questions for everyone who has done reconstruction

I had a right-side MX, direct to implant reconstruction in July. One thing I would highly recommend is working with a physical therapist after your reconstruction has healed enough to resume all your normal activities. I had no complications and I felt like I was healing well with a good range of motion, etc. but I still asked for a physical therapy referral in October (I hit my out of pocket maximum with surgery, so I figured I might as well try anything that might help me for the rest of the year). My therapist showed me and my husband techniques for massage and scar work, and lots of exercises - it has been incredible in terms of improving my physical comfort, especially when laying down, with the added bonus helping me feel mentally and emotionally more comfortable with the changes to my body and confident pushing myself a bit when using the right side of my body.

I’m also getting per pectoral implants. So how did you know when you were filled / bigenough?

healthy20, Many plastic surgeons, including mine, prefer to leave the full expanders in place for 3-4 months so that the skin & muscle (for sub-pectoral) has time to settle into it's stretched position. I don't know if the same applies for pre-pectoral implants. Regardless, it is the PS who should be talking to you and telling you when the exchange surgery will be done.

Do you not see the PS at your fill appointments? And if not, is the person who does the fills not qualified to answer these questions? If he or she is not, you should insist on seeing the PS. Based on the size you want to end up, the PS should be advising you on when you've had enough fills and how long afterwards the exchange surgery should be. You shouldn't have to guess at this yourself - the PS is the expert and it's his/her job to manage the entire process.

I had TEs then reconstruction with Allegran implants. My effected side is tighter and needs grafting. No nipples, may do 3D later but not to worried. I am looking to do fat grafting to smooth them under arms and around each but my worry is does it clump or form nodules later? The chances of reaccurance are minimal because there is no breast tissue but it is worrisome and really a pain to deal with if so. I also developed below breast and on top of rib a pocket, it’s been for a while feels like jelly/fat. I’m told it’s fat but still worrisome. Goes away when laying down.

I chose no 3d nip tats. To me what I have looks fine. PS did a great job. Doing tats would look way to weird. I was firm from the start. Now over 4 years later, haven't changed my mind. As for fat grafting, I had it done at the top left corner of my unaffected side/implant. It took but not long after it seems it dispersed since it looks like before. Decided to leave it alone. No biggie for me. I'd ask about it. Had I known it's a possibility I probably would have bagged since it's purely cosmetic and only for me.