Purse string closure BMX?

Hi Sunflowercat- I had pursestring incisions as well! I haven't come across many who have. When my PS initially proposed it it made sense to me so  being  a nurse, I got right on the research. It def is a very acceptable way to close the skin but most docs still go with the linear incision. Haven't been able to figure out why. Maybe it takes a little more suturing skill? I still wonder but anyway mine turned out okay but did run into some problems. My prophylactic side healed pretty nicely but he side that had the cancer took a bit of a journey. My cancer was only a millimeter away from my areola and the end of it was very superficial to the skin so I know that my BS had to take a bit of extra skin from around the center. Because of that, the tension on that incision was greater than the other. In addition, my PS went on a charity mission about 1 week after surgery and decided to leave my sutures in while he was gone because I was still getting fills and he was worried the cancer side would open up while he was gone and didn't want that to happen. Because of that I ended up with a localized infection so antibiotics it was and his partner released the sutures and low and behold it hadn't healed at all. Disappointing to say the least. I was told then that I had to do an open healing and that would take six weeks and contract as it healed and it did take the whole six weeks. It had  healed beautifully  but then had a little setback where the top of the scar peeled like a blister 2 weeks after my exchange and had to reheal it again. It's all healed now and it's interesting. Inspite of the fact that each scar is a different shape ( the left being a little more linear and the right being a little more round) I would do it over again. I think it makes alot of sense to close this way. From pics I've seen, usually if they heal properly they are both relatively round and central and then do the IMF incisons for the reg implants. That way in the future for any revisions the tatoos don't have to be disturbed. I think the key is to have as little tension as possible so the edges can knit together in that round shape so in my case he probably should have made a little different call in the OR when he realized the right didn't have as much skin to work with but all in all I would do it this way again. I agree that if gives the illusion that you have areolas and because of that I am in no rush to get tattooed. Eventually though they will probably white out and then I may feel differently but for now they are still mostly pink so I'm fine with that. To answer your questions he had me showering 2 days after surgery and of course the whole time I was healing open. Oh and because my implants are small (325cc's) after they dropped the right is a little higher than central. Most of the tattoo would cover it but a little would still show. He wanted me to be bigger based on my height and weight and I know what he's talking about but I am a full C even with that small an inplant and I work out alot and didn't want the extra weight to strap down.  That's why the right one rides a little high. Having said all of that, long story long, I would do again this way.

I did not have purse string sutures, but I just wanted to say I am sorry you can't shower for 5 weeks!  I don't see purse string sutures very often, but hopefully some others who have had them can chime in. 

Re implants impeding workouts, I don't know if bigger implants in recon really are an issue in the same way natural breasts or augmented breasts might be, at least from my personal experience. My implants are 435cc (making me a proper 30E which is just the same as I was before surgery but I am firmer/perkier now) and I am very physically active, including at the gym or running, etc about 2 hours almost everyday. I would not say my implants are big at all, but I am able to compare them to what I had with my natural breasts and there is no breast tissue so they really don't bounce like my natural breasts did...which were at little harder to manage for running, etc...2 high support sports bras at all times! Now I just wear one good sports bra and don't really notice my breasts at all. With recon there are limits to how big you can go, as the tissues can't be stressed since they are so thin, and there is only so much that can be put in a persons body depending on the their pectoral muscles, etc, so I don't really ever see someone with recon breasts that are "too big" for their body, unlike with augmented ones, if that makes sense. It might all be what you are used to though before recon.

I have purse string sutures as well- left (prophylactic) looks good, right looks, eh. ? because right is my dominant side, lymph node dissection side, and my mass was under areola so more skin was taken. I was told that the scars will spread naturally when TE filled/implants in. more rounded effect?  It's been 2 weeks today, go to PS tomorrow. Hoping for a good report.

I am new to discussion boards, all of this in general. Wow! lots of info and people on here!!