breast reconstruction

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karenec
karenec Member Posts: 3
edited June 2018 in Breast Reconstruction

I am BRCA positive and had prophylactic bilateral mastectomy with tissue expanders 7/2016. I am very thin and have very small frame. I experienced tissue necrosis on one side and had to undergo hyperbaric medicine for 28 days. After implant swap, the cosmetic result was not satisfactory. After waiting for complete healing, the one implant was swapped again for a tissue expander. I then developed a staph infection which required another drain being inserted. Three months later, the implant had to be removed due to infection. It has now been 6 months. My doctor says I am ready to begin the procedure again. Due to scar tissue resulting from 6 sugeries on the area, he is considering the implant being placed over the muscle, rather than under the muscle like the other one. Having two different implant placements could result in loss of symmetry. Has anyone experienced this situation of having two different placements? This has been long 2 years and I'd like to get this all finished.

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  • joy2
    joy2 Member Posts: 43
    edited June 2018

    Hello karenec! sorry to hear all the trouble that you are going through and thank you for starting a new forum about these issue. I am BRCA! positive too and had a prophylactic nipple spring BMX on April 25/2018. I had skin necroses problems on my left side so i had to do 2 other surgeries. Last wednesday i had the surgery and my PS told me it could be implant replacement too if the implant was infected. After i got out of the surgery i was told that they did not exchange the implant just cleaned bleached and put it again back. Yesterday i was for follow up and my PS told me that my culture came back with a bacteria grow. H gave me more antibiotics to use but told me also that after that if the infection does not go he will remove my implant and leave me without it for 6 weeks with a de vacuum device, so frustrated. he could've exchange last week and not go all this trouble. So hopefully i won't go for implant remover, but i am very scared.

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  • karenec
    karenec Member Posts: 3
    edited June 2018

    Sounds very similar to my situation. I am scheduled for 6/29 to begin the procedure again on the right side. I will be getting the tissue expander placed again. This time, it will probably take longer to stretch the skin because going 6 months without the implant has caused the tissue to really shrink down. So who knows how long it will take. I'm only a B cup and not going any larger. Hate the thought of having a drain again! I've been to my surgery center so many times, we're all on first name basis!

    What is a de vaccum device?

    Good luck.


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  • joy2
    joy2 Member Posts: 43
    edited June 2018

    It is a vacuum device to suck inside i guess. I will see how it would go now. I am so frustrated like i don't want to hear anymore surgery

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  • karenec
    karenec Member Posts: 3
    edited June 2018

    I know what you mean about being sick of surgery. It has taken over my life and has affected everyone I know. I've had to cancel so many plans, trips, etc. I actually regret making this decision because of all the complications. I've seen pics of cancer patients who've had an easier reconstruction process than mine. But, nothing I can do about it now.

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