Tissue expander issue??

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MrsTee
MrsTee Member Posts: 21
edited April 2015 in Breast Reconstruction

not sure where to post this but....I have a question before I royally freak myself out any more and the tears really start to come! I had a bilateral mx on Jan 28th....I've had my fills done (3 of them - each 60cc's each time all done within 3 weeks) not this issue - mostly I have been emotionally "ok" - for some reason today I was looking at myself in a mirror and started to freak out with how my TE's are placed....the right side is placed "sideways"...it's not flat so it sticks up pretty awkward, the left side seems to be placed more towards the left, while not sideways it's not "flat" either. So with a shirt on it look like two pointy things going out to the left and rights sides....I was looking at pictures of others with TE's (I know I shouldn't compare) and they look SO much better than mine....my question is...does anyone else have awkwardly placed TE's? Thank you in advance!

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  • mdg
    mdg Member Posts: 3,571
    edited March 2015


    Mine were placed higher and lower.  Righty was at least an inch higher than lefty.  When I had exchange they tried to even things out as best as they could.  They are still a tiny bit off, but I can only notice when I am naked in front of a mirror. 

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  • Cindy_K
    Cindy_K Member Posts: 52
    edited March 2015

    Hi Virginia, I am only three weeks out of surgery and have had 2 fills.. But I have noticed that there is a change in shape every day. It is possible that they will look different in a couple of days.

    Good Luck to you and I hope all goes well.

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  • MrsTee
    MrsTee Member Posts: 21
    edited March 2015

    Cindy- they have been like this since the beginning and I've been done with my fills since March 2nd....I'm just a bit stressed out and don't know why now it's bothering me so much!


    Msg - I don't know how he's going to be able to fix it - I can't really explain how they look and don't want to bother my PS but it's my body and it's bothering me ugh

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  • DiveCat
    DiveCat Member Posts: 968
    edited March 2015

    You can't build expectations of the final result based on TEs. I can assure you, I have seen some very wonky TEs thanks to the Picture Forum and other communities I belong too, much wonkier than your description sounds, and some fantastic final results. Some TEs also look different than others due to their shape (ie whether your PS prefers to only stretch the lower pole).

    The purpose of TEs is to expand the tissues. The major refining, pocket work, and so on happens at exchange or after.

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  • AmyQ
    AmyQ Member Posts: 2,182
    edited March 2015

    Mrs Tee,

    You should bother your PS. I'm sure there's nothing he can do during the fill process but when it comes to removal and replacement he needs to fix this. Typically they fix all the little imperfections at that time, do some lypo, fat grafting, whatever it takes to make an estheticaly pleasing implant.

    Make sure to bother him...it's your body.

    Amy

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  • scvmom65
    scvmom65 Member Posts: 88
    edited March 2015

    My TEs looked way different than my implants. One was higher than the other and one looked horizontal and the other looked verticle. Plus they looked like square boxes. Like another said, they are only there to serve a purpose, stretch the tissue. When you go in for your preop for you exhange surgery with your PS, mention anything you don't like, like feeling one is higher etc. They can redo pockets at the exhange. Just tell yourself these are temporary things, the real ones will feel and look better!

    Anna

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  • mjh1
    mjh1 Member Posts: 445
    edited March 2015

    I agree with all the other ladies.  These are just temporary.  that's why we're all so happy to finally get rid of them.  Make sure you voice your concerns to your plastic surgeon and specifcally ask how he plans to correct it.  Remember, he's being paid for his service.  He's not doing you a favor.

    P.S.  It's okay to be emotional.  you're only two months post BMX and this is normal. You just got rid of your boobies so it's a big adjustment period.  When you finally get rid of your TE's, that will be another adjustment period. 

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  • LK121212
    LK121212 Member Posts: 20
    edited March 2015

    Yes, Mine are facing South and toward armpit. I have assisted in many of these tissue expander exchange to implant and they all end up looking just fine. I am on the other side of the operating tabs just like you and I am not worried that the permanent ones will look fine. So don't get all worked up

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  • Mel0rama
    Mel0rama Member Posts: 11
    edited March 2015

    I requested access to the picture form, and if I get in, I will be happy to post the latest picture I took of mine. :-) If you look at my recent post in this form, you will see that I have had issues with one wonky TE. Over the weekend it got "wonkier" (did I just make up a word?), and I'm going to call my PS first thing in the morning. From the very beginning, he is always told me that there is so much he can and will do during the final exchange. I just have to remember that these TEs are transitional. I totally trust him. I do, however, want to figure out why am experiencing a significant amount of pain on the wonky side now.

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  • MrsTee
    MrsTee Member Posts: 21
    edited March 2015

    Thanks everyone! I think I was just having an emotional moment (still kinda am) It's hard for me to explain to people what I'm feeling and and how one minute I'm fine with these crazy TE's then the next minute I'm wondering if it's all messed up because one is north to south and the other is east to west - is it stretching enough skin (I can put 2 fist between the two) UGH!! Hearing that others have funny looking TE's makes me feel like I'm not the only one - I do have to remember that these are just temporary...and I need to stop comparing mine with how other look like......Deep breath in.....relax :)

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  • Stillsaved2
    Stillsaved2 Member Posts: 1
    edited April 2015

    Hi, I'm new to this forum and am now 4 weeks into my fills at 60cc's a week and would like to know how long in between the last fill did it take fore your exchange. I had a bilateral nipple sparring mastectomy after being diagnosed with Psuedoangiomatous Stromal Hyper Plasia of the breast with a negative BRCA result, but still at high risk for breast cancer.

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