Revise again or just remove the implants?

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happyteacher
happyteacher Member Posts: 118
edited August 2015 in Breast Reconstruction

Hello all,

I was hoping to get some thoughts on my situation before I return to my surgeon. I had a bilateral prophalactic mastectomy, tissue expanders, and the exchange in December, 2014. The left side had encapsulation issues and needed a revision, with this surgery taking place on July 9th. The revision used a fair amount of strattice to prevent the scarring and such. It does not appear to have worked, as I am very tight and again progressing to the mishapen and sore type of look that I had prior to the revision. The doc indicated at yesterday's appointment that it is a probable revision, and explained that he would go back in to score the strattice both vertically and horizontally to allow more room.

I don't know. I feel like there is absolutely nothing to indicate that going through another revision is going to solve this. The alternative is to have the implants taken out. It is sore enough that I am not able to sleep well at night, and daytime soreness. It is still early out as far as soreness goes, but similar to last time the soreness is getting worse- not better. If it continues to progress like the first time I will not be able to use my left arm at all without triggering a lot of swelling, and need to wear a sling to work (elementary classroom teacher).

Does anyone have experience with multiple revisions that eventually worked, or conversely multiple revisions that didn't work? Time for a second opinion, or is this a fairly typical progression for those who have complications? Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.

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  • digger
    digger Member Posts: 590
    edited August 2015

    Just my two cents: my PS, who is at Memorial Sloan Kettering and who I trust a lot, told me that once you've had capsular contracture, you're 60% likely to just get it again if you replace the implant. For that reason, when I got CC, he recommended going ahead with a different type of reconstruction (I just completed a tissue transfer one). Didn't make sense to keep having the same problem and just more surgeries and revisions. Again, just my experience.

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  • mjh1
    mjh1 Member Posts: 445
    edited August 2015

    A month out seems fairly early to start developing CC.  I would wait 3 months and seek a second opinion and even a third if you can.  I went to see 6 PS for an opinion before I decided on a revision (mainly because I had already met my out of pocket for the year so I wouldn't have to pay anything).  2 were a total waste of time as they couldn't even diagnose what was wrong (one of which was the chief of PS at one of the biggesting hospital here), 1 I didn't care for the hospital he was affiliated with, and the 3 other three had the same opinion.  Good luck!!

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

    Be sure you do some research on fat grafting before making any decisions. This might help with the casular contracture

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  • Thistoshallpass
    Thistoshallpass Member Posts: 22
    edited August 2015

    I too am dealing with CC now on left breast and starting research. DBM 8/2013 painful expanders replaced with implants 12/2013 last surgery was to remove the left nipple because cancer was still there Dec 2014 and put silk mesh on the sides to cover common ripple since we have no tissue left after Mastectomy to cover implants. Right Breast was firm and higher after that surgery with massage, singular (meds) & time it settled down. The left Breast has started with CC in the last 6 weeks and continues to get worse at the stage of pain and tighter and harder. I am currently taking Vit E and Singular to see if it helps while I search for a Dr. Had one opinion the other day that basically said live with it as long as you can.... I will do that and hope it doesn't get worse and in 2016 I wanted to replace nipple but in meantime looking for others that have experienced this and what treatments you have heard about. Sonograms or any mechanical massage? Digger is correct it is likely to happen again but I have read about change to a texture might help. Still looking for other Dr to get more education this round. In the beginning we are just eager to get it GONE. I read that over and over on post and completely understand. Best of luck to ALL of you in what ever your stage of recovery

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