Allergy to expander?

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msdrgnldy
msdrgnldy Member Posts: 2
edited July 2017 in Breast Reconstruction

I have read numerous topics on this site about "mystery infections" after getting an expander. I've been dealing with the redness, soreness and slow healing as well. No fever. This expander is the second expander I've had in. The first one was a different, more expensive brand and it needed to come out in order to get clear margins.

I have had nothing but problems with the second expander and now I am beginning to wonder if I am sensitive or downright allergic to something in this new expander. Has anyone else discovered an allergy? I've seen numerous women go thru extensive antibiotics that didn't seem to help so I'm unwilling to go this route since the first one did not help. I've seen numerous women get the expander removed, healed up then a new one put in only to suffer the same "infection".

So my question is this: has anyone tried using a different brand expander after a "mystery infection"?

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited May 2017

    Over the years we have read of others questioning this. Here is an older conversation about this issue, which may be helpful https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topics...

    Have you discussed this with your doctor?


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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited May 2017

    test

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  • msdrgnldy
    msdrgnldy Member Posts: 2
    edited May 2017

    Yes. I saw my doc today. He said it was "highly unusual" to have an allergy to the expander. I'll be getting this one removed next Friday. He also assured me that the pain I'm feeling isn't from the "something" he saw on the ultrasound because "cancer doesn't hurt". However, my tumor DID hurt - both times! That's how I found the lumps in the first place.

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited May 2017

    Have you considered trying to get a second opinion? Sound like your physician may be providing a limited perspective for you, and your concerns.


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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited May 2017

    Did you have allograft material placed when you had the original, or subsequent, expander placed? Some patients are affected by Red Breast Syndrome, which is a reaction to the allograft material. There is a newer material that is totally synthetic and may cut down on this type of reaction, it is called TIGR mesh.

    Here is some info about Red Breast Syndrome in case this applies:

    https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topics/786298?page=1#idx_9

    http://www.plasticsurgerypulsenews.com/9/article_dtl.php?QnCategoryID=86&QnArticleID=180&QnCurPage=5


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  • raven4mi
    raven4mi Member Posts: 562
    edited May 2017

    Hi, msdrgnldy. I'm quite interested to see what other kind of responses you get to this thread, because I'm one of those women who is in the boat of having had a TE removed due to infection only to have it replaced and possibly be having the same infection.

    I had what I thought was another infection scare a few weeks ago and went in for an IV Vitamin C right away and have been on abx from PS since then. I have no pain or swelling but the breast is VERY, very red - like so dark it's purple in some places. My regular PS is in China on vacation so I saw his partner this past Thursday and he took one look at the breast and said "whoa!" Never a good sign. He ended up taking out 100 ccs of saline to relieve some of the pressure on the skin and has me going in for an ultra-sound of the breast on Monday to rule out a seroma (which, frankly, I don't think this is.) But, oddly enough, I don't think it's an infection either. I'm considering asking him whether I should go see a dermatologist to rule out that this might be an external issue and not internal since I'm already on abx and the skin just keeps getting darker. He also wants me to go back to see the infectious disease doc but I can't get in there until 5/16. My regular PS did do two cultures of the drainage and both came back negative but his partner said that means nothing since I was already on abx. The PS also mentioned red breast syndrome but, again, his partner kind of pooh-poohed that and said there hasn't been a documented case of alloderm-related RBS in at least two years.

    I'll be going in again either Monday or Tuesday for another Vit C infusion just in case this is infection-related but if anyone comes across this thread and has any advice about the deep, deep red-purple skin, I'm all ears.

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  • Texas_Survivor
    Texas_Survivor Member Posts: 1
    edited July 2017

    I had red patches that developed over my implants, on my foobs closest to the center of my chest. At some times they were red, hot and oozy. My surgeon put me on antibiotics and it got slightly better, then returned, so he added two more antibiotics. It didn't go away, so he added an antifungal, just in case it was fungal in nature. Didn't go away. So I was referred to an infectious disease doctor. He thought it might be an allergic reaction to the implants. The red came and went, but mostly stayed, for six months and surgery to address capsular contracture was delayed as my surgeon felt the red needed to be resolved first. Then I was referred to a dermatologist, who referred me to another dermatologist. He prescribed a topical steroid. The ooziness went away, but not the redness. Finally, another surgeon agreed to do DIEP. She removed the implants and constructed breasts from my abdominal skin, fat and blood vessels. What she found was that in the areas that were red, there was only one layer of skin covering the implants... the redness was because the tissue was extremely thin and the implants were irritating what was there. Had I left them in, my skin likely would have ruptured. Once they were removed, the redness resolved in a matter of hours, and hasn't returned. Hoping your issues are resolved more easily, but thought I'd share, as none of the doctors I saw seemed to know what was wrong, until I found my DIEP surgeon. I love my new DIEP breasts! They're soft, warm, natural looking and feeling, and none of the problems I had with expanders and implants. If I'd known then what I know now, I'd have skipped the implants and started with DIEP. But I'm glad that the implants are gone.

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  • raven4mi
    raven4mi Member Posts: 562
    edited July 2017

    Thanks, Texas_Survivor, for the additional input. It's so tough finding anyone whose been through this crazy redness like I've seen, so I appreciate all of the information. At this point I'm almost finished with fills. The redness persists but it's in a very defined rectangular area which appears to coincide with what the TE looks like. I'm just praying for a successful exchange at this point. Even if the redness persists I won't care as long as I can get this all behind me. I don't really relish the idea of having DIEP but will consider it if this doesn't work out.

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