Breast reconstruction with expanders and silicone implants.

Hi Rosa, I've only had my implants for 3 months but will try my best to answer your questions. I have Allergan Style 20, smooth round silicone implants, 550cc.

1) Is it painful the procedure? You will have some pain but it is a much easier surgery than the BMX. I popped an ibupreofen here and there but just felt some soreness. I didn't have drains but some people do. You still have to be careful for 2+ weeks about reaching, pushing, pulling, picking up heave things, etc. I took 11 days off of work. I didn't really need to because of pain but I was TIRED! Anesthesia does that to you.

2) How long does it take? I was under about an hour and a half. My BMX was 6 hours so that's a huge difference. I think some only take an hour but my PS is a perfectionist.

3) Have you had any complications or issues? No except for around 6 weeks out, hard lumps could be felt slightly below my incisions. They went away and my surgeon thinks they were internal dissolving stitches. You could SEE 8 hard lumps under the skin like BBs. My dent I had with the TEs came back (not as bad) and I have slight rippling unless I keep my shoulders held back.

4) Is it true that you'll feel the silicone prothesis cold? and What about when the pectoral muscle contracts, would breasts raise/move too? Yes most of the time they feel cold! I plan to get some fat grafting to fix the slight rippling and I'm hoping they feel warmer. Yes my pecs and foobs still contract weirdly. I've read this is less noticable with anatomical implants but I don't know for sure.

4) Are you comfortable with the implants? Do you notice them all the time? The first 2 months, I felt tightness like when I had my TEs. I hardly notice anymore. Every once in awhile, I'll open a door or something and the tightness comes back a few minutes.

5) Are you happy with the results? Yes I am happy with them. The cancer is hopefully gone, and they are a little bigger and definitely perkier than before. I miss having nipples but otherwise my PS did a great job and I am happy.

6) anything else to add? Have you checked out breast implant sizing 101? Start thinking about what size and type of implant you would want. There are a lot of options. This thread, and whippetmom's advice, will really help you. If you aren't happy with your results, don't panic. Your insurance should cover revisions if they are needed.

Rosa, I had mastectomy, single, in July 2014 with immediate expander. I had exchange December 2014. I agree with pretty much everything Juliecc said, except, I don't notice it being cold. In clothing, I don't think you could tell which side is real and which is the implant. Since I did not have nipples done, you can certainly see a diff. without clothing. I am glad I did get the implant. I am 59, and did not have a great body to begin with but I just did not want to deal with special bras and keeping up with that fake boob all the time. I regret having to deal with all of this but I do not regret having the reconstruction and the implant, so far, is fine.