Replace implant or DIEP?

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Susan456
Susan456 Member Posts: 10
edited June 2015 in Breast Reconstruction

I had a left Mx in July and my exchange for an implant was in October. At my follow-up MRI, they just found an "intra-capsular rupture" in the implant. I'm pretty frustrated that I need to replace the implant so quickly (7 months).

I waffled a bit about DIEP vs an implant when I first made this decision, and I asked my PS about it this morning. She said sure, I could do DIEP now instead of replacing the implant if I want. So now I'm agonizing again.

In favor of DIEP, my weight goes up and down a bit, and I hate that it changes whether I look balanced or not. I also have some constant mild discomfort around the implant. Nothing terrible, but I'm always aware of it. And having to replace the implant so soon is a serious bummer.

In favor of just replacing the implant, I guess I'm a bit freaked out by how major the DIEP surgery is. Part of me thinks I shouldn't take risks with my health for something like this. Plus I hate numb spots, and am worried about getting another numb spot on my abdomen. and the idea of moving my belly button kinda freaks me out. Is that going to be numb too? Seriously?

My PS also said that there is a 3 to 4% risk of blood clots in the legs moving to the lungs, which could be life threatening. That actually sounds like a high percent.... It's terrifying.

Anyone else replaced an implant with DIEP later? All words of wisdom appreciated....

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  • digger
    digger Member Posts: 590
    edited June 2015

    Hi,

    Sorry you're having trouble with your implant so quickly after your exchange, that's a huge bummer! My implant failed recently (capsular contracture and rupture), but at least I had it for six years. My PS recommended I replace the implant with a tissue transfer, and since I don't have the fat on my stomach, I signed up for a SGAP (the tissue will come from my buttocks). It takes a while to wrap your head around the surgery. It's a long surgery, drains again, pain, hard recovery, etc. On the plus side, however, no more artificial implant in your body! I always hated this implant, even more so now that it's hard, painful, and in a totally different place on my chest than my other natural breast. And once the transfer is completed, I know I'll never have to replace it. When you've got implants, you know at some point it will have to be replaced. A tissue transfer is permanent.

    About the blood clots in your legs, I know that where I'm having it done (MSK in NY), it's automatic procedure that you wake up after surgery with these contraptions on your legs that continue to pump air in and out, so your blood is constantly moving to prevent blood clots. I had the same contractions after my mastectomy, and I think they stayed in place for about 24 hours.

    I did have a question about your belief that DIEP is better because of your weight fluctuations. I thought that if your weight fluctuated, your new breast, which would be abdominal tissue, would also fluctuate? In other words, I think having a DIEP, as opposed to an implant, would not solve the issue of a fluctuating volume of tissue?

    Anyway, sorry you have to go through this, but it is do-able and you'll be ok once you make a decision and wrap your head around it. One factor that made my decision easier is that, according to my PS (who I really trust), once you've had capsular contracture in an implant, you are much more likely to have it with the next implant that replaces the first one. That made my decision easier.


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  • Susan456
    Susan456 Member Posts: 10
    edited June 2015

    Thanks for the reply, digger.

    My weight doesn't go up and down that much I guess... it's a 5 to 10 lb range. But I swear I can see a difference in how much I match. The problem is that an implant always stays the same size. Since I have an implant on one side, one side is getting bigger and smaller and the other isn't. No issue with that with natural tissue.

    I gave it some thought and decided to just replace the implant. My PS thinks it's just a freak occurrence--not (knock on wood) symptomatic of any long-term issue. If it happens again any time soon, then I can still try DIEP the next time.

    Best of luck with your procedure--hope it goes well!

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