Breast Augmentation and implants before Mastectomy

Rachmay

Hi, I was wondering if anyone has had breast implants done and then had a mastectomy later. Im BRCA2 positive and 21, i want to get breast augmentation done now, however i will be having the preventive mastectomy probably in 8-10 years. Will this make it any easier in regards to reconstruction, like if the implants are already behind the muscles there would be no need for expanders etc? Any help or advice on this would be much appreciated!!

Thank you

Fireball78

Rachmay,

I had implants before my double mastectomy. I only had them for about a year before I was diagnosed with LCIS and opted for a double mastectomy straight to different implants. My recovery was easier than I think most women have mainly because the skin and muscles were already stretched out. I am about the same cup size as I was as well. But....there is a huge difference in how they "act" compared to my cosmetic implants.

No one told me how different they would be. They look great in a bra or swimsuit top but certain movements show ripples and concaving simply because there isn't tissue there. Sadly enough no matter how great your surgeon is there isn't a way to prevent it. Reconstructed boobs are just different. My surgeon used Alloderm to design a sling for my implants to rest in. Here I am six months later and they both have failed. I have a small frame (5'4 and petite) and was told that there just isn't much to connect it to. I will go in for a second surgery in a month to lift the girls back into place and keep them there. Hopefully this time it will stick.

What I have learned from all this is not one case is exactly like another. I found it very difficult to find before and after photos with women having previous implants. That was frustrating. This may sound superficial but I feel like I gave up the dream boobs for a pair that won't run the risk of killing me down the road. I didn't get my dream boobs until after I had my kids but being able to nurse without complications was a big deal to me. You'll get to enjoy yours a bit longer!

I would be happy to share more with you if you think it will help. I think most of us on here want nothing more than to support someone else through it.

HopeEllen

I had implants in 2004 and a double mastectomy this year after being diagnosed with ILC. My plastic surgeon thought it was best for me to have TE because we weren't 100% sure if I'd need any other treatment at the time of my surgery. Thankfully, I didn't have to have any other treatment and had my exchange surgery yesterday. I have a compression bra and haven't seen the new girls yet yet but I'm praying for good results because like everyone else on here, I am ready to be done with all this

mwalker78

Hi! i had my exchange a week ago tomorrow and im struggling with all the rippling! it was a surprise to me... any thoughts on this?

Aggieheather

this is my first post, I had a lift and implants after my 3 kids and now I am scheduled for a BMX and weighing my only 2 options for reconstruction. I am 5'4 and 128lbs. The PS said I have no tissue to use because of my small frame. My fear is the necrosis since I am at a higher risk due to my previous implant surgery and scar tissue around the nipple. There is very limited information on reconstruction in young women with implants at time of diagnosis. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Look, feel, restictions, surgery recovery, etc.

Moderators

Dear Aggieheather, Welcome to the BCO community. We are sorry that your upcoming surgery and concerns have brought you here but we are glad that you reached out. There is much valuable experience to be shared here. While you are waiting for some response you also may want to check out our site which has newly expanded information on Reconstruction. Keep us posted. The Mods

duvan

I had breast implants 2 years before my double mastectomy. (I had the mastectomy for another reason than cancer, but it is the same procedure). I had Mentor anatomical implants, above the muscle. When I had the mastectomy I was flat for over a year, so I was worried that the skin would be difficult to stretch but it was like it remembered what shape it had had. I had expanders for about 6 months. I must say I actually liked the expanders. They were very hard, but I liked the shape and they felt quite good to have. I know it sounds weird but that's how it is! I had my exchange surgery 4 months ago and unfortunately I don't feel comfortable with them, they feel odd and I don't like how they move when I flex the breast muscles. The expanders didn't move when I flexed the muscles, but these do, and each time it feels odd, and the skin moves with the implants as well. Not beautiful to see. A positive thing though is that I don't have any ripples, not with these nor with the expanders.

What makes me most sad is the feel of the implants, which I really don't like. I can live with the look of them, and I believe it is far more easy to make breasts look good, even reconstructed ones, but I don't understand how having implants under the muscle can ever feel good. I really hope that research is being done about this. Going to the gym is really no fun anymore, since lifting anything just feels weird. And the implants move to the sides.. Which makes me quite self conscious and worrying that anyone will see it, and what they will think, and so on. I really wish I could have implants in front of the muscle instead. Surgeons always says that we can't have that since the edges of the implants will show too much then. But is this really true? I haven't seen any pictures of it. And what if you would add autologous fat, as in fat transplant? I'd really like to try that.