TE’s and 20 year old radiated skin results

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Okiediver
Okiediver Member Posts: 2
edited February 2018 in Breast Reconstruction

Hello!

I was wondering if there’s anyone out there with tissue expanders in radiated skin (previous cancer 20 yrs ago and severe dysphasia this time) and how the end result was. BMX Nov 20, now at 750cc. PS filling to 1200cc. The radiated side is much harder and more painful but so far the skin is looking good and doing well. Before all this started the radiated side skin was soft and you would never know it was radiated. Now I’m a little concerned about how it will end up looking. Would love to hear results from those in my situation!

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited January 2018

    Okiediver, welcome to our wonderful Community. We are glad that you joined and hope you find the support and information you're looking for here!

    Warm wishes,

    The Mods

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  • dp1
    dp1 Member Posts: 21
    edited January 2018

    I am curious about this situation also. My left breast was radiated 13 years ago. I just had a BMX this past May. I am now in the process of reconstruction. The expanders are in, small fill on radiated side. I had some complications with the other side. We are now moving slowly. The radiated skin definitely feels different. I just hope we can complete this process. I still have a ways to go. I would appreciate hearing from any women whose radiated Breast turned out okay after completing reconstruction

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  • macb04
    macb04 Member Posts: 1,433
    edited February 2018

    I had a TE under my poor Pectoral muscle , then had rads. Decided to take out the TE and did a few Fat Grafting procedures. I didn't retain enough fat to build a breast after that so I finally decided to do an implant. I first got a new TE placed OVER my Pectoral Muscle (known as as Prepectoral Implant Reconstruction). After 6 months I got a 495cc Mentor Anatomical Silicone Implant. I am also on Pentoxifylline 400mg (3 times per day) and Vitamin E 400IU per capsule (3 times per day), and a cream of the same thing of Pentoxifylline 5%/Vitamin E 1%. There are several research studies about using the Pentoxifylline and Vitamin E for radiation fibrosis caused tightness, "woody" skin texture. My skin became almost normal, initially my skin was thick and woody, like boot leather.

    I am so glad I found out about Fat Grafting and Pentoxifylline and Vitamin E.

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  • Okiediver
    Okiediver Member Posts: 2
    edited February 2018

    I am curious about the Pentoxifylline. I am on vitamin E and Singulair, mainly because the singulair helps prevent CC which I had a pretty bad case of prior to surgery with my radiated side. Hoping it helps. I'll ask my doc. So it sounds like your dads are recent then?

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  • macb04
    macb04 Member Posts: 1,433
    edited February 2018

    I had rads about 5 years ago. I had about a year with very severe rad fibrosis. I tried PT for this horrible tightness and IRON Bra feeling. Didn't help at all. I would stretch and stretch, and it always fel like I hadn't stretched in days. That's when I started doing the Fat Grafting and taking the Pentoxifylline and the Vitamin E. It just started getting better and better. I also got some Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy to help with healing after surgeries. That probably helped too.

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