Tissue Expanders and Fills

Anonymous

I got my first fill last week. I felt nothing while she was doing the fill, but when I woke up the following morning my chest felt like it was on fire.

I am wondering what other people experience following a fill. Does it get easier as time goes on?

How often did you get your fills? I am thinking once a week for 6 weeks. I would like to go to a C cup and I think she said that would be about 600 cc's

ALso, she has prescribed flexiril to take care of muscle spasms as well as hydrocodone for pain.

Any tips or advice about fills would be much appreciated.

Beth

Chrisrenee77

Beth- congrats on starting your fill process. I just got done with mine on Wednesday so now the waiting starts for me. I am filled 750 on the left and 800 on the right.

 So here's my tips in no particular order:

1. take tylenol at least an hour before each fill

2. try to find Lidocaine jelly at the pharmacy, if you can't find it there see if your doctor will write you a script for it and get it filled.

3. No heavy lifting on the day of your fill. I found it hurt my chest more.

4. Take your pain meds at night if needed.

hope this helps.

christy

juliaanna

Beth,

How many ccs did you have with your first fill?  How much was put in at surgery?  I had 50cc, once a week with no muscle spasms at all.  I did have some discomfort in the afternoon/evening after my fill in the morning for the first 3 fills.  My scientific side wondered if it was due to the expansion of the saline going from room temperature - (70 degrees or so) to body temperature.  Many women here swear by the mantra, "low and slow".  Your PS should be willing to do every other week, 50 ccs at a time or whatever YOU feel you can manage.  TEs are uncomfortable but with the fills, it got better for me.  

I've been having some of that burning/fire- type feeling the past week or so.  I have my exchange next week so hope all of that will be resolved with getting the TEs out.  

Best wishes as you embark on this new part of your path.  

Anonymous

My PS does fills every two weeks. Usually 50-70cc's depending on what I'm comfortable with. So far:

I had 150 during my BMX/TE placement.

At my one week checkup they added 70. I did have a lot of burning discomfort at that time, but believe it was due to all of my ticked off nerve endings trying to decide what to do with themselves.

This past Thursday (after two weeks) I got 60. I felt tight that day, but noticed that the burning/raw skin feeling actually got a lot better!! I'm feeling good today except for one new nerve that must be feeling a pinch now. It feels like a sore rib right below the TE/fold area. It feels better if I gently rub it.

I will probably try 60 or 70 again next time. The day before Thanksgiving. I figure it might not be too bad, and if it is it will keep me from overeating. Lol. I don't have too far to go because I have the short-height expanders.

I've tried a couple of different things with meds, but I'm going back to taking something about an hour before my appointment.

janiceg415

My expander was filled 120 ccs at time of placement, and had total of 7 fills (ranging from 70, 60 and then 50ccs)totaling 550 ccs.  I was a 38 C at time of uniMX.   He placed a 450 cc implant which I feel is not adequate, but that is another story. 

I had no pain with the fills at all, just tightness and twinges.  Each person and each case may differ , so wishes to you for a painless process.  One good thing is atleast it is winter and you are wearing more clothes to conceal any distortion in size. 

LoriBach

I seem to have more pain on my left side.  Not sure why.  Had a fill today and it does hurt - pain goes to my back and down my arm.  Hurts too when I take a deep breath.  I wonder if the bigger you get, the more it hurts.

Anonymous

Thanks everyone.

My first fill was 60 cc. I told my doc about the burning feeling, so last week she repeated and filled with 60 cc. I had absolutely no problem.

Perhaps the first time my body just rebelled a bit.

Thanks for all the comments and information.

Beth

bea530

Hi Janice,  Can you tell me why the 450 cc is not adequate?  How tall are you and weight? I am 5'3 and 140 lbs, I was 38D before mastectomy and my ps wants to only put 500 ccs.  He says that will give me a c cup (which is highest he would go).  I am 400 ccs now and see myself flat still.  I have a feeling the 500 is going to be too small.  Any thoughts?

Anonymous

I am glad to hear the tissue expander stories. This is the one piece in the journey that seems to have.

Yesterday I had my third fill. My second fill was 60 and 60 and I had no trouble at all,

This week I finally had my stitiches out of my left incision so I CAN TAKE A SHOWER ~ Finally.

For my third fill I got 120 ccs in my right chest and 90 in my left chest. I have been fine ever since.

I have scheduled my fills at weekly intervals. She said the timing for fills is based on patient's pain lever.

I am going for a C cup my doc has said 600 to 650ccs. I imagine there are lots of factors to consider like type of implants.

Blessings2011

Ladies - if you haven't already checked it out, I encourage you to go to the "Breast Implant Sizing 101" thread:

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topic/746448?page=242#idx_7239

Whippetmom is our resident implant guru.

It's sooooo difficult for a PS to tell you what size you will be, when so much goes into selecting the right permanent implant.

I am 5'5", 145 pounds, with a 32-33" chest measurement. I have in 700cc smooth round saline implants.

Here are the sizes of bras I wear, depending on the brand: 34DDD, 36DD, and 38C. I really look the same in all three sizes.

You just can't predict very accurately what size cup will fit your implant properly. Also, the projection will not be the same as before your surgery, unless you had a nipple/areola sparing MX.

Anyway, please check out the thread if you'd like more info. Be sure to read completely the header at the top of each page. This is the information you'll need as to what size to plan for.

zappons

Wow, very interesting to see all the variations! I had BMX with TE Nov 14th and had a lot of pain for awhile, but better now. Still have one drain in. PS put in TE with 300cc initially and is going to do the first fill Wednesday. I find the TE pretty uncomfortable and am glad to hear some of you say they get better with fills, as I have been rather dreading it! Dr. did say that they would expand 'upwards' more so the diameter would be smaller, which would help.

Thanks to all who weighed in!

Shoregirl

Bumping this thread, I am surprised it is so short!! Does anyone get super fatigued after a saline fill? I just want to go home and sleep afterward all though I don't. The pain isn't bad, until the 2nd day through about the 4th day when it finally eases up. The most I have had at once was 100ccs.

MinusTwo

Beth - this is a very old thread. Below are names and links of two threads about TEs that are more active so you can share your journey. I never allowed more than 50ccs at a time and I spaced the filling at least 2 weeks apart.

Exchange City

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topics/728266?page=1

TEs – A beginners Primer

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topics/819027?page=91#post_4904147

Shoregirl

Thank you MinusTwo, I appreciate the links I go in today for a fill, but they have been filling me every week and I think I will just have them check me out today and leave the fill til next week. Still so sore!!

TrmTab

Shoregirl

I had 50 most weeks, 100 once and said no more of that! but I did have the symptoms you are talking about. The actual fill went without a care, but then the next 2-4 days were awkward until I got used to this new expansion...it was the same every time. Was finally filled to 800...

Wayne1966

hi, wife just had a left breast mastectomy w/nipple sparing last week with TE but was concerned with the size of the expander as it has made her left side look so much bigger than right side. She went back to PS the next day and he said this was by design and would get smaller due to air. Does this seem right? In addition, her left breast is blotchy red now. Is this something to be concerned about? I told her I would reach out as she is looking at other forums as we have a lot of questions and this forum has been very helpful

3bears

What type of bras does everyone wear during fills? I'm preparing to cross this bridge this summer and I want to know how to prepare. I'm told that I'll wake up from TE surgery with an A cup. And that I won't wear breast forms during this time. Also what kind of shirts should I wear this summer?

I already had my BMX in January. I'll get TEs in June

BringOn2017

Hi 3 bears 

I've just finished my fills. It's best to discuss with your PS as they all have their preferences, but where I am, it's usually a choice of a special surgical bra with a tight strap to keep the TEs from going down or a sports bra and strap.

You might get more response if you log into the forum:

TEs - A Beginners Primer

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topics/819027?page=96#idx_2872

Herculesmulligan

Wayne....I don't know about the air comment but definitely things will settle down and get smaller. Postop swelling definitely increases the surgical side size.

As far as bras, I've had bilateral TEs for 13 weeks and finished my fills 5 weeks ago, and I haven't been able to comfortably wear a bra. I. Wear a cami and if my nipples show through my shirt I wear silicone nipple shields.