deflating tissue expanders

Miscraw

I have fully expanded TE's from a bilateral mastectomy. I was supposed to start radiation next week on my right breast, but was thrown for a loop today. The RO said I have to deflate the opposite side TE & this really upset me. Has anyone else been told that?

Libby1223

This reply is probably a little too late, but I also had to have one side deflated last week It was upsetting and I was not fully inflated at that point.

hyphencollins

Hi. This is really late but am adding my two cents in case someone else has this issue in the future. They had to deflate my opposite side for rads too. My RO instructed them to remove 25% of my fill! To make a long story short, I feel like it is barely noticeable (surprisingly). Since it is the opposite side I can get it filled again after rads.

mmtagirl

interesting thread. I have had my TEs for a year, just finished rads on the left side in December and did not have to deflate. I recovered from rads very well and am scheduled for exchange in May. I would question why the Te needs to be deflated

redsox

It depends on how the breast lies in relation to the path of the radiation beam. With the fill the breast may stand up more. If it is is the path of the beam it will get radiated and you don't want the good breast to get unnecessary radiation. Some women will need to have it deflated and others won't depending on how full it is and how it lies.

TBar

I realize this is an old post but I just had one tissue expander deflated today. Did any of you experience pain? The side that we are expanding isn't painful at all. It's the other side causing the discomfort for me.

Moderators

Hi Tbar-

Welcome to BCO! We're so sorry you're experiencing discomfort. You might want to try reading through or posting in our Reconstruction forum, lots of great info there and plenty of helpful members! https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44

The Mods