Exchange City

SpecialK

mysunshine - I had them almost immediately after I started fills, and also after exchange, but it depends on your individual body, what type and size of implant is used, and how the implant sits. My implants sat fairly low, but were also fairly large for my frame, so the shelf appearance was still there. Since you will generally lose volume and change from the hard expander to a soft implant the divot you see now may not be as noticeable after exchange.

Chantal10

hi ladies, has anyone had experience with radiation and then implants? If so, how did it work out for you? Thanks!

Badgergirl

Suze -

I'm not a 333 girl, I'm a 323 girl (they were approved in the US this past June/July), but I do really like the feel/shape of my Mentor's. I'm not very far out from my EX, so they still feel strange, but I feel as though they're settling in nicely. I don't feel as though they are overly firm or heavy and they do have a nice natural look to them (they don't look fake, they closely resemble the shape I had before). No rippling, but I did have fat grafting which did not take.

As for the stretch marks, one of the ladies in my support group here also got those, and her PS slowed down her fills and gave her a little less each time. He also gave her some Vitamin E to rub in, although I'm sure you could use cocoa butter, olive oil or coconut oil as well. She said in doing that, once she had her EX the marks weren't really visible!

Good luck ;-)

Leslienva

Chantal10, I had radiation 14 years ago after my first bout of breast cancer. I'm definitely having issues with the implant on my radiated side. The stitch burst and I had to have the expander replaced. Now my PS is taking the fills very slowly and we're hoping an implant will work because the skin is a lot thinner from the previous radiation. If it won't work, then I'll be looking at a Lat flap (from my back) or DIEP. So far so good, tho. We're at where the stitch popped last time and it seems to be holding okay.

Jencine

To Chantel 10

I had neoadjuvant chemo that was stopped due to bilateral PE's, left lumpectomy Aug 2014 with clear margins and radiation in Oct 2014. I decided to have bilateral mastectomy with 500cc tissue expanders at the end of March 2015. On the radiated side, fills were done with small amounts of saline. At my last fill I had rib pain especially when I took a deep breath, coughed or sneezed. Two weeks later my PS took 30cc out of the expander on the radiated side. That was back in August 2015. I saw my breast surgeon last week and told him about my rib pain. I had a bone scan and chest X-ray the next day which was inconclusive for mets vs rib fractures. Very scary. I was convinced I had bone mets. On Sept 3,2015 I had a CAT scan which showed NO mets, only healing rib fractures. I have 4th rib fracture on the radiated side and 3th & 5th rib fractures on the right side (non radiated side). I was really surprised that I had rib fractures on the right side. I had no injuries so I am guessing these fractures are due to the expanders.

I really wanted to try an implant only reconstruction on the irradiated side but it looks like I will be having a flap.

mysunshine48

Jencine, are you able to get implants in even with the rib fractures....at least on the one side? I have had a bad cough cough due to damage done to my esophagus from chromo. I also had a chest CT scan and it showed inflamation on my ribs in the area behind my left expander. When I cough, still am, it really hurts. I am scheduled for exchange surgery on September 25. I meet with my PS this Wednesday and I hope this does not cause problems for getting these expanders out!

Di2012

Mysunshine,

the cough would be a problem for your up coming surgery....I had my second exchange cancelled once due to a bad cough......

As far as getting expanders out, the PS pop them with a scalpel before removing.

Here are my deflated expanders:

SpecialK

jencine - are your docs inclined to think these fractures were actually caused by radiation induced bone damage

Jencine

Special K

I never had radiation to my right side and still ended up with two rib fractures on that side so it is not from radiation damage

Jencine

My Sunshine: I am scheduled for a flap to my left radiated side in Dec and he may leave my tissue expanders in place. Depends on how much volume he can get with the flap. My right expander (no radiation) will be exchanged after the left side is done so as to match the size.

I have a cold and cough and I can tell the cough has irritated the fractured ribs. I hope your inflammation settles down.

Moonflwr912

Chantal, the success rate for radiation could be better. I hear the latest thing they try with the irradiated tissue is fat grafting first. It seems to help. So talk to your PS. Also to everyone, this is not a race. Taking your time can make a difference. I know we all want to be through with all this cancer stuff, but sometimes taking a bit longer saves a lot of trouble. So don't rush, take your time and try to be patient.

Much ve.

Scottiemom11

Jencine. . .so sorry about the rib fractures. Did you have a baseline bone scan before treatment. I had a fullbody baseline scan a few weeks after BMX and before hormonal treatment. I know some of the treatments can cause bone loss. Hope the cough resolves so you can have your surgery?

Scottie

Jencine

Scottmom

I did have a baseline bones an before tx and no abnormalities were noted. Also had bone density which was OK.

I will be glad when this is all over. I will take my rib fractures over mets any day so I am thankful!

Chantal10

thanks for your response gals! I hope your ribs heal quickly. I have to see my ps this week to discuss. Always something it seems. Have a good afternoon!

ThinkingPositive

So I am back to the insurance issues... just received phone call from PS office saying that they insurance company denied payment. Seems to be a big mess. When I first schedule the surgery the insurance company did not respond to the doctors office with pre-authorization. Went through a whole lot of nonsense before we got that straightened out. Then the EOB comes for the PS and the Hospital stating that Insurance Company sent letters to both requesting full medical records. My PS's office flipped out saying that they have never had to do this before with breast cancer reconstruction patients. They did send over the procedures and records for the reconstruction. They stated that the insurance company should have the medical records from the 1st surgery. So I make the call and was told that they needed full medical records and the fact the PS did not supply was the reason they weren't getting paid. Hospital too. .When I called I told insurance company that info was sent and there should be no reason for full medical records since they already have them on file. Insurance Company stated that they needed them and then threw in that it was not being paid due to NO PRE Authorization was received for the surgery. After I explained everything to the girl she puts me on hold and then tells me she needs to send a few emails about this and will call me back... Has anyone had any problems with getting insurance company to pay for reconstruction? I already sent an email to our insurance representative. Do we not deal with enough....we have to deal with this? I told the girl this and she said I understand...so just put through the payment then.

BBwithBC45

ThinkingPositive - you are in US, correct? My understanding is that by law (Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act) the insurance company has to pay for reconstruction. It sounds like a delay tactic on their part. You can always file a complaint with your state's Department of Insurance.

AudreyB

Hi everyone! Mysunshine, my PS has not mentioned massage yet. I am not using any creams or oil on my breasts as my scars are stil healing. I only took surgical tape off the right side last Friday and left side just last night. My scars are bad, but I thought they were bad after mastectomy and did heal nicely so I'm hopeful time will help. I had my first reveal yesterday at my sisters BBQ. I've lost 25 lbs so wore tight white jeans and a grey wife beater rype top. You should have seen everyone's face when I walked in. Made me feel good that at least in clothes I look great.

mysunshine48

Audrey, did your surgeon use stitches? I had sugical glue used after BMX and was told that is what my PS will use again. I hope your incisions heal soon! Congratulations on the weight loss and happy you are happy

Rebecca54

ok ladies I laugh while I type this but U.S. A serious question! When you massage all those oils on your tes or implants what do you do after???? Does it basically soak in and you can get dressed?

I have exchange surgery on 10/7 so amOne day behind you my sunshine! Good luck girl friend!

mysunshine48

I have used coconut oil on my expanders since the first week just to keep skin soft. It is oily when Imput it on, but I put on my stretch bra and go. It soaks in. No stains. I use coconut oil all over my body, especially at night and no stains on sheets. I guess that is what I will do after exchange if PS says OK

AudreyB

I have stitches, no glue. I had stitches after mastectomy too. My fear is the expanders stretched my skin and the scar line too. I was nice and smooth. Now the stitch line is all bumpy with my implants. I'm just hoping that a few months of healing will produce a good result. My scars go from my cleavage right across each breast. I'm starting to research tattoos to cover the scars instead of nipple tattoos. I'm thinking a nice pretty ivy vine waving across each would be nice. I just can't see these scars improving much. This shit just never ends, does it. LOL.

Nocalmom

mysunshine48:

I'm 2 weeks out from my exchange so maybe things will change (I hope so) because my expander was smooth except for one ripple on the cleavage that the nurse told me the PS would fix. Now, I have a few ripples (basically the whole breast is somewhat ripply) and am really feeling disheartened. I had fat grafting, but my understanding is that this is for the transition from chest to the inner edge of the implant, which actually looks pretty good. I now know it's pretty common, but it took me by surprise that my implant is not as smooth as the expander. Also, the implant sits lower and has a lower profile than the expander as I expected, but I was pretty shocked by the size difference. I wish I had asked more questions about appearance before the surgery. He said he makes the final call on size and shape in the OR based on what looks to most natural and I trusted that. I'll see my PS again in a month. He was certainly confident that I would have a 'good result' in my pre-op meeting. Guess we have different ideas about what a 'good result' is.

Until my post-op visit, I will consider whether or not it's worth it to pursue revision or just cut my losses and live with it. I'd need to do it this year for insurance reasons. I'm so sick of surgery, pain, and not being able to exercise. Does anyone who has been through this have any words of wisdom for me? I had a nipple sparring MX and no rads.

mysunshine48

Audrey, Oh, my incisions are under my breasts. Actually, right now you cannot see the scar after having expanders for 5 months. My PS will use the same incision place. He said he will be using glue again. I am hoping for no more surgeries.....don't know. I have 2 divots above the right Breast. So, hoping that implants will be enough to take care of this. I would just like for this to be over!

Scottiemom11

Thinkingpos. . .you need to file a claim with your State Insurance Commissiioner. As I recalll, you kept detailed notes on all four your conversations and with whole. Put as much info in the claim as possible.

Audrey and mysunshine. . .my PS used surgical glue both times with some dissolveable inside stitches. I'm thing of getting coconut oil and mixing with Shea Butter as someone else mentioned. I massage at night in the bath so residue would go on towel. I think you have to just give your skin a chance to heal but way to go on the weight loss Audrey.

Scottie

mysunshine48

Scottie, I actually did just that. I ordered a 1 lb. block of natural Shea butter from Amazon. You can get natural coconut oil a lot of places, but I keep reordering mine from Amazon. So, coconut oil will melt in the sun, so I let it melt. It stays soft in my bsthroom. Anyway, I put the Shea butter in a glass bowl and it melted in about 2 minutes in the microwave. I mixed the two together and poured it into a glass container and put it in the refrigerator to harden. Turned out well......just does not smell very good, so I will use at night. I will continue to use plain coconut oil in the day.

LoriWNY

ThinkingPos--BBwithBC45 is correct if you are in the U.S., you may be entitled to special rights under the Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998 (WHCRA). See these links at the U.S. Department of Labor website:

http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/newsroom/fswhcra.html

http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/publications/whcra.html

I was successful in appealing coverage for mastectomy massage with my insurance carrier and used the following language in my letter to my insurance company:

The Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998 mandates that group health plans include coverage for "physical complications of mastectomy, including lymphedemas in a manner determined in consultation with the attending physician and the patient" [see 29 U.S. Code §1185b(a)(3)].

In your case, I would use the something like the following language in a letter to your insurance company:

"The Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1988 mandates that group health plans and insurance companies offering mastectomy coverage also must provide coverage for certain services relating to the mastectomy in a manner determined in consultation with the attending physician. This required coverage includes all stages of reconstruction of the breast on which the mastectomy was performed, surgery, and reconstruction of the other breast to produce a symmetrical appearance, prostheses, and treatment of physical complications of the mastectomy, including lymphedema."

It is unfair and sad that you need to deal with this insurance issue. Insurance is such a racket--you pay for something you hope you will never need and when you do need it, you have a hard time receiving the benefits for which you paid! Do not let your insurance company get the better of you and keep sending them letters, keeping copies for your files, and possibly noting on your letters that you are also copying your State Insurance Department or State Attorney General.

ThinkingPositive

BBwithBC45...thanks for responding. Yes I am in the U.S. When I told the insurance company that it was law that they pay for reconstruction she said yes I know and that's when she three in about no pre authorization. I know pre with was done since for two weeks before the surgery I spent time getting preauthorizatoin straightened out. Had a hard time getting it. Doctors office called me to get involved since they couldn't get them to preauthorize in time. Insurance co kept telling them it would take weeks for preauthorizatoin. Files had to be reviewed. I should have known then this would end up being an issue. Otherwise insurance co has paid everything else with no delays.

marketingmama

Hi ladies. I hope everyone is doing well. Quick question for those who may have experience with this. My new foobs (Mentor 650 high profile) are pretty far apart--about the width of four fingers. It was the same when I had my TEs and my PS was planning to fix that. Turns out he wasn't able to do much. I feel like my implants are sitting too close to my armpits and can feel them if I put my arms at my side. And of course I have no cleavage at all. As i'm only a few weeks out, I know it's too soon to make any final judgements but I'm wondering if and how this can be corrected should the time come. Can fat grafting help or is that just for minor tweaks of rippling? My PS says he opened up one side to allow the implant to move more toward center and also said something about my anatomy being partially the issue (ribcage sits more forward on the right side versus the left---so one foob looks bigger than the other). I think I can live with the slight asymmetry in regard to size but I'm really not happy having my breasts so far apart. Anyone dealing with this or have thoughts about how it can be resolved down the line?

Thanks and best to all.

Miscraw

Hello ladies! I am 8 days out from exchange & am feeling great! I was so worried about this surgery because my mastectomy was horribly painful & I had an awful recovery, but this has been a breeze in comparison. I had 560 cc Inspiras placed, along with fat grafting done on both sides. It feels so good to have those rocks out of my chest! Inspira implants are supposed to be a little firmer than the normal round silicone, but so far I am thrilled. I mean, I'll never had what I did before but I think I am going to be happy with my results. I love that I have cleavage again!

marketingmama

Very happy for you Miscraw! Congrats!!!