POSTED UNDER Breast Reconstruction REVIEWS
Mastectomy with Tissue Expanders and Alloderm
ORIGINAL POST
In October 2015, I underwent a bilateral...
WORTH IT
In October 2015, I underwent a bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction using tissue expanders. I chose implant based reconstruction because I didn't have enough abdominal fat for DEIP and didn't want to sacrifice my lat muscles for a flap.
I talked to several plastic surgeons until I finally found one that really listened to what my goals were and understood how traumatizing the idea of no breasts was for me.
The expansion process was a piece of cake, I started with fills of 60cc and then moved to almost double the amount so I could start radiation. No pain at all from the expansions and my surgeon did an amazing job placing the expanders. The worst part was the drains. I woke up with 200 cc in the expanders and My total expansion volume was 540 cc.
I wanted more expansion for larger implants, but my skin flap was very thin from the mastectomy, so we stopped there.
I actually really liked the way my expanders looked once they settled, which took almost 5 months. Even though my surgeon said I could exchange at 6 months, I kept them over the summer.
It's crazy, but I received a ton of compliments on them from total strangers! Random women would even ask to feel them, at which point I would have to explain I had cancer and they weren't regular implants.
In July of 2016, I exchanged them for anatomical gummy bears and things went downhill from there. I will do another review about it soon, as I'm still trying to be reconstructed.
I talked to several plastic surgeons until I finally found one that really listened to what my goals were and understood how traumatizing the idea of no breasts was for me.
The expansion process was a piece of cake, I started with fills of 60cc and then moved to almost double the amount so I could start radiation. No pain at all from the expansions and my surgeon did an amazing job placing the expanders. The worst part was the drains. I woke up with 200 cc in the expanders and My total expansion volume was 540 cc.
I wanted more expansion for larger implants, but my skin flap was very thin from the mastectomy, so we stopped there.
I actually really liked the way my expanders looked once they settled, which took almost 5 months. Even though my surgeon said I could exchange at 6 months, I kept them over the summer.
It's crazy, but I received a ton of compliments on them from total strangers! Random women would even ask to feel them, at which point I would have to explain I had cancer and they weren't regular implants.
In July of 2016, I exchanged them for anatomical gummy bears and things went downhill from there. I will do another review about it soon, as I'm still trying to be reconstructed.
Replies (18)
March 17, 2017
What exactly went wrong. I had a bilateral in November and reconstructed with expander. Expander feel great and will be switching to silicone implants. You got me worried. Just wondering whether you chose round implants or teardrop. I understand that round ones give no problems but the teardrop could shift an go under armpit. I am having the round ones. My plastic surgeon herself had reconstruction done and chose the round without any problems. Hope you solve your problem soon. Good luck.
March 17, 2017
Hi. I had tear drop (anatomical) and the incision opened up about 6 weeks in. I'm going to try to update my review next week. I lost the reconstruction completely due to infection from an open wound. It wasn't related to the shape. I plan to do round ithis time, but the shaped ones have the most projection you can get from an implant. I just didn't like the lack of fullness at the top,
March 17, 2017
Advice from an older woman, whom by the way loves to look great, don't worry about projection, etc.. There is nice fashion ou there that looks good with the rounder breast. Like me, just be thankful that we are survivors. Hang in there. I am sure you are beautiful no matter what. Hugs to you.
March 17, 2017
I hope you well and heal quickly. I agree that tear drop gives no fullness at the top. Have you asked your surgeon if you can add some fat to it?
March 17, 2017
Thank you! I don't have the shaped implants anymore but yes we did discuss fat grafting, which would have been an option if I hadn't developed the infection.
March 17, 2017
Thank you! It's been an emotional roller coaster. I am grateful to still be here, but honestly I think that the importance of reconstruction(for some of us) is often misunderstood. It's not vanity or superficial to want to feel like a whole person and look decent after what we go through (in my opinion)!
March 17, 2017
Vera, I replied to your comment under the wrong person, but just wanted to say thank you!
March 17, 2017
Feel like it's a three-way conversation here :) we need to feel whole... Just received a phone call from my surgeon. April 3 will be my date and hope I don't need to go back again. It's indeed a roller coaster experience, I got called back to have another Mamogram and ultrasound on my good side on Mar. 28. I just trust in Him He is my shepherd. He will take care of me.
March 18, 2017
Praying that's it for you! I did both at once because I don't even want to think about doing this twice! Mine was super large, aggressive and had invaded lymph nodes,
March 19, 2017
Today went to family doctor who explained the 1st Mamogram to me. There is something very small it detected. Will be determined what it is on Mar. 28. Will keep you posted :)
March 17, 2017
FOLLOW UP: Well, after my initial review, my outlook on my previous Plastic Surgeon. I was afraid to post anything else because he was angry that I initially commented when he found out about the post. My opinion on this Doctor has changed. After my reconstruction, in order to get better results, he recommended a breast lift to decrease the size of my areola and raise my nipple so it matched the position of the one breast I had a Mastectomy on. The first breast lift was terrible. My breast was boxy looking and squared with extra skin on the left side which made my implant slide under my armpit. He didn't seem to want to fix it, but I insisted. He did a another breast lift revision which rounded out my breast but unfortunately created a white circle around the areola which had barely been decreased from the initial breast lift. That was my specific request for the revision. I regret going to this Plastic Surgeon. He started off with a good bedside manner. He seemed to listen to my questions, but unfortunately didn't want to give me options. I have been in constant pain which he just brushed me off about. He also ranted about my initial post on this site stating his Colleague saw it and told me he would have rather me ask him about things which I wasn't comfortable doing because he kept minimizing my concerns. He put me in an awkward position on my follow up appointment. I posted the comment here so I could get possible recommendations from other Doctors since he dismissed my issues anytime I asked in depth questions. I also requested my medical records so I would have info on my implant serial numbers since he told me he didn't know how to find that in the system. Upon reading them, they were extremely unprofessional. He actually documented personal and private conversations I had with him. It was humiliating. I was embarrassed and felt betrayed. I thought these were confidential. In addition, he actually documented in my medical records referring to my comments on this blog stating he was upset about it. I feel like he did a botched surgery on my breast which I didn't have cancer in. The breast I had a mastectomy on turned out pretty well, it does have alot of rippling. He also was supposed to refer me to a physical therapist since I had lymph nodes removed since there was cancer in them. Instead, I have thick scar tissue which has affected reaching, raising my arms, etc. I found out about the protocol after the fact. After my last follow up, I told him about the constant pain I have in both breasts, all he kept saying to me was it's probably capsular contracture which can come on at any time. During the entire process, I called him once because I was concerned about a knot under my arm after the first breast lift. He was on call that night. He returned my call and asked why I did'nt come in earlier. I told him the office staff told me he was booked and they couldn't fit me in. He became upset at me for calling, even using profanity which later in the call apologized for. I really wish he would have been more professional. He joked around with me alot which put me at ease in the beginning. Unfortunately, he seemed to avoid and minimize my concerns after my implant was put in on my non-cancerous breast. After he brought up the blog, I told the staff on this website because he was rude and stand offish at the appointment he brought the blog up at. They made an exception and removed it. Although one of his collegues may tell him about my comment, I feel it would be beneficial to now state his real name so I can hopefully help others in the process. Dr. Jeremy Rinard at McKay Dee Hospital in Ogden, Utah. I still recommend getting breast reconstruction. He told me he didn't have a gallery of patients he worked on. I highly suggest going to a Plastic Surgeon who will actually show you a gallery of their work.
March 17, 2017
Oh, I am sorry. I posted on your page instead of on my post! I will post it on my page now.
March 20, 2017
My mistake also was not asking for previous photos of patients who had reconstruction.
UPDATED FROM hrenee122
1 year post
Implant exchange surgery
In July 2016, I had my exchange surgery, having decided on shaped gummy bear implants with extra full projection. The surgery went fine, except I woke up with a different size than what I had expected. 620cc on left and 555 on right, because there wasn't enough coverage on radiated side. I hated the way it looked, and was in tears in my surgeons office because it was totally obvious. He wanted me to wait before we decided how to fix it, but the issue became irrelevant because I wound up being explanted in September
Replies (0)
UPDATED FROM hrenee122
1 year post
Wound dehissance and infection, implant removal
In August, my incision on the radiated side had opened, been resutured twice, and opened again. my Dr. Became worried the implant would get infected. I was sick, feeling like I had the flu. He said because the surface of the implant is textured, bacteria will stick to it. He removed the right implant, and there was no obvious signs of infection. 3 days later, my left breast became swollen and hot. I was admitted into the hospital, explanted and started on Iv antibiotics. Shortly afterwards, the wound reopened on the right side and was resutured twice more. it was finally decided to let it heal as an open wound. By November, the wound was bigger than ever and the surgeon recommended a lattismus flap, both sides to try to create better symmetry. Unfortunately for me, there were no surgical suites open until Jan of 2017. On Jan 10, 2017 I had a bilateral lat flap with tissue expanders.
I hope things will go smoothly for you, and we are all here to support you along the way.