Adjustment to Implants?

NotVeryBrave, I had my BMX 5 weeks ago so I am just ahead of you. Things will get better! Your breasts aren't done yet, don't judge how they look now as final. Are you having other reconstruction later? I was a large -DDD- size and would like to be at around a C cup. I have expanders in now, and yes, they don't feel right. Eventually the pain should fade. I know lots of people who have said it feels like a band on their chest. Mine does not, for whatever reason, but that is normal. Nerve endings wake up when I change clothes to sleep. The scar has receeded and is almost flat -yeah! My left side can feel just about everywhere but my right top above the scar is numb. I was told it might all be numb, and might not come back. It all sounds normal from my limited experience. Do you know personally others you can talk to about it? I found about 10 people quite easily, I interviewed them and found everyone is different and there is no real normal.

Try to have peace of mind that the cancer is gone Let your body heal and know you are more than what your breasts look like.

notverybrave, I also had above the muscle immediate reconstruction. I'm almost 3 months out. I can't say I had pain, but definitely a very tight feeling that I was afraid was permanent. And the surface skin felt like it was constantly sunburned. I was afraid to side sleep.

That all faded by about six weeks. Now, I mostly feel like it's all completely "me." I side sleep and do everything I used to do. I think the sensitive burning feeling is the skin stretching a bit to accommodate the new implants. The tightness is just the internal bra/stitching and eventually it all settles. Hang in there! You made great decisions!

Hi Notverybrave, I just had BMX with immediate gummy bear implants above the muscle on May 17th. Like you, my new breasts are hard to get used to. They are hard and lumpy. This is normal at first. Many women say it will get better, and plastic surgeons can work wonders. Don't regret your decision to have a BMX instead of lumpectomy and radiation. That was my decision during my first diagnosis in 2014. Oncotype scored a measly 3. Cancer came back in the same breast less than 2 years later anyway. My reconstruction is more high risk because I had radiation. None if these decisions are easy, but BMX helps us get off the continual cancer wheel.

notverybrave, I had BMX with immediate implant reconstruction on 10 April. For the first two weeks it was horrible. Everything looked lumpy, and I was in a lot of pain. The BS assured me that it was looking good and would get better, but of course it is hard to believe at the time. Things started to feel a bit more normal at 3 weeks, as I was able to start to do more things and get a bit of independence back. I am feeling much better now (post 6 weeks) and they are looking less bumpy and more "boob" shaped.

Something that really helped was gentle massage of my foobs with moisturiser. It is supposed to help with the healing and reduce scars, but it is also helping me to get used to the idea that they are part of me. The tight feeling is gone most of the time, but occasionally I feel it just to remind me that I am not quite back to normal. There are still a few lumps, but I am hoping they will smooth out. I have quite a few ripples which appeared after the swelling went down (3-4 weeks). My BS says she can fix them with fat grafting. I think I will just learn to live with them as I am not keen on any more surgeries.

Anyway, I hope you are doing OK. I am happy with my decision to do the PBMX but it has been a tough few weeks

I had bilateral mastectomies ten tears ago and went flat for two years. I then had delayed reconstruction with TEs and silicone implants.Because I had the delayed reconstruction, I was completely healed from the mastectomies and had regained flexibility and strength in my chest area (physical therapy and then exercise). The TEs didn't cause me any pain during the fills and the exchange was a breeze.

When I first had the implants, they were hard and sat up high on my chest wall. It took six months to a year before they "dropped and fluffed" and the process continued for the nest three years.

My implants are now nice and soft, I have a mammary fold, and a bit of jiggle when exercising. I actually prefer the implants over the original equipment.

Right now you need to remember that you need to recover from the mastectomies. The pain and tightness you may feel are mostly due to the mastectomies and not the implants. The tight band around the chest is because nerves were cut during surgery and you feel the lack of sensation as a tight band. Nerves will regenerate. The nerve regeneration is not fun; you may feel intense itching, a burning pain in back by your scapula, or my favorite, what I call death by a thousand bee stings. Each time the itching, burning, stinging stops, you will again have sensation in some part of your chest.

When your surgeon clears you, ask for a referral for physical therapy to regain movement in your upper body and flexibility. After physical therapy, exercise with light weights and other exercises and stretches need to be part of your life. It will have help your chest muscles stay strong and flexible which means your implants will ride easy in their pocket.

I just want to add that if you're still feeling like the implants are wide and flat (I've heard the term "hamburger buns" more than once) after a year or so, it's a very simple operation to change them to a different style. I was very specific with my PS about not wanting that effect, so he used "ultra high profile" implants on me. I'm extremely happy with the results.

hi excuse my ignorance but what is PMPS ?

Sorry you are having trouble with your mastectomy and implants ... all this chemo, radiation and surgery can be so all- consuming ... it's a lot to carry ... glad you haevthe sisters on this site who have al,ready ten through this surgery ( mine is scheduled for June 19)

I am 3 months out from direct implant. My implant has been a problem since the 3rd week started as a burning itch. Now it is a constant burn with hardness that comes on goes. Have talked to the ps and he wants me to wait and see. The burning feeling goes all the way up my neck,around to the back and down past my elbow. I sleep with an ice pack changing every couple hours. Did have some relief while on Benedryl and steroids. Not sure if I can take it another month when I see him again

I am glad that insurance is required to cover adjustments after perm implants are placed because it's not cosmetic but attached to the bc dx. My right one is lower than the left (which was over radiated and is currently giving me issues with a small leakage that hopefully will be fixed with these stitches). If the implant needs to come out, it's 6 mo and ps will put it back in and adjust the right side at the same time. If not then I wait a month to make sure left is fine now and get the right one adjusted. Can't wait.

In Aug I'll be 2 years out from bmx. I've just started getting back a little more sensation from having basically 0 including part of my upper arms. PS says it's the bmx because it cut nerves and may or may not regenerate. Everyone is different. Some get it back and some don't get any back. There is no "expiration" date on when sensation may come back.

Hi there:

I just read your information on burning and itching. I have a breast removal, expanders and 1 year later the implant in. I have itched and burned on my stomach and back for 13 months. I put on hylatopic cream from Dr., but nothing seems to help. Can only wear cotton and no bra. Horrible. I hope this gets better. Let me know how you are doing now? thanks Marie