How are implants fixed in place when on TOP of the muscle?

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Lily55
Lily55 Member Posts: 3,534
edited May 2018 in Breast Reconstruction

Does anyone know how they fix the prosthetic implant when it is going in on top of the muscle and not underneath please?

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2018

    The way I understand it,via a sling made from cadaver skin.

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  • calidancer
    calidancer Member Posts: 88
    edited March 2018

    Mine is just sitting in the pocket that was left from the MX. It's not going anywhere.

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  • NotVeryBrave
    NotVeryBrave Member Posts: 1,287
    edited March 2018

    Most often - an "internal bra" made of Alloderm or a like product is used to help anchor the implants while the body recovers.


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  • justamy
    justamy Member Posts: 532
    edited March 2018

    Mine are just in there which is a huge problem. I have had 3 revisions partly because my PS stinks and partly because my skin keeps stretching and the implants flatten out. I'm going to see a new PS (I saw her for a consultation before but they discovered my insurance wouldn't work there. Now I have Medicare as primary which will work anywhere). Anyway, I'm going to see her because I'm having a lot of pain in my chest and I've had 2 oncologists tell me It's due to my implants. The muscles are hurting because of the implants sagging. I would be sure and ask and see if you can get the internal bra.

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  • Lily55
    Lily55 Member Posts: 3,534
    edited April 2018

    Surgeon is insisting it goes beneath the little muscle I have left.....

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  • NotVeryBrave
    NotVeryBrave Member Posts: 1,287
    edited April 2018

    Not all PS's are comfortable doing a "pre-pec" reconstruction. It's newer and not as widely practiced. There are pro's and con's to both methods.

    I chose this for myself because I wanted immediate recon. I didn't need TE's since I had adequate skin coverage and the implants weren't going beneath my muscles - just back in where the breast tissue had been.

    You may need to check around for a PS that does this if it's what you really want.


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  • ReadyAbout
    ReadyAbout Member Posts: 211
    edited April 2018

    I am doing prepectoral reconstruction in a few weeks. My main decision for choosing prepectoral is that I am an avid runner and exerciser and want to get back to doing those things quickly. It is my understanding that the best candidates for this procedure are athletic and lean - not sure what that has to do with it, but it's what I've read on several websites. The PS will use a filler called ADM (acellular dermal matrix) to create a kind of "bra" for the implant to sit in and the implant itself will be covered in cadaver skin when it is inserted a few months later. My PS will not do a direct-to-implant on the day of my mastectomy as he wants to wait and see how my skin recovers from surgery. I will have TEs (boo) until the implants, which he said could go in anywhere from 3 to 6 months post-op depending on how I'm doing. Also, he is using silicone implants as he said the saline ones have a lot of "bounce" which I don't want when running. Hope this helps - it is a newer procedure so there's not much info out there compared to other procedures. After talking with several women who have had the "under the muscle" reconstruction, the recovery for prepectoral sounds easier. (not that anything about this has been "easy".)

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  • Shades5blue
    Shades5blue Member Posts: 19
    edited April 2018

    I’m in between my mastectomy and implants. I’m four weeks out and have the CO2 expanders in place. My PS put some type of material in and the expanders are sewn into the pectoral muscle ( found that out after at the follow up appt.) this creates a pocket when it heals for the implant on top of the muscle.

    I know a friend , who was active and thin , had her implant that was placed under the muscle originally but one moved. Not pretty! She had surgery and they are now on top of the muscle with a bit of her own fatty tissue added and she’s done great.

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  • OctoberWife
    OctoberWife Member Posts: 1
    edited April 2018

    I had a Dx Mx the end of Sept with expanders. With reconstruction the end of Dec. I have my implants on top of the muscle. I was a DD 120 lbs, 5'5'' before Mx. I wanted to go smaller as I am very active and to enjoy running. I discussed my wanting to go smaller with my PS but he still gave me 465cc implants, which is still a D cup. I can not run as the implants are too heavy and feel like 2 rocks jumping up and down on my chest. I looked up the implant size in cc's and it accounts for 1.86 lbs each. If someone had told me before my reconstuction about how heavy they would be, I feel like I would of been more forceful and reminding the PS that I was active. And I wouldnt have to wear 2 sports bras to go for a run. I currenty have a surgery scheduled for the 11th of May to have smaller implants put in and hoping for more athletic breasts.



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

    Welcome OctoberWife, and thank you so much for sharing your experience! It's all about being comfortable after your reconstruction, and being able to resume your life. We're glad you've made the decision to revise your reconstruction, and we wish you the best of luck with your upcoming surgery!

    The Mods

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  • Sablanut58
    Sablanut58 Member Posts: 12
    edited May 2018

    I just got the expander, this is what you guys call allergan? It says 600 cc

    It has a metallic component, that is why I got this card, like if I were planing to fly!!!

    No idea if its sew or if it will be on top or under muscle. I also got this cadaver mesh. This are good questions for my next visit. I guess they explained all but too anxious to remember. Any ideas what to ask my ps? He said i will be 3 months with the expanders but i had a feeling it will be more. Why I was not a candidate for immediate recons, don't know either...

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