Pain and discomfort post direct implant reconstruction

lemonee
lemonee Member Posts: 39
edited August 2018 in Breast Reconstruction

I'm 2-1/2 weeks out from my bilateral mastectomy with direct implant reconstruction. I see my plastic surgeon again in 8 days. Since surgery, my skin at the top of the breasts, into armpit, and the entire bottom edge feels very tender to the touch. It feels almost like a sunburn, but without any redness or anything. It hurts to even run my fingers over it or to have any kind of fabric touch it. I'm wondering if this is normal. Also, when I bend over I feel a strange sensation like something is moving. I'm assuming the implants move somewhat, but it just feels so weird. Also, is it normal to still have tender spots? I have Mentor cohesive gel implants.

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

    That all sounds very normal to me. It's a lot to adjust to - surgery with both removal of tissue and placement of implants.

    The "sunburn" feeling has to do with the nerves being cut. It was explained to me as a kind of sensation "disconnect" that some retraining helps with. I was told by a PT to try using different textures of fabric against the skin with different amounts of pressure. That helped a lot - relatively quickly. I still use a shower massage!

    And I remember the weird feeling with leaning over, too. Again - adjustments. The implants do move and your sensation is not normal. That gets better over time. Partly with healing and partly with getting used to it probably.

    I felt a lot better after about six weeks. Even now - I sometimes get odd "zings" in different places. But overall - I don't hurt and I have some sensation back.


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  • lemonee
    lemonee Member Posts: 39
    edited August 2018

    I called my plastic surgeon's office, and they told me almost exactly what you've said, so thank you for sharing that with me! I also have a spot that's very tender and feels almost like a bruise, but there's no bruise there. The nurse told me that they could get me in earlier if I felt like I needed to be seen, but since it sounds like all this is just normal healing, I'll try to stick it out until my appointment.


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  • Vermonster
    Vermonster Member Posts: 44
    edited August 2018

    Hi Lemonee - I am only 27 days out from bmx with direct-to-implant (Mentor gummies) and still have a lot of the same feelings you've described, but they're diminishing. It feels like I am getting used to the new chest, like it's becoming more a part of me than something foreign. Plus there's less swelling in the side-boob & armpit areas. I had areas that felt bruised before the bruises actually showed up - those spots are fading now, too. Every day it's a little better - I can move a little easier, stretch a little further (I can get my hair into a ponytail that's less scruffy looking!!) and be more comfortable relaxing. Good luck to you & everyone one of us in this boat!!

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