Implant problems with radiated breast

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Dogsneverlie
Dogsneverlie Member Posts: 278
edited January 2015 in Breast Reconstruction

Hi,

Reading a little bit about implant issues on the radiated breast - I am scheduled for implants end of February and was hoping to hear the good, the bad and the ugly.  Any insight you can give me would be greatly appreciated.  My doctor is going small - I think like 100-200ccs..........he said he would go as large as he could in the radiated breast and then do what he needed to in the healthy breast so they are the same.

Does it matter what size is put in for the radiated breast? Is that why some have issues?

Thank you!

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  • BayouBabe
    BayouBabe Member Posts: 2,221
    edited January 2015

    I think more than size, it is a combination of issues - smoker/nonsmoker, issues during rads (skin breakdown vs. no issues), alloderm/no alloderm. fat grafting, etc. I saw you had posted on one of the fat grafting threads. Are you having any grafting done prior or at same time? I really think my fat grafting was the key to success. So very glad and thankful I went this route. Just as an FYI - my nonrad side is a 550 cc implant, rads side is a 600 cc, I believe

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  • Dogsneverlie
    Dogsneverlie Member Posts: 278
    edited January 2015

    Thanks BayouBabe!  I am a non-smoker (never smoked) so that is a good thing.  I had a pretty easy go of rads, my skin healed nicely, no blisters and I kept lotion on all the time (except right before the rad treatment).  Ideally, I would have liked to get fat grafting first, then wait about 6 months and do the lift/implant but FG is not covered by insurance in my case and I just don't have the $$$$ to pay out of pocket for it.

    That's a nice size implant!  I normally would be a small B cup and just want what I had, only new and improved (a little fullness as I have tuberous breasts as well).  Do you mind if I ask - what size cup were you and what size did the implant change you to?

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  • BayouBabe
    BayouBabe Member Posts: 2,221
    edited January 2015

    Before breast cancer I always wore a C cup bra. Since my implants I now wear a DD - however, I look the same in clothes as I did before. The implants are just wider and differently shaped. I ( almost ) feel like the old me!

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