Previous Implants

I had breast implants for 4 years prior to finding my lump. I decided on a double mastectomy with reconstruction to hopefully avoid radiation and tamoxifen. My lump was also not visable on the mammogram so I was worried about a new cancer being missed. During my surgery the plastic surgeon used my previous imframammary scars and removed the implants. The breast surgeon then performed a total skin sparing mastectomy. The plastic surgeon then put in the tissue expanders and filled them with 100cc. I was hoping to go a little bigger as well so he put in 400cc TE's. They are now filled to 500cc and I will have my exchange surgery in April. The plastic surgeon said he will put in larger implants but they won't look any bigger than they are now because they will be deeper in he pocket. I'm getting the gummy bear implants with fat grafting. Good luck to both of you. Having to make such hard decisions is really tough but it gets easier.

JJOntario, I am with you. My breast implants will turn one year old in May. They are perfect to me. It seems like such a shame and waste. I still have 3 more rounds or therapy and chemo before the surgery decision and I have no clue what to do. I am reacting very well to treatment and am expecting a pathologically complete response. I think I want a lumpectomy but cannot find much on how that works with existing implants, especially if radiation comes, which it very likely will for me, considering how my cancer was before treatment. I want my girls to ultimately look and feel as good as they do now. It's hard to find info / experience out there

My tumour was near my chest wall..about 3 o'clock position. My lumpectomy took what looks like bite or dent...take a balloon and then press your hand on it...like a flat spot. (Hope that makes sense?). I'm starting rads on Monday. The PS said it will shrink/tighten that boob by 10-20%. I have so little tissue of my own and I'm worried about how this will end up looking. I wasn't a candidate for a nipple sparing mx...which kind of tilted me towards rads. I would have also lost a lot of skin..(large areoles) meaning going smaller...kind of frustrating when I just paid to leave my baby B cups behind. I'm crossing my fingers things will go well and that some fat grafting after things have settled can fill in my "dent".

Thanks Susug! That's encouraging. I kept searching these boards last night. My implants are sub-muscular. That seems to be a good thing when it comes to radiation

copying and pasting my own comment from another board...

I am not DCIS but have read this post as I am leaning towards skin and nipple sparing BMX. Had my first consult with a PS today. I have existing implants. He doesn't think I'm a candidate for flaps as I don't have enough fat. I wasn't really interested in that route anyway. He said I am a good candidate of either of these options: Direct Implant or TE first with exchange later. Thing is, radiation is on the table... which he did not realize and he encouraged me to question the benefit of the radiation. Like, how much does it improve my odds against recurrence. He feels TE first would lead to a better cosmetic result. He would overfill the TE which would lead to a more softened / relaxed droop. The timeline of TE vs. direct implant has me thinking UGH!!! but we are talking a few more months for something I may like more over an extended period of my life. I know it's up to me, but what do you ladies think? What have you experienced or heard? He said with direct implant followed by radiation, there's a greater chance of tightening, assemmetry, etc... there really is no fix. More surgery would create more scar tissue. With TE he could clear the initial scar tissue and though it would come back, it should not come back as much.