Tightness after mastectomy

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fifi67
fifi67 Member Posts: 15
edited July 2019 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

I am just over 3 weeks since unilateral skin sparing mastectomy with direct to implant reconstruction (sub pectoral). I've been doing my exercises daily as instructed and have full ROM however I still feel very tight and am wondering how long it can take for this to improve. I'm aware that this is pretty normal with sub pectoral implants however I'm based in Ireland and wasn't given the option of a pre pec implant. Any advice would really be appreciated. Tgavk

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  • WC3
    WC3 Member Posts: 1,540
    edited July 2019

    I had my mastectomy about 8 months ago and had prepec expanders placed. I had tightness for months. I can now raise my arm on the non cancer side almost all the way up and before exchange surgery a month ago I could raise the arm on the cancer side at a 45 degree angle to the ground but now I'm back to just barely parallel with the ground because my PS had to do some more work on that side. I sure hope this is not permanent.

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  • CBK
    CBK Member Posts: 611
    edited July 2019

    fifi67

    You are really early out from a MX and direct to implant to not feel effects of surgery and tightness.

    I think you should be vigilant but patient. Im about 4 months out from my final exchange and I was just thinking wow yesterday they are starting to feel a little bit like mine. The tightness really has subsided but my PS said give it 6 to eight months to see where you are really at! Honestly the tightness could be from the MX itself!!

    I know our surgery progression are much different from each other, maybe another UNI DTI patient can share their experience ??

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  • sixelamat
    sixelamat Member Posts: 3
    edited July 2019

    I had right breast partial mastectomy followed in 3 weeks by a total mastectomy last November. I healed quickly with minimal post surgical pain. Now, months later, I am experiencing more discomfort. There are 2 places on my chest wall where the tissue seems to be "sticking". Anyone else experience this sensation? My surgeon said that massage would make this release....not having success with that.

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  • Each_day_2018
    Each_day_2018 Member Posts: 154
    edited July 2019

    I had my surgery September 2018. I remember It was really tight for 3-4 months, then it seemed to go away. I would just give it more time! 3 weeks isn't long for such an invasive procedure!


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  • sixelamat
    sixelamat Member Posts: 3
    edited July 2019

    The 2 surgeries were 3 weeks apart but it was in Nov. 2018. Guess I didn't make that clear.

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  • sixelamat
    sixelamat Member Posts: 3
    edited July 2019

    Anyone else have the feeling that tissue has adhered to the chest wall? It feels like my chest is hanging from the point where it is stuck and won't release with massage.

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  • exercise_guru
    exercise_guru Member Posts: 716
    edited July 2019

    there is a kind of massage that is called myofascial release. Barnes method. I go to a PT who does it . O had an iron bra all around my mastectomy area. It has taken months of treatments but now the tissue is moe pliable and I have improved my range of motion


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