Expander and chest tightness, how long?

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Jnnmn7
Jnnmn7 Member Posts: 66
edited October 2017 in Breast Reconstruction

I had my BM and expander placement last Thursday and things of course are very tight. Muscles still sore and I have to be very careful with not lifting and whatnot. I am scheduled for my first fill Wednesday and I'm nervous about the tightness getting worse.

How long does this feeling last? Will it ever lessen? Will there come a point when I can lift things without pain

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  • LeesaD
    LeesaD Member Posts: 383
    edited October 2017
    I had my BMX March 27 with TE placement. Tightness has never ever gone away. Feels like still I have a very very tight wide rubber band wrapped around my chest. I'm told by many that this will go away when I have the exchange which should be in a few months since I just finished rads.
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  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 3,985
    edited October 2017

    Mine improved by the exchange (five month), more with the exchange, but it was a few years before i stopped noticing it. Now I can feel it if I think about it, but in general it is the new normal.

    No real pain after a few months, just tightness. I thought about taking them out a million times, but now it is fine, and very easy - no bra, 3D tats.

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

    If you are concerned that you still have too much discomfort for your first fill you can delay. I personally think many plastic surgeons start the fill process too soon, and don't leave enough time for healing. I would also advise going with a small fill, less than 50ccs, to see how you do. Some docs say they will fill until you feel some pressure and then stop, but often while it doesn't cause pain immediately, you are uncomfortable later.

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  • gardendesignr
    gardendesignr Member Posts: 5
    edited October 2017

    I had a PBM w expanders over the muscle, on 8/18 and started w 300cc filled, I was a full D cup but want to down size to a C. My initial tightness was pretty bad to me but after the 10 day point I really only needed a muscle relaxer. I have asthma and the tightness tends to provoke my feeling of an asthma attack starting. My first fill (60cc) was at the 3 wk appt. did not bother me till the next day and lasted a couple days. The 2nd fill (60cc) was worse, tightness started right away and unfortunately I got an infection too. I skipped the next week as the infection had cleared and I wanted to give the skin a break. My 3rd fill (60cc) didn't bother me till 2 days later but the infection also came back so I quit getting fills. At about the 5-6 week point I only needed a muscle relaxer at night before bed, all day long I barely notice the tightness. I work outside (Orlando) and lift 50lbs routinely but I have not been back yet and to be honest I am shocked at my muscle attrophy and inability to do certain things like twist open a tight jar lid. I could not start PT till next wk because of the infections so that has made PT 3 wks late to start. Overall though I did not loose range of motion and have been able to lift 20+lbs but not repeatedly.

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