No expanders during surgery?

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Baj1027
Baj1027 Member Posts: 6
edited January 2020 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

Hi! I’m sure this topic is somewhere already. I had my surgery appt and we discuss possibly double mastectomy. During the appt, the surgeon said that I will not have expanders placed until radiation is complete (hence another surgery). Is this standard practice? I believe I’ve seen it done both ways, so just trying to get a feel of what others have experienced. Thanks.

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  • AnnC2019
    AnnC2019 Member Posts: 203
    edited December 2019

    I had a tissue expander placed immediately because it wasn't certain if I would need radiation because the nodes were removed during surgery. I only had radiation because I had a positive node 4mm macro metastasis with LVI.

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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited December 2019

    Yes, many plastic surgeons prefer to put in a TE and expand the skin gradually. My PS wanted to wait 3 months after I was expanded to do the exchange for implant.

    Radiation can often cause problems with the skin, so TE's first is usually the norm.

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  • Each_day_2018
    Each_day_2018 Member Posts: 154
    edited January 2020

    Yes, this is very common. My doctors recommended waiting at least 6 months after completing radiation, but said 12 months is better.

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