Bilateral Pedicle Tram vs Silicon Implants

I didn't have the pedicle TRAM- I had a free TRAM and only unilateral, but my expereince- it is a hell of a surgery with a long recovery.

I didn't want to have implants so I went the tissue flap route. If you are not opposed to implants alone, you might consider that , but I know having TE's is painful and uncomfortable and the fill process hurts from what I've read.whereas with the TRAM, you have surgery and a long recovery.

 you might ask your surgeon why he suggests the TRAM over the implants.

I could not walk for a few weeks after the TRAM and I could not do very much with the arm on that side- I remember thinking I could not imagine having both sides done. My mom has fibromyalgia, so I have some idea of what that's like.

18 months after surgery I still have tightness in my abdomen from the TRAM. I often wonder if my PS was overzealous with the tummy tuck. I also developed mild truncal LE from TRAM scar tissue in my armpit.I did have radiation on the TRAM (not reccomended)  tho.  

I see that you are new to the site, once you have been here a bit, you can request access to another private site that has pictures women have posted of various surgeries. send member Timtam a private message for access. I am not sure how long you have to be a member for access, but to keep looky-loo's out you have to be here a bit.

personally I think better results are possible with the TRAM and you would have the pain all at once , whereas the implant route seems to involve a lower level of pain over a longer period. Having fibromyalgia you might take that into account.

Shelly,

I beleive what I had is considered unilateral immediate muscle sparing Free TRAM- they took a 2 cm square of muscle around the vein and used the alloderm mesh to hold that void together? I wish I had had the DIEP instead but there wasn't anyone locally who did it- now that I know more I wish I had looked into expanding my search outside my immediate area. 19 months after surgery I still have a lot of abdominal tightness but fwiw I can do sit ups and I did go on a long distance backpacking trip this year and I can climb up and down hills no problem as long as I am wearing the backpack with hipbelt which provides abdominal support much like a back support belt. What I can't do is say climb up on a bunk bed or really large steps. It seems like its more a range of motion problem.

Recovery wise- I was very tight and could not stand up straight for a few weeks. i walked hunched over and it killed my lower back cause it was having to hold up my whole torso. I still have issues sitting w/o back support for very long- kills my lower back. After surgery I slept in a recliner for a week or so then moved to the bed with a lot of pillows supporting me. I have tightness more on the surgery side. I can lay on that side, but have to ease into the position more carefully than on the other "good" side.