TEs. A Beginner's Primer

Hi All!

I just got my TE last Friday. I feel pretty good and am managing with Tylenol. Two drains...it is what it is. Only had one at mastectomy, but that was one enough to become a pro. When I read the 3 Rules posted at the top, I was thrilled about the “why am I doing this?" Honestly, I almost canceled the surgery thinking I was just fine with being flat on one side. I had figured out the prosthesis thing, and the right clothes to wear, etc. So why bother? The moment I woke up in recovery and looked down, I saw cleavage where there used to be hollowness and I had tears! I am thrilled even if it feels like the TE is in my throat! Lol

My PS placed it pre-pectoral and fills should begin in about 2 weeks. It's very partially filled with air at the moment. The tightness definitely show up more towards my armpit and collarbone, but that is where I was most hollow.

This growing a new boob with be a fascinating experience!

Meesha1978 glad you TE expander surgery went well. I had my right TE placed back in yesterday. They put on an ace bandage and a compression garment so I haven't see what it looks like. Looking forward to seeing the new one tomorrow. I am also able to just do Tylenol, mostly the pain is when I get up and down otherwise it is not bad just staying put. My TE were placed Subpectoral so they aren't high but are slightly in the underarm area but have not been to bad. The left side fills have been doable and not painful so far.

I'm about 6 weeks out from a uMX and had quit a bit of skin to start with. I had a tissue expander placed under the muscle and I was a 34C and on the other side, I went down to a B cup.

I'll have my third fill tomorrow and still have quite a bit of "folding" of my breast skin... the saline does not want to seem to go down to the bottom of my breast, so therefore it is kind of deflated down there, but filled significantly at the top/outside. My plastic surgeon just mentioned this would take some time to fill and even told me to press down as much as I can each day (like squeezing toothpaste??).

Has anyone experienced folding during the reconstruction process? Did your breast skin eventually even out? Is this even normal?

Thank you so much!!

My tissue expanders were much higher when they were put in. Now they have dropped like my old droopy boobs

As I read through this thread, I gain courage and then I read some more and I just weep. It's such a roller coaster. I've been in pain since Dec. Had a breast infection (that's when they found out about the cancer). Once the infection was gone I was in pain due to the biopsy. I had the first two biopies in Feb and have hematoma. I'm still in pain (though much less. It's more of an annoyance now than pain pain). The mastectomy is postponed due to the coronavirus. At this rate it seems like I'll be in pain for the rest of the year (surgery, TEs). I'm so tired already and my journey has just begun.

All that said, as I waver on living flat vs implants this thread is very helpful.

Thanks! I've decided on the implants. Searched for a plastic surgeon I'm comfortable with. My bilateral mastectomy is on June 10th. Want to get this cancer stuff over with!

Hi, I'm 5 months out from my double mastectomy and I still have a lot of discomfort under my armpit. Is that the tissue expander or just nerve damage? Some days it's worse than others. It's a very hard sensation to describe. Sometimes it feels like I am wearing a cardboard box and my arm keeps hitting the edge of it. Will this ever go away?