Fat graft, nipple sharing, and mastopexy recovery time?

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LeftDCISwoman
LeftDCISwoman Member Posts: 10
edited October 2016 in Breast Reconstruction

Hi all, 3 years ago I had a universal mastectomy of my left breast with a silicone implant without further reconstruction after DCIS was found throughout my left side. I didn't want to do anything 'not medically necessary' at the time except for the implant, so until now, nothing has been done to the right breast. (my kids were only 5 and 7 and I couldn't afford to take the extra recovery time).

But since then I haven't liked the symmetry so my PS scheduled further reconstruction now that my kids are older. He is going to do a combined surgery of nipple sharing of the right to the left, breast lift on the right (for symmetry), and fat grafting from my abdomen to fill out the "cavity" that has formed over the implant on the left. Has anyone had this type of combination, and what is the recovery time like? Surgery is October 10, so if anyone reads this post before then, I would appreciate the help! Thank you!

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited September 2016

    Hi LeftDCISwoman-

    We have some info on mastopexy on our main site, which you can find here: http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/surgery/reco.... In general, you should be able to resume normal activities in 3-4 weeks, but everyone recovers at a different pace, so it's important to remember to listen your body during recovery and take it easy! Good luck with your procedures, and please keep us posted!

    The Mods

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited September 2016

    BUMP! Can anyone weigh in and help LeftDCISWoman? She'd greatly appreciate some responses!

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  • Mariangel43
    Mariangel43 Member Posts: 136
    edited October 2016

    LeftDCISWoman,

    Hi. Just read your post. I am on first phase of reconstruction and cannot exactly tell you everything you may need to know. I still have my TE and I don't know when will I be able to get into final reconstruction phase due to problems with RT (every time I find new evidence, my brain goes against it). I have talked quite extensively with my PS. Mastopexy is sometimes needed to equal the appearance of both breasts. When breasts are expanded due to physical changes to them, the areola expand also and it seems out of proportion. In my case, the PS will use part of the areola from left breast to create one on MX right breast. The nipple will be created using a piece of the skin which will be cut is T form and folded around itself. In my case, my left breast is big enough to be used for skin graft (I'm just a C but I see it way too big; I was A when young and B when adult; lack of hormones did the rest after 50, augmenting the fibrous density of them). My implant will be size B because I don't want back pains and muscle stress from a big implant. I want to see myself normal. That's why I need reduction of left to balance the look of both breasts. My PS gives a month for recovery and healing but if I do not get the money from the cancer insurance company, I will have to stay at home for a week and then go back to work. The surgery is quite simple; some PSs do it on their prepared OR in their offices. My PS will do it on the hospital OR with general anesthesia and will send me home afterwards. I think that, since you will be having fat grafting from tummy, your recovery time may extend 2 more week of rest. I had a friend who had a liposuction and she was up in a week and going out two weeks later (she was driving). I Good luck and tell me how it all go. Thank you.

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  • LeftDCISwoman
    LeftDCISwoman Member Posts: 10
    edited October 2016

    Hi MariAngel43. Thank you for your feedback. I just read this. I had my surgery this past Monday and today is Saturday. I am pretty sore, but it has eased down to a dull ache. I have been wearing a compression belt and bra 24/7 since the surgery, and my breasts a bit swollen. Been taking it easy. I have been instructed not to touch the incisions on my breast, and that's okay because I am a little nervous of the "healthy altered breast" and what it looks like now that it's been stitched up. They have not allowed me to take a shower or bath, sponge baths only, and I haven't left the house since since my surgery. They did not give me any drains thank God! BUT I am a little concerned about the amount of bruising I have on different parts of my body. The PS took fat from 3 parts of my abdomen for the fat graft to fill in the cavity that has formed above the implant on the left side. HOWEVER, I have huge black and blue bruises on my back, hips, and buttocks and I am not sure what that is all about, since they did not operate on that part. The doc wasn't in yesterday when i called, but I have a post-op visit on Monday so hopefully will find out why and if there is a need for concern. The PS originally told me I should be really good to go in 2 weeks after the operation, and given the way I feel 5 days post-op, he's probably right. I am sore, but have not had the real need to take any strong pain meds (they sent me home with a bottle of 800mg Ibuprofen...which I took about 4 of total since i've been home and a script for Percocet. I never filled the script for Percocet)

    BTW before he saw me in the OR and talked to me right before the surgery, he said "I'm glad you waited to get the final reconstruction done." It has been almost 3 years since I had the implant put in, and a little over 3 years since the mastectomy. I read on some surgery sites that some PS actually recommend waiting before symmetry surgery, because that way the implant can "settle" and the PS can make sure the positioning of the healthy breast will be equal. In my case, a cavity formed above the implant and he was able to correct that. I am looking forward to what I will look like once I am healed.

    I hope you get your tissue expander out soon! Those are no fun. I had mine in for 4 1/2 months and I remember really looking forward to my implant surgery to get it changed out. Thank you again for your support.

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