One step implant procedure with Alloderm - Anyone?

softness1

I did the 1 step implants and initially I wasn't impressed. The first week was really rough and if u have a recliner, make that ur BFF. I actually rented one from rentacenter I had a lot of swelling. My underarms were sore and swollen. My skin appeared stretched to the Max. I have silicone and 6 weeks out the are starting to feel like breast. At first they were hard. I am using bio oil to help with scarring and its working. I will have him touch up my dog ears. And I can't wait for my nipples. That's a few months out. But I am finally starting to see promise

lilithmoon

Mine look much better too - 4 weeks out of surgery, not as bloated and bruised.  I use pure virgin coconut oil on my nipple for scabbing, works great!!

mareluna

hi,

  Thanks for the info. I live alone. I have my cousin from Pittsburgh coming for a week or two as needed. I live in Virginia. My deceased hubby's family are in the area but I don't really see them.  My boyfriend will help me as much as he can.  I opted for the one step if I could do it or a bmx and no recon.I do not want the expanders.

   I am still so wore out from the chemo. I am one month out now. I hate feeling tired and achy all of the time. I  have so much to do before surgery.

Lmimp64

Hi Jocelyn. How did he do over pec? What's holding implant in place? All alloderm? Haven't heard of that before. Mine is pec then alloderm sling at bottom.



Pain was bad first week. Gradual improvement. Mostly bothers me the they are so hard and high. Didn't know they would be going into this. Recliner and a rented hospital bed (cheap one) have made me more independent than I would have been.

lilithmoon

Lmimp64- it's all a bit of a mystery.  He said that he assessed my physical needs prior to surgery and came up with this possibility. He did not want to inhibit my range of movement since I'm still dancing professionally.  I didn't really know what the different options were at the time until I went on this site.  I'm pretty happy with how I'm feeling as I am getting closer to recovering much of my prior range... but like I posted earlier, he wants to do some revision work (I agree with that!).  I think he used alloderm to reinforce not just the sling, but also to cover the implant.  I guess I'm at the point where I want to know what he did differently for me - might also be useful to other women.  Can I send this board pics of my reconstruction, not sure how?

lilithmoon

Mareluna - I also lost my husband (3 years ago to brain cancer).  It's nice that you are very supported by your boyfriend, it's so important.

Lmimp64

Jocelyn. Interesting. I have not heard of that before and I think it would be of interest to people. I don't know how to do photos. Sorry.



I'm sorry about your husband. That's awful. Im glad you are able to dance and have that love still in your life.

lilithmoon

Lmim64 - thanks for your kind words concerning my husband.  It was horrible and I was so glad to start living my life after having worked through the grief etc.  Then the BC.  It's been tough. But dance helps me feel like I'm really alive, like all is well in my body and that everything is connected, whole and flowing.  Can't wait to get back to it.  I also teach and am so grateful to my young, talented students.

Regarding the implant placement issue, I'm wondering if anyone else on this forum has had the same procedure as me, and how things settle visually. My nipple is on the same level as my non-cancer/non-Mx side but just fuller and rounder. My original has been getting a little saggy.  In clothes the reconstructed one looks really great,  but still has rippling toward the top.  The difference between the two is not really noticeable in clothes.

I imagine putting the implant behind the pec muscle would look even better.

mareluna

Jocelyne,

    I am sorry for your loss. My husband passed from lung cancer almost 5 years ago.

lilithmoon

I'm sorry to hear that. I wonder if our BC has something to do with our loss...

mareluna

Not in my case. I have BRCA1 mutation a gift from my mom who died of Ovarian Cancer. Gave me a 89% risk of a first breast cancer. I now have 65% risk of another breast cancer. Doing the BMX lowers it to 2%, get tubes and ovaries out in April taking me from 40% to 1%. So my Onc tells me.

I am so very sad today. On Jan 26th will be my first date with hubby 29 years ago. Miss him so much.

Titanium

I had one step implants after my prophylactic mastectomy on dec 7.  My PS uses only silicone for this because its more natural, but I still have the wrinkling.  My implants were placed under my pec muscle and are still high on my chest.  Still waiting for them to "drop and fluff".    I guess I cant expect them to be as good as my own.

The first week after surgery was the hardest and by the third I felt pretty good.  It is now 6 weeks and if I try to lift heavy things I get muscle spasms.  I still cant vacuum.  But I can walk on the treadmill and do squats, lounges and light hand weight for biceps etc.  (no chest presses!)

Mareluna Ive been thinking about you and hope you feel better soon.  The surgery will probably be a breeze for you after all youve been through!  Good Luck!

mareluna

Titanium,

   Sounds like you are coming along well. I am glad. I think it takes time for the implants to settle. From what I read on this thread. I read from beginning to end. Keep healing.

    I bet part of my issue today is grieving over the upcoming surgery and losing part of my body. I have to do it. I am ready to move forward and put it behind me.  LOL

carolehalston

I'm one of the "oldies" on this thread and I'm so glad that the one-step discussion forum continues to be a place where one-steppers can communicate, sympathize and share information.  That sharing and support were very important to me and helpful in getting me through a most difficult period.  I still check in at bc.org almost every day on a couple of the forums about life after recovering from bc. 

The most peculiar thing about my reconstructed breasts (something I've gotten used to) is the way they jump when the pecs are flexed!  Another oddity was feeling the temperature of liquids, cold especially, travel down my body when I swallowed hot or cold liquid.  I don't notice that any more either. 

I had never heard of placing implants on top of the pecs but my surgery was 2009. 

Hugs to everybody.

exbrnxgrl

I have one step, bi-lat, with Alloderm slings. Better than pics would be an explanation from your surgeon about what he did to prevent bottoming out or just the general shifting of the implants under skin without any underlying tissue. I have not heard of this but it's always great to learn about new things coming down the pike. Best wishes for speedy healing to all who are recovering.

Lmimp64

Hi to those of you who have already been though this. I appreciate your guidance. I'm soooo swollen and bruised. My ribs hurt where the alloderm was stitched. How long did it TEs until your implants softened and dopped?

lilithmoon

This week has been easier (week 4). The 1st three weeks are the worst.  Keep taking your pain meds and muscle relaxants on schedule.  You had surgery on the 9th, right? I think the swelling should start to go down soon and some of the pain with it.  As far as dropping, mine were very high too.  I could feel the edge of the implant under the clavicle, it was bizarre!  It seems to be normally positioned now after 4 weeks, but I didn't have mine placed under the muscle.  Hope this helps. Sending you positive thoughts for your healing.

jocelyne

lilithmoon

Exbrnxgrl, thanks for your post.  Yes, I will talk to the ps about how he managed to secure the implant so well, it feels pretty real too! Maybe he went to town with the Alloderm... in any case, I'm happy with how well my body/mind is adjusting to my new boob - though, sometimes the shock of it all comes rolling back like a big wave.

Lmimp64

Hi. I'm ready for the swelling to go down. I'll keep hoping for the 4 week mark for sure.



I'm waiting for my onco score. A nine was great for you! Did you ever consider chemo? I have 5 tumors between .9 and 2.5 cm so I'm concerned about not doing it but they say they think its very slow growing. We wait....

Lmimp64

Carole,

Thanks for the thoughts. The hot and cold thing has been getting to me. I'm glad you don't notice it anymore.



Does/did anyone have a pain/pressure where the alloderm is stitched to the rib cage? Sometimes it's hard to breathe. Did that ever go away?

gonegirl

Jocelyne. I am stage iv. I had to fight for a mastectomy since standard practice is to not do bmx on stage iv since it's already out the door. Recent studies are showing a benefit to bmx in stage iv. And it just felt right in my gut to cut possible tumor load with a bmx.



I say this because this is your life and your body. Just because the doc says so doesn't mean he or she is right. Do what feels right to you. Get other opinions. Research your own case. To the docs, as much as they may care, we are still just another patient. For me, it's my life so I question and push.

gonegirl

Lmimp. I have scar tissue under one breast and that stuff hurts like an sob at times. I massage it when that happens and am talking to my PS about possible solutions. I am open to a nerve block if this keeps up. Pain is such a downer.

Lmimp64

Thanks for that. Did the scar tissue form where the stitches were ?

gonegirl

Not sure. It's only under the right breast. Physical therapist thinks might be from where drains were - that side drains were in longer. Also had necrosis on that breast so couldn't do the massages on that side for awhile, meaning scar tissue had more chance to form. So what happens now is scar tissue knots up and I have massage it loose. Ouch. I'll be asking the doctor. Everyone is different. My tightness and scar tissue is just taking a while (it's been 3 months). Still, I'm grateful to be rid of the killer boobs.

Lmimp64

Thanks for the information. I'll watch for that.

mareluna

Hello friends,

   Woke up yesterday with Sinusitis. I went to Med Express because my ears were stopped up. I am on Zithromax. Needed to nip it in the bud. I have surgery on the 5th and I want to be able to get it done. Hope all is well with you ladies.

lilithmoon

Gritgirl, thanks for your advice.  I have been researching possibilities and will talk to the ps my next appt.  Actually, the bottom half on my boob looks great - so I think it's just the top half that needs some adjustment due to the ugly ripples when I lean forward.  I really think I should consider getting it place under the pec if it's feasible during revision and possibly switching to silicone cohesive gels. Just worried about mobility/range issues afterwards.

lilithmoon

Lmimp64 - I too have a slow growing tumor, which shows up w/ microcalcifications which means if there's something new growing in my other breast, they'll be able to spot it sooner than later. (My radiologist explained this to me).  Did you get your oncodx score yet? My score of 9 - a relief to not get rads or chemo, just tamoxifen which I started 2 weeks ago. I thought about chemo and of course would have done it if I had a mid-high range oncodx score. I feel pretty confident that things will be okay.  How are you feeling?

mareluna

Hi, I went back to doctor's. I have an ear infection. So I am on stronger antibiotics. My surgery is next week. I have preop stufftomorrow. Going to rest a bit now. Trying to clean up some around here too.Hope you are all healing nicely.

lilithmoon

That's great that you got stronger antibiotics. You should be fine by surgery.  I remember being so afraid that I'd catch something before.  It's very stressful.  Keep us posted.