Short Delay Before Implants

jamiesue

Hi there. I just had my double mastectomy on 11/15 and my PC felt it would be best to do the implants two weeks later rather than immediate. I believe this was to give the skin more time. He's hoping to do implants and not expanders but we won't know until during surgery.

He said I would have SIX drains and two tubes to a wound vac. Going through just 2 drains right now, I cannot imagine.

Has anyone been through any of this?

Thanks!

Jamiesue

Dovely

Hi Jamiesue, I have! I am two weeks after my second surgery to put in the implants. I went for a DTI nipple sparing BMX, but my right side was not cooperating so my PS put vaccum on me and two drains and I healed for two weeks (she said that is the perfect amount of time for the tissue to regenerate but not heal too much and form scar tissue). She removed the vaccums after about a week and the drains a couple days later so I was completely flat and healing for about 5 days before second surgary. Second surgery was a success and I have my implants and my skin and nipples did great. I had four drains after that one (ugh) but got those out after a week and a half. I am now exactly two weeks from second surgary and starting my first day back to work today (I have a desk job so I don't think it will be a problem).

As far as recovery, it's interesting, because technically I had the mastectomy 4 weeks ago so my pecs are tight but not painful. The skin is sore and I have stiffness that I'm getting PT for next week most likely due to SN removal on both sides (I had bi-lateral cancer). I won't sugar coat it- the implant part was pretty painful for me the first couple days, almost more than the mastectomy due to the fact that my skin had started to heal and tighten up towards my chest. I recovered pretty quickly however and was on only otc pain meds after 4 days.I am so grateful I didn't have to do TE's and prolong the reconstruction over months and I'd do it again in a heart beat.

I've noticed this two week delay technique is pretty unusual on here. It's sort of a new approach, according to my research. Feel free to ask me anything about my process. Happy healing!!