Port Placement and Scarring - for those with cosmetic concerns

OH please moderators tag this at the top of the thread Forever. If I had only known I would have insisted that my plastic surgeon put in my port. Where my port is placed like everyone elses in a very conspicous spot. It is such a painful reminder of my breast cancer. It shows with almost every shirt I wear and if I had known there was any way to not have this Horizontal scar right in my neckline I would have. The scar for my port bothers me far more than my breast cancer scars.

Also your Plastic surgeon is correct the horizontal scar is under exteme tension where they put the port and yes it is very difficult to heal in that location. I tried to have scar revision surgery because of my port placement but was told that it wasn't possible because of the high tension in the area. I did have fat injected under the scar so it didn't have a big dent like many of them do when the port is removed.

A friend of mine had a port and even 5 years later it is an ugly scar. Very jagged and red purple after 5 years and she is only in her thirties.

Dear all,

My PS, when he did the reconstruction of my BMX, also worked on my port scar to make it less noticeable. It was done same time as the plastic surgery and all was covered by insurance.

Claire in AZ

meg2016, since I had mine out as soon as chemo was over, and I had my BMX/recon a year later, I can't say for sure that it could happen...but I don't know why you couldn't have them do that since your PS will be there. Ask him to work on the scar at the same time; it makes sense to do both at once, so good idea!

Claire

meg - some PS will remove ports some won't, but there is no reason your port could not be removed at that time if your MO is on board with removing it.

Also, wanted to let any/all know that my port was put in at the time of my BMX since I already knew I would need chemo since I had a 2.6cm Her2+ tumor. If you know that you will need chemo this may be an option for you - either put in by your BS or by an interventional radiologist or vascular surgeon that steps in during BMX and uses this technique. My BS installs ports all the time and mine was put in high up under the mastectomy flap, after the tissue had been removed, so I did not have an install incision. It was just recently removed by my PS and I have a vertical removal incision, that she actually tented to counteract any stretching by normal upper body movement. She encouraged me to stay quiet in the couple of weeks post-surgery to allow the skin to knit well, then also encouraged me to use Biocornuem silicone gel to help it flatten. I had a subclavian port so the scar shows in any neckline other than a turtleneck.

Certainly there are 'horror stories' from some but not all are. Unfortunately, the 'horror stories' get a lot more 'play' than all the 'non-horror stories' of which there are many - if not more than the negative.

My Power Port was put in 7+ yrs ago by my BS in the local hospital's OR. At the time, being IBC made recon not an option for at least a yr, so no PS on my team.

The scar is about 2" long, horizontal and a 'hairline' if hunted for. It healed quite quickly with no issues of any kind. There were no external sutures - just surgical glue and 2 steri-strips. It is horizontal. To my thoughts, a vertical incision would have more tension/stress on it from just moving arms than a horizontal incision. As I said, the incision line is just a very thin line. It has to be 'looked for' to find it. Does not 'show' in any of my shirts (even tanktops) I usually wear - except 'spaghetti strap' cammies or swim suits but only a very thin line.

It is my choice (with my Drs approval) to keep my port. It is never used for blood draws, etc. as I do have one arm that was not compromised by TX, so it's easy to just hit my very good vein without the complications of doing a flush anytime a port is accessed. (I do get it flushed every 2 mths.). Bottom line to me is that it's there and IF needed (not expecting to ever need it again), it's there and ready for any fight that might be needed. Instead of having to have surgery to put another one in in a less convient place as could not be back k on same side again nor can it be on other side - UMX side.

Sorry for getting off topic a bit. Even IF 'you' happen to be one who scars easily, the potential damage that can be done to veins from chemo can not be reversed. Be careful to not 'jump' to the negative - not all have the negative experiences that some do.

I actually loved my port although I was nervous to get it in. It never gave me a problem and I really appreciated not having to have a nurse (novice or other) try to find my veins each time. And I don't care about the little scar, really. It still itches after 5 years from time to time though--anyone?

I'm the weird lady who is proud of her scars, because they speak to me of my own resilience.

When my surgeon took my port out in his office, I asked him to give it to me, and I used it in a recycled art project.

Claire in AZ

Meow, your friend's story is so sad. Most of our stories have a sad thread in them, it seems. I understand about not wanting to remember the fear. I try to remember the fear of that time as my resilience--I got through it even though it seemed insurmountable. I embrace my strength during that time. I hope in time you can too.

Love and light

Claire

Carmelita - I was able to shower 48 hours after my port was placed. It was a horizontal incision done by a general surgeon. She checked placement in pre-op with my bra on. I had steristrips over it, covered by a clear dressing until the shower.

Once it is healed - it's completely under your skin and is accessed with a needle when needed, under sterile conditions. It was a bit more painful getting it placed than I thought it would be. Some of it may have been the dressing since it felt better when I could remove that. And for a while it would feel weird in certain positions for sleeping.

Now I've had it for over a year and want to keep it for a while (year?) longer. My MO has already talked about scheduling the removal. But it's like a little insurance policy to me.

As far as ports go - mine looks okay. The scar has faded to a thin white line. It does stick out quite a bit but is only obvious with a swimsuit. At first I was kind of self conscious last summer. Now it's a bit of a badge of courage.

I got my port taken out 25 days ago and it really didn't start itching until about 12 days ago. Also, what looks like a tendon goes from about an inch below the incision all the way up to my neck. They showed my my port, but wouldn't let me keep it. There was a sound when they removed the long tubing; reminded me of the sound when you clean windows, but lower pitched.

As for the scar, I've begun putting Mederma on that and my other scars; that began 10 days ago. I hope to keep that up for the months that they say it may take. The port scar is jagged, oh well (and is visible in some situations).

My port was put in by a radiologist. Scarring isn't the biggest deal for me because I prefer higher necklines but the incision was horizontal and the tightness of my skin and weight of my breast caused the incision to pull apart. I'm wondering why vertical incisions aren't used more often...is it like peeling a banana where most of us do it from the stem even though it's less efficient just because that is how our parents did it?