Implants first or radiation first?

RosieRed
RosieRed Member Posts: 257
edited December 2018 in Breast Reconstruction

Hi!

I had a BMX in mid-November with tissue expanders. Since then I've been having my TEs filled weekly and my last fill was on 12/19. At that appointment my PS said he could schedule me for the exchange surgery (gummy implants) in just a few weeks if my RO was good with that. My PS seemed to prefer that things go that way. But last I talked to my RO (3 weeks ago),he wanted me to start radiation as soon as I can and hold off on the exchange surgery. I'm currently going through physical therapy so I can get my left arm comfortably over my head so I can start radiation. Both doctors want their way, but I don't know which order of things would be best and no matter who I ask, they don't give me a straight answer.

So for those of you who have gone through this, which order did you go in and are you happy with how you did it? Or do you wish you had put one thing first and then the other?

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  • KK2018
    KK2018 Member Posts: 65
    edited December 2018

    My plastic surgeon won’t touch my TEs until my skin/tissue has healed from radiation. He said that they get much better cosmetic results if the implants aren’t radiated (is that a word?). If capsular contracture occurs in the TE he can fix the “pocket” when he puts the implant in. He also mentioned that if for some reason my RO needs some fluid removed to get better angles for radiation he can take it out of the TE but obviously not an implant. I’m still weighing my options between implants and DIEP but my PS told me not to expect any surgery for 4-6 months post radiation. He’s very conservative but for me it instills confidence. He wants successful reconstruction for me, and I don’t mind not rushing it. Good luck!!

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  • RosieRed
    RosieRed Member Posts: 257
    edited December 2018

    KK2018 - Thank you for your response. Happy Holidays

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  • muska
    muska Member Posts: 1,195
    edited December 2018

    I opted to have exchange surgery before radiation. That was after talking to several specialists. Main reason is, radiated skin heals worse and there are more failures after radiation. But there are success stories too

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