Breast Reconstruction with AlloDerm and implants

Mooma - you could always search google - maybe pig dermis (I'm sure it would have to be an acellular product)?

ONE STEP RECONSTRUCTION WITH IMPLANTS  -  I just heard about this surgeryt oday.  I was pretty convinced not to do reconstruction since I am so terrified of procedures but if i could do it all at  once I think I  might. go for it.  have not talked to PS yet but do know she uses neoform I think instead of alloderm but same basically I  think.   Anyway wondering how it went, hope it went well but dont want any needle etc details.- cant handle that  kind of info and that is why dont want expanders, injections, multiple surgeries  etc.   Hoping this might be way for me to have reconstruction withoiut more surgeries.  I dont care about going back to get the nipple and cant have nipple saving but can have skin saving mastectomy so would love to hear if anyone else had this.  I am DD so might have to be logpsided  or have a breast reduction in other breast sometime but they told me much more confotable etc for shoulders, back ...but wont go thru a complicated series of surgeries for tht reason or any addtional ones.  thanks and hope it went wel for you.  I will need to decide in next few weeks. thanks.  I have had three surgeries in 18 days to try to get clear margins and now have to give up and have the mastectomy .  thanks for info

Hello, I am only 3 wks out from my NS BMX using Alloderm direct to implant. So far I am doing well and am happy to answer any questions if need be. My surgeon has been practicing this procedure for years. I do feel that it was very helpful for me to be able to "wake up" w/ my immediate implants. Luckily, I do not require any furthur treatment. 

My PS is going to put in tissue expanders with alloderm, do slow fills,  and then do an exchange.  I am so excited because he is a great PS and originally he wanted to only do lat flap.  I was so concerned about losing my lat muscle due to existing back problems.  I also have to climb ladders occasionally and did not want to impact that.  I told him I would be happy with an A cup if we couldn't get much expansion. I realize there is a risk of this not working - he said 50/50 but probably a little better than that because the stats include everyone - people who smoke, etc - but I am willing to take the risk and may not reconstruct at all if it doesn't work.

Hi Ladies,

Thanks for your responses, I guess I should have mentioned I am planning to have a NS BMX, and possibly this might make loosing the nipple more of a possibility?

Caryn, so great to know your surgery went so well , I am probably a large B small C right now, and do not have any desire to be larger, did you have NSM?

Christina, when is your surgery date?  Did you discuss one step with your surgeon at all?

Lisette

Hi ladies - I just came across this forum.  I just had direct to implant BMX this past Wednesday.  I know its very early to gloat because so many things can happen, but yesterday, I had a home health nurse come in to visit me.  When she took off my bra, she gasped!   She said she has never seen a better set of reconstructed breasts.  My doctor (who considers himself an oncoplastic surgeon) has done hundreds of these procedures and is truly a gifted PS.  I am so glad that I don't have to go through the tissue expansion process.  Anyway, not many PS are trained in this since it is fairly new (the last 10 years).  I have three school-aged kids who keep me busy and I did not want to have to go through the expansion process and plan surgeries for in the future, etc.....It is definitely not for everyone as mentioned above.  You must have enough skin in addition to the tumor location, etc.... I now may have to have radiation because they found two positive nodes, so I am bummed.....radiation and implants are never a good mix, but I am not going to worry abotu that right now.....just wanted to share my experience.  

Hey Mooma, my PS used TE with dermal matrix but I think its a similar thing like Alloderm after my bmx. I am trying for a C but my first fill today was so painful I am now thinkg just let me be a double AA and give me a training bra,insert 2 sandwich bags and let me go in peace. I feel like I just had surg. Do you thnk there is anyway I could talk the PS into doing only 50-75 cc instead of 100cc per fill? I know it might take a little longer but this is preventing me from lving, I needed to go by the store and all and I couldnt do a thing but come straight home and I put on my sweats and a hoodie lined with fleece cuz thats all I could stand and I have been home all day and dunno if I will be able to work 2moro. Something must be wrong cuz I am not numb and I dont thnk the PS believes me. She says why are making a face and I told her the needle was stinging me a lot. I barely made it home cuz I thought I could drive myself.

I just discovered this thread. Im about a week out from having this done, and feel great. When I look down it looks normal, just the incision in the mirror looks odd, but thats to be expected.  my only issue is my normal boob hangs lower but its not that noticeable in the bra. I guess later on I can get that side lifted.I woke up this morning to a few ripples on one side. I have a silicone implant, is this normal?

What was your post op course like at home. When were drains removed? When were you able to exercise. Any limitations at this point for you?

I am scheduled for BMX March 14. Wondering what the recovery is like? Limitations? My PS recommneds no bra for 1 month to allow the silicone implants to "settle."

My PS said best for C or smaller cup. I am currently a C cup, intersted in downsizing to a B cup.

I've done laundry - slowly. I think my biggest challenge is a full grocery shopping trip. Walking around the store too long, I bet tired....not to mention I'm not supposed to carry more than 5lbs just yet. The shower stool helped alot when I first finally showered.

Dear exbrnxgrl, I hope you or someone else on this thread can give me some information to help me make my reconstruction decision. I had a lumpectomy (right) on June 5th and a reduction on the left in hopes that I would have rads and be done. But path report found multi focal (3) areas of IDC and they did not get clear margins. So I have to have a mastectomy. My decision-- reconstruction or not. I know the the immediate reconstruction via TE is the most common approach, but after seeing my ps today he also told me about using AlloDerm and an Implant. He said that the biggest risk was infection, and that the cosmetic result was not as good as using the TE method. Can you give me any information or advice on AlloDerm and Implant? I appreciate any infor that you or anyone here can share with me.

Thank you,

Nancy

Thank you gritgirl - I have a very very good ps. He is a perfectionist. I am two weeks out from my lumpectomy and reduction and my breasts look beautiful. I wish I was done. I don't feel that I'm ready for the tissue expander method. I feel like I've been through so much already. But on the other hand, I could look at it as two or three more months out of my life for the expander, maybe I could psych myself up for it. But right now, I'm exporing the idea of one and done with the AlloDerm plus implant. I'll be seeing my bs tomorrow and will ask more questions. My ps is fine with doing the AlloDerm/Implant, he just feels that the expanders give a better final result aesthetically. Thank you for your input :0)

Nancy

Nancy,

I love the results of my one step with Alloderm. My ps thought I was a good candidate for it but brought TE's in to the OR just in case. He was very experienced in the one step procedure. Would results with TE's have been better? Who knows ,but I'm very happy as is and glad I didn't have tomorrow the TE route.

Caryn