Switching from underpec reconstruction to over pec!

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gracem1
gracem1 Member Posts: 28
edited February 2019 in Breast Reconstruction

Hi all.... I was diagnosed last January 2018. I have undergone a double mastectomy with under the pec smooth, round, silicon reconstruction. I had asked my doctor for over the pec as I am a massage therapist (I do a lot of pec activation with deep tissue massage), teach yoga and surf. I was told "they do not do that risky surgery in Canada". Fast forward to my 6 month follow up where I told him about the severe animation and discomfort I have been experiencing, and he replied, "why don't we put them above the pec"! I thought I was I the twilight zone. Apparently he started doing the procedure one and half months after I had asked 😞 ....So... as much as I'm freaked out about another surgery, the idea of not dealing with my pecs pressing down my implants all day is very motivating! My questions to you ladies are, who has gone from under to over pec reconstruction? How did the pectoralis muscle survive that ?

Who has over the pec implants in general and is athletic?? Do you feel the implants with this procedure ? How does the pec function? Do you feel a burning sensation on the pec?Your feedback would be greatly appreciated. Terrified and annoyed 😤😐

He actually said i am the poster child for eligibility for this procedure because of my job and athletic lifestyle. 😮

Anyway..need to let that go and get as much info as I can before removing them and placing them above.

Thanks ladies 🙏🏽🙏🏽❤

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  • XXXGGGYYY
    XXXGGGYYY Member Posts: 33
    edited January 2019

    I have over the pec implant (unilateral). I am athletic, in that I run about 5 miles everyday and do 60 unmodifiedpush ups and 60 (weight assisted) pull ups every other day (working toward unassisted pull ups), in addition to a variety of other somewhat intense upper body weights. I am smaller, and I have the smallest available implant. To answer your question, I cannot feel the implant. I do not feel a burning sensation. I like the cosmetic result. As with all of us, I am grateful that the cancer is gone, but I am sad I cannot feel my breast.

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  • CaliKelly
    CaliKelly Member Posts: 474
    edited January 2019

    Hi Gracem, I'm a former fitness trainer, and my first question after any of my treatments and surgeries is, when can I go to the gym?! My first recon was under the pec, and I hated it! I actually stopped all upper body weight trading except arms, for awhile . Then i had to get the latissimus dorsai flap recon with the implant now over the pec muscle. Its like night and day! So much better. I feel the muscle working , normally, when i weight train. Ive built my pectoral muscles back up to how they were before my diagnosis. The only weird thing is when the latissimus muscle, now in front, animates when I do a back exercise 😄,but I can tolerate that. The recovery from the LD flap surgery was easy and uneventful. I'm super happy with the change! Good luck to you!

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  • macb04
    macb04 Member Posts: 1,433
    edited January 2019

    Hi Gracem1

    Have you stopped by the Prepectoral Thread? Several of us there have switched over to Prepectoral from Subpectoral.

    Topic: TE/Implant OVER pectoral Can exercise, comfortable &NO RIPPLES!

    Forum: Breast Reconstruction — Is it right for you? Discuss timing and various procedures and techniques.

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  • gracem1
    gracem1 Member Posts: 28
    edited January 2019

    Thanks XXXGGGYYY for responding! That's hopeful :) I totally understand being sad not being able to feel our breasts 😭😭 but I already don't feel them under the pec (only the horrible distortion). They are like two inanimate objects on my chest right now and mine are bigger than I ever wanted! He said I would have an extra anchor scar, on top of the scar I have out to the side if I go smaller. I'm looking forward to having less discomfort xo

    Gracias Calikelly for sharing ! I'm so excited by your post saying that you have built up your pecs again. I kept thinking, that poor pec stretched to hell and then reattached! Who long before you got back to the gym If you can remember?? Im super stoked to get this out nad over. Scared about complications but i know deep down, i gotta try!

    Thanks macb04! I remember that thread from before! I'll go back to it for Iformation from those who have switched xo

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  • conscorner
    conscorner Member Posts: 23
    edited January 2019

    I also had a double mastectomy and the implants were put over the pectoral muscles. I don't think I had a choice because at the time, 2007, it was never mentioned. It has worked out fine for me. I can feel the implant under my skin, but it doesn't bother me at all. I would say that I have no complaints with the placement of the silicone implants. I hope that helps.

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  • CaliKelly
    CaliKelly Member Posts: 474
    edited January 2019

    Dr's wouldn't let me go back to the gym for 6 weeks, of course I cheated, went back sooner, but only light lower body work. The docs explained that even when it looks healed on the surface, there's a lot more stitching etc. beneath the surface. At 6 weeks I carefully started stretching ,light light weight training. Little more ea week. After about 2 months I felt a little more bold and started adding weights.Probably 6 months I felt very confident to get back to my former workouts. So great! Love that feeling of strength coming back. Be patient, listen to your body( and your surgeons😄) you'll get back to your super hero self! Prepare for post workout soreness, and keep stretching along with strength training 😊💗

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  • vlnrph
    vlnrph Member Posts: 1,632
    edited January 2019

    My sister insisted on having her pectoral muscle remain intact (she’s a ballroom dancer). The plastic surgeon used an Alloderm sling and said she had caused him to rethink his approach in some cases...

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  • Yaniza
    Yaniza Member Posts: 140
    edited February 2019

    Hi, I live in Halifax NS. I had revision from subpectoral to prepectoral last august. I started a thread specifically for the subject.

    A few have contributed their experiences. It is hard to find info specifically on this kind of revision surgery.

    Cheers, Yaniza

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