bad reconstruction results

OMG,this sounds scary, all this pain and suffering and I am thinking finally at the end of this yr maybe I will have a sort of 2 boobs back but the right side that had the cancer has a big dent in it on the side and I asked the PS and
BS why is that? They only said dont worry once the fills are done then the dent will fill out. I feel like a freak,half human half plastic. Got a therapist appt to talk my issues out. Cried the whole 2 1/2 days off and on in the hosp and cried every day for a wk b4 I went.

It doesn't matter if the Dr thinks they look great. It only matters if you do. Go see another PS who specializes in breast reconstruction not breast augmentation. Real ps who do exclusively reconstruction for cancer patients. You do not have to settle. Have you researched flap reconstruction instead of implants. I had a BMX/DIEP after my recurrence and I couldn't be happier with the results. Having BC is bad enough without having to deal with recon disasters and pain.

Hi,  I was just diagnosed with a recurrance (after 9 years).  Oncologist says I will have to have a UMX. I am still reeling from that news.   I have not yet met with a surgeon and I am researching what to do.  Does anyone know of a good surgeon and a PS in the Los Angeles/Santa Monica area?  Is there anyone I should avoid?    After reading these forums I am thinking of an immediate DIEP.  What do you guys think?

TenaLouise - I feel your pain. My right side felt like the implant was rubbing on my rib and it was very uncomfortable. My recon looked great and my PS could not figure out what was happening until one day it was ovious that the implant had come through the muscle and was threatening explant. He then realized that the implant was rubbing on the rib. He reconstucted the torn pec musle with Alloderm and made sling for implant with alloderm as well. The final outcome was much better - no more rib pain and the implant where it should be. The left decided to do the same thing about 5 months later and PS did same procedure. The result is very good and my implants are 960cc saline so are heavy. I also wear a bra 24/7 except for showering which keeps everything where it should be.

I hope you can find some relief with a new PS who is understanding. It sounds as if your implants are doing the same thing as mine did.

BCAvenger, don't you just love THAT look???I' m only one year post BMX and 9 months post exchange yet the moment I saw my chest I knew things were not going to look good and it continued to get worse.Somehow my PS would examine me and say "looks good , looks good"I'd go home and look in the mirror and wonder who he had been talking to.My BS told me at each visit that I should be patient, that things would change.Yes, they changed for the worse. It was only when my gynecologist saw me for a routine exam and upon seeing my breasts asked"what happened to you"He didn't know that I had developed BC since last seeing him.My only thought at hearing those words was, thankGod it's not just me that sees what's going on.So now that the so called cat is out of the bag I'm left with this mess. I have seen someone for a second opinion and unfortunately the fix is not a simple one.At this point I don't know what I'm going to do Whatever I do won't be happening this summer. I gave up last summer to 2 surgeries, numerous doctor visits and a ton of PT.At 68 (tomorrow) I don't have all that many summers left and I plan to enjoy those that I do.In hind site there is a lot that I would change but I won't go down that road. I need to look forward.

I had TEs that evidently were infected from the time they were placed by the ps.  Lots of pain.  Drain tubes were removed, but swelling occured, especially in the left one, under the arm.  Kept telling ps, but he kept saying it was all normal.  Both breasts turned black like rotten peaches.  Incisions dehisced. Went to see doc. He palpated the lump and it exploded.  Relunctently, he agreed to go in and remove the TEs.  Relunctently.  After major debridement, I awoke hooked to a wound vac which I would wear for nine months.  I sought another doc, one who specialized in wound care.  The wounds were infected and the infections began tunneling through my torso.  After several surgeries, pseudomonis, osteomelitis, a rib resection and a hickman line, I was left with a one inch deep trench across my chest.

Three years later, I chose a ps to do some "clean up" work on the loose skin.  This ps and his partner specilize in damage repair, not purely cosmetic surgery.  Even after all the damage, I was a candidate for DIEP flap.  I had that done and am so happy with the results.  My docs are so caring and tell me every visit that they will not stop until I am completely satisfied.  The tummy tuck feature is awesome, too.  I have had some complications, but they are nothing compared to the first try.  Please, ladies...seek an expert in reconstruction, not just a ps.  Best wishes to all.

Hi buzzard,  My bad recon result was not due to implants so I hope more ladies come forward to address your issue.  

I had a uni-mastectomy with an immediate tissue SGAP flap, which failed 5 days post-op due to venous insufficiency.  I began chemo treatment after that and developed an infection in the surgical site.  I was left with nothing but scar tissue and a really ugly, long vertical scar.  Speed forward three years; last June (2012) I had a successful stacked DIEP.  It was a tough surgery and not without compromise, all said and done I'm glad I did it. I had very experienced surgeons specializing in micro surgical breast recon, it's all they do!  

I was not a candidate for implants as prior to the mastectomy I'd had a previous diagnosis and went the lumpectomy, chemo and radiation route.  Implants and radiation are not a good mix.  

I have been following with interest those who are posting about a new technique of fat grafting to supplement implants. I believe it might look more natural to have a layer of fat between the skin and the implant.  

I don't know much about your situation as you've only posted once; is there a possibility to go for smaller implants and or a small skin flap?  Tough to think about another surgery at this point I know, but many of us do end up having reconstruction done in several stages.  So keep at it until you get the result you want, you may have to switch plastic surgeons.  Get back on this site and look around, see if you can find others in your area who can recommend a surgeon.  I've been on this site since 2009 and the women here care and they'll help you as much as they can!  Good luck.  I'm in the Boston (north) area, if I can be of any help private message me.  

no, I disagree , your results are typical. Most plastic surgeons treat cancer patience with substandard care. I had to go to another plastic surgeon..... It's malpractice. Under Bill Clinton 1996. We must band together cause the ps only care about private patients so they get paid 100% private pay, as opposed to 25% from insurance. We need to band together!!

we must band together!! All of us unhappy with the surgery performed and that we were to settle for substandard work

would love to meet for coffee, I live in Quincy, MA. I started a page dealing with the substandard care breast cancer pat ins get for reconstruction due to discrimination for payment rom insurance companies is much less than private pay!

small girl,

This is an old thread which has been inactive for 3 years. However, it's a topic worth discussing. You might consider finding a more active thread on the topic or starting a new one yourself. I am sorry you've had a rough time of it.

I just had my DIEP at Vanderbilt with Dr. Perdikis. The day of my surgery I arrive at the hospital to find out that somehow the breast surgeon was not scheduled to do the mastectomy, just the reconstruction is scheduled. Dr Perdiikis sat in the surgical waiting room refusing to let them send me home. He even called the breast surgeon and made her cancel her morning to do the surgery and told her that if he has to, he would perform the mastectomy by himself.

I have had a few complications and problems at My local medical facility. He gave me his cell phone number and told me to just call him directly if needed.

I will hopefully be having the second procedure soon. How pleased were you with the final results