anyone opted for alloderm and willing to share experience

Take a look on the surgery and reconstruction thread. There was just a big discussion about Alloderm that might be helpful to you.

I'm a Dobbs Ferry graduate. What do you want to know?

TT

Hmmm what to do with these children ruining the boards?

In answer to Lioara's questions:

1) if you are satisfied with the results?

So far. I haven't reached the 6-month mark yet, when things are supposed to be mostly "done." Done settling, dropping, fluffing, etc. I also have a huge problem with edema/lymphedema right now that's distorting my breast shape. When I'm done with chemo, I'll have a better idea of the end result.

2) was it painful?

As painful as any surgery I've had. Unlike some people, I don't do well with scalpels. We're all different, so I'd say you should base your expectations on how you've reacted to previous surgeries. (If this is your first, I'd say prepare for the worst and hope for the best.)

I began to taper the narcotics at three weeks and was off them at five. The strap you wear to keep the implants from floating up to your chin became unpleasant after 3-4 weeks just because I wore it constantly. And I did experience a lot of pain at week 4 when the pressure on my ribs from the underwire in the shaping bra became too much. But switching to a non-wire bra at night relieved that.

When I weigh the One-Step experience to the potential for weeks and weeks of horrible aches from fills, or recovery from two surgical sites and the multiple steps of a tissue transfer, I'm happy with my choice. Of course, I don't have direct knowledge of either of the other two, so I had to go with my gut feeling on what was best for me.

3) how long is the process?

Pre-op tests, 2 hours. Day-of prep/waiting, 4 hours. Surgery, 3 hours. Drains, 8 days. Shaping bra and strap, 6 weeks. Drop and fluff, 6 months? I've also been told by other women that your breasts can change and settle up to a year later. I'm not that far out yet. 

4) did the insurance cover everything w/o a fight?

I have gold-plated insurance. Evidently that's unusual. I've never had a hassle about anything during this whole miserable time. 

5) when did you do the surgery?

February 7, 2008. I doubt I'll ever forget the date.

6) was it one step (one surgery)?

Yes. No fills, no swaps. I left the OR with my final implants in place. 

7) Anything that you will like to share!

a) I saw a local plastic surgeon for follow-up about 10 weeks post and she said my foobs looked better than some augmentations. 

b) I desperately miss nipple sensation. It was a big part of my sex life. I do have feeling over most of my breast, however, and it is erotic when the right man touches me in the right way. Fortunately, I married the right man :-)

I'm sorry you're faced with such a tough decision, Lioara. The diagnosis line doesn't list it, but I'm BRCA2+; I was in the same boat.

TT