Implant Bottoming Out

shoppygirl

Hello

I am wondering if anyone else had their implant bottom out after tissue expanders and exchange surgery?

I had tissue expanders placed a year after I completed radiation. My surgeon told me that my skin had healed well and as I did not want them too big, I had a good chance of it working.

I had them filled very slowly and did not have the exchange surgery for a year after the expanders were placed as I had issues with my retina detaching.

About a month after the exchange surgery I noticed that my implant on the radiated side was progressively getting lower. I went for a follow up and was told that the internal breast pocket was thin and damaged due to the radiation and that is why it "bottomed out" My right implant now sits several inches below the left. I wear a tight mastectomy bra with padding so when I am dressed it looks fine.

My cancer nurse is now wanting to send me to another plastic surgeon to probably have the right implant removed and have diep done instead. I am not overly bothered by my appearance but my nurse is insistent on me getting this fixed. She feels it looks terrible and I should have nice boobs , lol!!

Has anyone else had this issue and then had surgery to fix it ?

I am very hesitant to have additional surgery as I have had surgery 8 times in the last four years for my eye, cancer and reconstruction.

Thank you !!

marketingmama

I experienced bottoming out on one side and PS repaired by placing alloderm in the pocket to essentially create an internal sling. No radiation just an implant that needed more support. Not clear to me if your surgeon considered this but for sure it's a much less complex procedure than a flap transfer.

shoppygirl

Thank you Marketingmamma

I had never heard of alliderm before I started my research on these boards.

I know that my old ps told me that if he tried to go in and revise is, I may lose the implant completely. That being said, I am on the list to see a different ps and I will be discussing this option with him now that I am aware of it.

Thanks for your response !!

exercise_guru

I know that some plastic surgeons want to make clear to the patient that some aspects of the procedure are undetermined before they go in. In my case I did have an alloderm pocket stitched to my pectoral muscle. Do you know if that is the case with your recontstruction? If it were me I would want to meet with another plastic surgeon and get some advice. It seems likely that you could reposition a new implant back into the correct place. It would concern me to allow that breast to bottom out because over time that could overstretch that skin and cause cording and problems.

shoppygirl

Thanks Exercise

My preference would be for what I currently have to be fixed. I am in the list to see a new plastic surgeon but I don't know how long the wait time is. The alliderm sounds like something that I will ask about when I get my appointment.

I really don't want to have anymore big surgeries!

Meadow

I just had revision surgery to my reconstruction, I had the opposite problem, I had contracture, and my implant was higher and tighter. My PS took out scar tissue, and placed Alloderm to act as a sling and hold the impant in place. So far so good. My opinion to your situation....I would not have DIEP surgery. I know there are lots of ladies who love this reconstruction and are happy with the results, and for them I am very happy. It is a huge surgery, and not for me. hoping you get comfortable with your choice.

shoppygirl

Thanks meadow.

Now that I know I have another besides Deip, it is definitely something I will be investigating it.

Thank you for your advise