integrated with the body, and a full year before its 100% integrated. I'll try to get my updated photos posted today, I'll have to get on the PC Instead of the tablet.
Replies (2)
June 2, 2014
I too had a cc and my revision surgery was in 12-13 .i had a drain but that's it...all is good so far for me
June 7, 2014
No strattice for me just a drain! They are still squishy 6 months post. Oleo hopefully all stays well!
June 6, 2014
So glad to read this. I just had a revision and went from sub gland to sub muscular with Strattice also. I am at day 4 and drains were removed today and even though the initial pain was excruciating compared to 1st BA, I feel no pain now, only sore muscles. I'm in Houston too and went with Dr Boynton. I went from 225cc overs to 350 unders and I really like the width of my new ones. I developed cap con after a horrible staph infection on my right side only a year after my initial surgery. It feels like it's fixed and with the Strattice I can't feel any rippling on that right side also where the tissue was super thin. Thanks for sharing your story!!
June 6, 2014
Mamamel same here! I just went from subfascial to sub muscular after a CC. I had the same issue with thin tissue in the cc side but under now it looks good so far. Im 9 days po now. I said the same thing that it was super painful compared to the over position. Good luck to you. So happy to be able to share our experience with others that have experienced this. I am so happy that the pain is gone and I am looking forward to healing and enjoying my boobies even more now!
June 7, 2014
Hi Mamamel, so glad you found us! Looks like FitDiva is your new surgery buddy! Sounds like you both had the same thing done and about the same time. I can only hope that we can stay CC free after the Strattice insertion. I am a little worried though since FitDiva, got it again afterwards- even though it was mild. I don't know what I would do if I got It again. I'd like to keep my new boobies. =( But time will tell and we'll just have to take it one day at a time and hope for the best. Keep in touch so we can all keep track of each other!
June 27, 2014
Yes!!! My new doc claims that he has never had a patient come back to him with cap con if they've gone under the muscle and get Strattice!! Not one in 9 years!! The only one who did insisted on not doing Strattice, and it came back for her. So I guess by that rationale it's worth the 3 grand extra even if it's our first time with cap con? The second I was diagnosed with it I wanted the revision because I wanted my body to stop making the extra scar tissue. Are there any resources out there that claim your recurrence rate is higher if you have cap con for a longer time? I guess that would be a good question to propose on the Q&A section, huh? Those docs who respond are awesome for providing us with their own free opinion.
July 1, 2014
From what I've read, its better to wait for your body to stop making the extra scar tissue and the tissue contracting because it thinks it's done isolating the offending object. I honestly think the body is rejecting it on some level and that is why its doing that. There is always bacteria associated with the CC and that's why its important for the docs to give you brand new implants and not use the same ones and by making sure the surgical area is clean inside and out with the cavity wash and antibiotics. But really, truth be known, no one really knows what causes it or how to prevent it. So far the strattice with new implants is the only fix we can try beyond a regular capsulectomy. That is all I know based on what I've read and the questions I've asked.
July 2, 2014
Interesting info about cap con to wait til it's finished!! Hadn't read that but it makes sense -- that's why I wanted 2 new pockets -- all new muscular tissue surrounding the implant. My original doc only wanted to replace that one side and keep my overs. Isn't sub facial under the fascia of the pectoral muscle but still above the muscle? Not too many docs do that -- they'd rather go under, but I've read subfacial gives you a little more support that sub glandular (but only as much as a thin sheath could provide).
July 2, 2014
What's the difference between sub gland and sub muscular ? Is one in front muscle and other behind ?
July 2, 2014
Yes they are ! I agree ! Thanks a million to all you doctors who volunteer your time to help us understand about BA !! You guyz are awesome !
July 2, 2014
Yes. Sub glandular is under the breast tissue but on top of the muscle so there's no intrusion into the muscle. Sub muscular is (partially) under the muscle. In other words, the muscle is dissected and the top of the implant is under the muscle but the bottom isn't, and that's where the acellular dermal matrix (Strattice) comes into play. It is skin graft tissue that is attached to tissue at the breast crease and to the muscle, like an internal bra. (This is only my layman's interpretation of all my research, not sure how accurate :)
It's so great to hear from you Scrappy! I'm glad the strattice is working out for you. Thank you for the tip on the oils and scar guard. Hoping you can post your pictures the old way if you don't have an Apple product.