what will my breasts look like...

elise24601

When the TEs are in, before the exchange for implants?

Not having surgery for a few months (doing chemo now) but I'm really scared of what to expect.

Obxflygirl1

My TE's right out of surgery didn't look so bad. They actually helped soften the first look at first shower. Kind of like a half of a hamburger bun and they change as fills are done....looking more like breasts. At least, that's what happened in my experience

farmerlucy

I was filled to 200 cc at surgery and I thought they looked pretty good. I was glad the old ones were gone.

peyton3

I just went through the reconstruction process and I have to be honest, I thought this was going to be the easy part. Ask questions, either from your surgeon that does the mastectomy or your plastic surgeon. I had a bilateral skin sparing double mastectomy, and the plastic surgeon came in and put in the tissue expanders right after. I did not require any radiation. Perhaps it was just me but I found the tissue expanders extremely painful and I was only able to have four saline injections. Then to my surprise I had to wait almost five weeks before the final surgery to take out the expanders and put in the implants. The thing that really upset me was the lack of communication from my PS and every time I would complain I felt like I was being patronized and that I was the only one this happened to. They don't tell you how painful they really are so be prepared. When you go home after the implants you are required to wear a support bra 24/7 for two weeks, the first time I took off the bandages to shower I was shocked at how flat and spread out I looked. But this is why they want you to wear this bra because over the next few days the breasts began to shape up and take form and start to look natural. I hope this helps because I did not find this blog until after I started the process and trying to find out what to expect seemed impossible and I felt so alone.

Heatherlucas74

I had bilateral skin sparing mastectomy with expanders placed at that time just two weeks ago today. I go tomorrow to get the last two drains removed (HALLELUJAH!!) and I will be getting filled. I'm very nervous about this because at the time of surgery they filled with just 50CC and I am still very very very sore!! I'm not quite sure if it is the drains or the expanders that are giving me the most discomfort. Can someone please reasure me that the pain will lessen. I have had quite a few days where I feel myself second guessing this reconstruction thing. I feel like I cant breath and I am petrified that my incisions are going to split open with the fill.

peyton3

This is normal, I went through this for several months, feeling like your chest is going to explode and you can't breath. It does get better.

GreyKat

They didn't let me out of the hospital without one of those plastic blowing things that measures your lung capacity (you hold it and breathe in and a little ball flutters up the measuring side) - and I had to max it out up to a full normal healthy breath. It's because of the whole shallow-breathing-pneumonia association.

The point is that I could breathe fully before I left the hospital and I haven't had problems with feeling like I can't breathe well. It hurt at first, stretched things, but I'm glad I did it. Now it just feels weird - the TE dig in a bit - but I never feel like I can't breathe well.

I second the half-a-hamburger bun appearance of TE. It was nice waking up to little baby breasts instead of being completely flat - less mentally traumatizing that way - but they are absurdly round, they dig in all the time, until things healed I felt them pull at every single step I took - so serious chest support is needed, either the binder from surgery or the sports bras, whatever your PS requires. My TEs have ridges at the edges that I can feel through the skin, but I hear not all TEs are manufactured the same way so some don't have those. The ridges get smashed by the band of the sports bras, and that's painful and annoying, but not everyone has that annoyance.

I just keep reminding myself that they're temporary.

GreyKat

Also wanted to add that if it really hurts, in the beginning, this is what I did on a nurse's advice - clutch a pillow to your chest for added support while you breathe in deep or have to cough or sneeze. It really helps! I was surprised how well it worked to minimize the pain of coughing the first week and sneezing here and there.

Heatherlucas74

thanks for all the opinions and advice. The breathing has gotten better. I think once my last two drains were pulled it really made a difference. I mean I still am uncomfortable breathing in super deep but that's because my chest is so darn tight. I got my first fill since surgery and wowzers that was a rough night. Thank goodness for the muscle relaxers. I wish i would have found this blogbefore so I would have known a little more of what to expect. I had no clue it would be this hard. But thank goodness the cancer is gone. I guess it's a process and I can't wait until it is behind me!! Thanks again ladies!!

weimlover

I notice everyone has been silent for a while on this issue but I have a question. Am I understanding you ladies to say that the tissue expander pain will be relieved after implants or that the implants are also painful for a few weeks post surgery? I'm on 420ccs and last weeks fill was the first one that really hurt. I only have a few more weekly fills to go I and I am hoping this pain stretching afraid to cough sleep on my side etc will be over after implants are placed? And what was your pain level at the last fills and how long did it last and did you take any pain meds