bilat mast with immediate implant reconstruction

piscesdragon

Thank you for previous answers to my first post (synchronous bilat DCIS w/ ilc).

My second surgery (May 4) was unsuccessful in that the surgeon could not get clean margins. She says the DCIS is "everywhere" and there are also many small points of invasive lobular cancer throughout both breasts. The only good news is that the 4 lymph nodes that were taken from my right armpit are all clear.

I am now faced with a bilateral mastectomy and whether or not to choose immediate implant surgery.

Is there anyone  here who has undergone immediate implant reconstruction? What are the pros and cons? Are you pleased with the results?

Any help and information would be greatly appreciated.

Rose01

Yes, I also have the concern because my doctor also recommend me to do the mastectomy and immediate reconstruction. Implant is the only option I have because I am thin. But it has to be re-surgery after it is rupture. I don't have any idea now. I am 36 year old. Maybe just mastectomy with prosthesis. Anyone can tell us how do you feel about the implant. Do you regret it? Thank you

LibraGirl

I had immediate recon and wish I hadn't. 

I had already had a lumpectomy and partial mastectomy that failed to get clean margins (for dcis; the invasive portion was removed cleanly).  Then I had a bilateral mastectomy (right side prophy) with immediate tissue expander placement.  I ended up with a big hematoma on the cancer side (300 ccs plus) that took weeks to drain, and in the process damaged my skin and created lots of scar tissue.  I may as well have had radiation, the way the skin is now.  The ca side never was not able to stretch as well as the prohphy side.  Now, even after exchange, the skin and tissue are puffy at the front. I can feel the foob the way I felt the tissue expander, although the prophy side feels just fine.  My current ps wants to leave it alone so i am going to get a second opinion on wether or not I can get any improvement now or later. 

Long story short, I feel that after three successive surgeries, my skin and tissue were traumatized to deal with the tissue expansion.  I wish I had just had the mastectomies and let my body heal before attempting reconstruction.  I also think I may have chosen a differnt plastic surgeon and different implants had I had more time to consider what I wanted.

I think everything happens so fast with treatment, and we also want to feel "normal" as fast as we can, but really, I think taking more time might result in being happier in the long run.