Aeroform Tissue Expander - any experience?

Yes. I had a single side. It was convenient because no trips to hospital to fill, you do it yourself at home with a remote control, it was painless. No needles, plus you fill it very slowly every day so no big expansions at once.Another advantage, the breast surgeons werent qualified to use it, so I was given plastic surgery consultant doctor that had much better stitching skills and I got a really good scar that has almost faded only 6 months later. Another advantage, the air is contained within the boob, once the air runs out the expander will slowly deflate and there is no way of getting more air in. This was a plus for me as a public patient as it meant I was on a priority list to get in for my exchange surgery, whereas some people have to wait ages . This is the Australian system tho, different to yours.

Disadvantages, I had it done in major city hospital and none of my local breast nurses or doctors had ever heard of it, it was hard to get any advice because the technology is so new. It felt extremely hard and sat very high. Mine was a 600 cc as I am a d cup so it looked really stupid near the end like a barbie doll boob, and I started feeling very paranoid and not wanting to go out. But its not the same final shape the implant is , its only temporary. I definitely couldnt sleep on my side for the 3 months it was in as it had a hard edge around it . It was pretty tight and uncomfortable, but I wouldnt say painful. All in all I would reccommend for the convenience, and as no needles I guess it follows the infection risk would be lower. I had no medical complications. I also think because the technology was so new I was treated with extra care. Hope this helps. xx

Hi! I just started the aeroform tissue expansion yesterday for both breasts. The doc did one in the office and accidentally was locked out of the second one (if you make a mistake or move the controller it will register as a fail and then you have to wait 3 hours - probably a safety feature). So, I did the second one at home last night. It was really easy.

Just read the directions. You can’t fly (due to change in pressure) and you’ll set off metal detectors. I need to remember to bring the ID they give you as I often have to go through detectors for work. Can’t tell you exactly what the reason is, but I feel so much relief. I’m also using a sports bra for mild compression which helps. My doc did not say anything about sleeping on my side. I’ve been sleeping on my back since surgery 11/21 and using lots of king sized pillows and a soft blanket on the side my head to make my head feel like I’m sleeping on my side. Lol.

The TEs expanded first in the cleavage area. I wonder if it will fill in different areas depending on where you place it — considering Aussie’s comments. If I end up looking stupid, I’ll just try to wear scarves or something. I’ll worry about that later - I don’t plan to be a d cup, so maybe that might help.

All Best,

Ceci

Hi Shelley,

I just want to clarify my statement: “just read the directions." I was largely talking to myself. I've had to read them over and over, and did today's fill only after reading and rereading. I'm sure I'll get the hang of it. It is really easy once you understand the meaning of the lights and sounds. Which is to say, I'm surprised that its easy, because I am nervous about making a mistake.

As to flying, the accompanying booklet says “you should not travel by air in a non-pressurized cabin while the expander is implanted." So, I was wrong to make the blanket statement that you cannot fly. As to commercial, it says “the expander will grow in volume. This may cause discomfort, and potential pressure-related wound complications. Your surgeon will assess your healing progress and the volume in your expanders."

That was something that kinda scared me. I am the first patient to use them under my PS's physician's assistant, so she said nothing about flying and I didn't think to ask. When she got one of them locked out, she suggested I might call the manufacturer with questions. The AirXpanders, Inc. customer service # is 1-877-349-2479. Apologies if you have this info already.

One of the benefits I like is that in the controlled trial, the fill time was half that of saline and theaverage time to exchange surgery was faster (3.5 months) compared to saline (4.5 months).

Ceci

I am scheduled for my PBMX with TE for 1/10, and had my final appointment with my plastic surgeon today. The good news: he will let me use these expanders, and had no issue with me using them even though I have a work trip overseas scheduled for early March. The bad news: he won't do the exchange surgery for 3-4 months after I am completely filled. I am a bit nervous about how it is going to feel being so filled for that long...and how I will be able to sleep (on my side) with them.) He seemed to indicate that I won't have to completely fill them...he said that that was actually an advantage of this over the regular expanders--I had told him that I did not want to be any bigger than I am now, and would be ok being a little smaller.

Jennyliz- Dr. Gedge David Rosson at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore is my PS and placed my aeroform TEs. The TEs were filled at 200cc at the time my BMX, so I woke up with some shape. I also had nipple-sparing, skin-sparing so I never felt boob-less. I was amazed at how normal I looked. I'm now at 300cc of the max 400cc and have had no discomfort. A few days I've filled twice, but I'm not in a hurry so will just do 10cc per day.

I'm a little concerned about why I have the small ones - I don't want a big profile, but more fullness, like a C cup, and I don't know how a wide implant could fit in the narrow space. My PA thought I could still get 500cc or 600cc silicone implants at exchange. I hope to get more answers when I see my PS on Jan 4.

My PS will also not exchange within a 3 month period.

Travel - my PA said I could fly, too. So apologies again for the misinfo. She just said they will inflate in flight and deflate when you land.

Wishing you all smooth recoveries. I had no idea how complicated this would be!

Cec

Johns Hopkins in Baltimore

So far, I have had a positive experience with them!

I had my skin and nipple sparing PBMX, pre pectoral TE placement, on 1/10. My plastic surgeon put in a medium-sized Aeroform Xpander and filled it with 200ccs. On 1/23, he pulled the drains and gave me the gizmos to expand at home. I had no problems or real discomfort putting in 20 or 30ccs a day. Six days later, I stopped at 340ccs--my doctor said to stop when I was happy with how I looked in clothes. Yesterday, I saw the doctor again, and he was fine with me stopping, and will not require me to fill anymore. It boggles my mind--when I look in the mirror, exactly three weeks out, I look pretty much the same as I did before surgery. (OK, there are some scars under the breasts, and yes, the expander does jut out a little, but still...I would say I am about 85% "normal" looking.) I told my doctor that I want to be the same size as before (about a 36C) or a little bit smaller, and am currently about 90-95% of my pre-op size.

He now tells me that I can do the exchange as soon as 3 months after the initial surgery, so if I am lucky, and the timing works out workwise, I might be done with this by late April.

Update on my experience:

I recently flew overseas for work (10+ hours flights) and did not feel any change (pressure, pain) while in the air. Set off the alarm everywhere, however. I had to practically swat away the hands of the TSA agent who was making grabby hands towards the boobs ("I just had a BMX, so don't touch them!") The security forces in the country I visited--at the airport, in their government offices, at the entrance to cultural institutions--let me pass through without issue, once I said I just had a BMX.

Like Ceci, mine seem to move a bit, particularly at night, since I sleep on my side. For a couple of days, I was really concerned because it seemed to have moved from the side to the top of my right breast, forming a hard flat ridge that was visible through my shirt. However, in about three days, it migrated back to its normal position.

bump for implant option