Alloderm attached to muscle/ribs (not direct to implant)?

LoveK9s

Hoping some of you can provide thoughts/experiences regarding what my PS thinks may be best for my reconstruction situation. I will need a right breast mastectomy (keeping left breast ... possible reduction in L breast size). Instead of the expander reconstruction where the muscle is cut (but stays attached to rib cage) and the expander is placed behind the muscle, the PS is recommending that the bottom portion of the muscle be detatched, expander placed behind the muscle, the detatched muscle is attached to Alloderm and Alloderm is attached to the rib cage. The PS's reasoning for this is during the expansion process it doesn't stretch the chest muscle as much so the muscle isn't as thin as the typical expander placement (I'm currently ~36DD ... although I won't be going back to that size he mentioned possibly a D). The thought of not having the muscle re-attached to the rib cage seems odd and I am wondering how that would feel. Has anyone had this type of reconstruction performed?

Sassa

I had a similar alloderm placement. During the TE placement on my left side, the surgeon found that I was missing one of the minor pectoral muscles that most people have. Because that muscle would have provided a needed layer of support, he made me a "new" muscle out of alloderm that is attached to my lower left rib and runs diagonally up and is attached to my breast bone.

My only problem was with the scar tissue at the place of attachment on my lower rib. It would hurt during some of my yoga stretches that involved bending over and reaching to my left foot.

Eventually, the scar tissue has stretched and given and I now can bend pain free.