timeline for reconstruction

timerdog

Hi all,

I am seeing Dr. Sarah Wong in Toronto for a lattissums Dorsi ( back flap ) reconstruction which I am hoping for this summer. I am worried my oncologist will make me wait as I finish chemo on the May 17th. I am hoping to have my 1 st surgery ( tissue expanders ) in July so I can be back to work by September. Has anyone any experience with reconstruction timelines? I know in Canada getting reconstruction at the time of the MX is very rare. Seems to be more common in the States.

Thanks 

GG27

The lat flap is the one that will take more recovery & when you have your exchange will depend on how many fills you do & how often.  Also if you aren't having rads you should have an easier & quicker time of expansion than someone like myself, which I took 8 months to do them.  Not that I went big (C cup) but I had a lot of damage from rads.   I'm not sure why your onco would have much say in the reconstruction part, mine said nothing, they both knew I was having recon.

I can't see you having the exchange before September but it's a pretty easy surgery & you could probably have it done over Christmas?   I would talk to your PS about your timelines, he/she should be able to tell you about your specific situation better.   PM if you have any specific questions, but I'm in BC, so it might be different where you are.  Good luck! Dee

timerdog

Thanks Dee,

I can wait for as long as I have to for the exchange. I just want the first operation done this summer then take my time with the fills and such. I too will be the same as I am now, a C cup. My PS told me I have to be cancer free for a year before they do the final surgery ( the implant ). She did say that she could do the tissue expanders this summer. Damn I have all my ducks in a row for this summer and if my onc puts the hold on this I am going to be upset. Most sites say that reconstruction can start 4-6 weeks after chemo.

Trish 

GG27

Trish,

I had to wait more than a year after chemo because of rads, so I can't say for sure.  Can you get an appt with a PS soon just as a "go see".  I had one with my PS a long time before I actually had the LD flaps, each PS is different, but I can't see an onco telling a PS when he/she can do it.  But like you, I like to have all my ducks in a row & get quite agitated if I don't know when things are going to be scheduled!

But even if you have to wait 6 weeks, that puts you in the beginning of July, that's lots of time to heal before going back to work in Sept.  You can still have fills while working, it only takes 20 minutes & you're done, especially if you only do 50 - 60 cc's at a time.  

bdavis

My oncologist and Ps's have said one month post chemo... I am waiting 2 months, but that's what works in my schedule, and my cancer is already out... no rads.

timerdog

I like the way you think! My cancer is already out as well. On the May 17th I have my last chemo, just for insurance, and then I can get on with my life.

FellowCanadian

Hi Timer Dog.

I know nothing about Sarah Wong but I'm glad that you feel comfortable with her.  Another good plastic surgeon in the Toronto area is Dr. Mitchell Brown out of Women's College.

I had the latissimus dorsi flap reconstructive procedure many years ago (by someone other than Dr. Brown) and my recovery was excellent.  It has been many years now but motion is excellent!  And, was early on, I recall.  The scar is a little much - but oh well.  I don't believe that it was this other PS's specialty.  Just happy to have full mobility.  Best wishes to you!

If all goes the way it should, I cannot see why you would not be able to return to work by Sept.

timerdog

I have read wonderful things about Dr. Brown. The earliest I could see him was October! LOL I got my referral in Feb, so I can imagine he is pretty busy.

As long as the TE doesn't bother me I'm ok with it being in a year. My onc says that that is very unusual and that recurrence can happen at any time.

Glad the hear you are satisfied with your surgery I have read much about the lat flap and it is rated very highly.

Deep81

Dr Brown is amazing! I love him! I had my bilateral mastecomy and tissue expanders with him in June 2011 and am hoping to have the implants put in once my chemo is finished! I sure love my appointments with him!

Deep81

Btw, I had my reconstruction done 4 weeks post radiation - but Dr Brown clearly said that if i have rads to the breast, there would be complications with the implants as they would become rock hard and chance of infection would be higher. So i decided to have rads to the lympth nodes areas instead. I had the surgery and went in for weekly fills. They started to become painful as the skin stretched so i started going in bi-weekly and reduced it from 60ml to 30ml. He did an awesome job and now my boobs are perky! Cant wait for the implants to go. Oh and the scars are minimal! My other surgeon who performed the lumpectomy left an ugly scar behing which Dr Brown got rid of!