ANYONE? DTI after an augmentation, under the muscle?

MBPooch

Hi All,

I was diagnosed with Pagets Disease of the breast on Oct 10th. After many follow up tests and biopsies, the small mass under the Pagets is DCIS and I should be able to move forward with Alloderm Direct to Implant at the time of my surgery on Nov 30th. Fingers crossed! I had a breast augmentation almost 7 years ago so surgeon thinks the pocket will be stretched out enough under the muscle to accommodate the implant. I have extremely small breasts (Don't have enough tissue to do a lumpectomy), hence the mastectomy on the left, doing prophylactic on the right. Hence my augmentation many years ago! Anyway, surgeon says that after removing my saline implants and once the breast tissue is removed from the mastectomy I should be able to do an implant that is very similar in size to my current breasts. I've said I don't care if they are slightly smaller or bigger, I'm really just hoping to avoid another surgery. Questions for anyone who has been in a similar situation -

- Did you find you were able to do a similar size to what you were

- How was your recovery in relation to your augmentation? I know it's a completely different surgery but just curious to others experiences and recovery times

- Anything else I should know that will help prepare me for this or help after surgery

Thanks in advance! This site has been such an amazing tool throughout this process!

beach2beach

Hi MBPooch,

I had direct to implant. I was small boobed.(still am) No fat to do a DIEP and I did not want scars on my butt or thighs to get some fat from there so he suggested direct to implant. My skin is tight also so he said doing a tissue expander would probably be very painful for me. My PS told me he wasnt sure if he could make me any bigger than I was, which I was ok with. After all said and done, I'm happy with it. They are fuller and maybe slightly bigger than what I had,,probably barely a B now..lol but it's nice to have volume .

Having it done at the same time I was in and out of surgery in 4hours. The PS used Alloderm and my double mastectomy was also nipple sparing so I have my own nipples. Walked out of hospital next day with two drains and kept walking since. I started stretching my arms right away per my PS and did a little more each day. But that's just my experience. I know many who have a tough recovery and some of us go through it easier.

Personally for me, having it done at the same time was great. I didn't want to go through another surgery.

MBPooch

Beach2beach,

Thanks for the reply! I'm more anxious to get this over with than anything else. 4 hours seems pretty quick and I would be completely thrilled if I left with only 2 drains. Fingers crossed for that too! Wishing you continued health!

Michelle