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Christinag53
Christinag53 Member Posts: 25
edited July 2021 in Breast Reconstruction

I had a bilateral mastectomy & reconstruction (tissue expanders) yesterday. The expanders seem really high. Is this normal? I remember the plastic surgeon coming into the recovery room and looking at me. He said everything looked good but I think I look deformed right now. The expanders were placed above the muscle.

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  • Monarchandthemilkweed
    Monarchandthemilkweed Member Posts: 176
    edited June 2021

    hi Christina, I’m about a month ahead of you so by no means an expert but I remember being upset and disappointed how my breasts looked immediately afterwards. One side looked smaller and higher. I’ve had a month to heal and one fill and they look different week to week. Everyone assures me everything I’m worried about will be addressed during the exchange surgery. My expanders are on top of the muscle as well. I had wanted under the muscle but due to my specific anatomy it wasn’t possible which is fine. I urge you to try and not become too upset about how they look because it’s so early. Of course be sure to bring it up on a follow up appointment. My dr has been very reassuring.

    Take care


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  • Christinag53
    Christinag53 Member Posts: 25
    edited June 2021

    Thank you for the info! That makes me feel better. How long did your pain/soreness last after surgery? I realize the expanders may be uncomfortable etc but right now I’m still having pain/soreness. Can’t really use my arms to reach for things. Hurts to walk around when I first get up and it’s hard to get up at times. I

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  • historygeek
    historygeek Member Posts: 46
    edited June 2021

    I was in the most pain the first couple of weeks too. It took me a few weeks to get used to the expanders. The skin at the edge of my expanders was especially sensitive. I'm 6 weeks from surgery now & they are more comfortable. There is a lot of swelling that first month.

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  • Monarchandthemilkweed
    Monarchandthemilkweed Member Posts: 176
    edited June 2021

    first two weeks definitely difficult. I took round the clock OTC medicine as I usually don’t do well with prescription painkillers. So alternated ibuprofen and Tylenol. I really didn’t do much the first two weeks. I got dressed every day and spent time downstairs in my house with my family but I also spent a lot of time resting in bed. I’m the beginning I napped twice a day. Then once a day. Now a month out i still lay down every afternoon to read or watch tv. I’ve just started driving and I’m cleaning for the first time. Getting the drains really sped up my recovery. It’s hard to do anything with drains in. I was sent home with exercises to do. I did them occasionally with the drains in but the pulling on the stitches and the drains remained painful until I got them out. Once I got them out I could shower and I started to do my physics therapy in the shower and that really helped.

    The first couple weeks focus on rest, water, and protein. You’ve just been through major, major surgery.

    Hope this helps. Feel free to ask more wue

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  • BCSucks1
    BCSucks1 Member Posts: 26
    edited June 2021

    I had expanders under the muscles. .I thought they were insanely painful. I had the exchange done 2 years ago and they look good ,but overall I'm very disappointed. Because I told my surgeon I wanted to be the same size as when all this started, but because the implants are so much firmer than breast tissue, they definitely look bigger in clothing and I don't fit in all tops etc ( they don't move or smush as much). I'm also shocked how uncomfortable they are. They tell you that you won't have feeling, but they don't tell you it can feel like wearing a too tight wire bra that you can't take off. When I said something, my surgeon just shrugged and was very unhelpful. When I said something to my radiologist, she suggested I get smaller ones, but that's another whole surgery, another deductible to be paid, another recovery.

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  • Suee7161
    Suee7161 Member Posts: 3
    edited July 2021

    I still have my expanders in and it's almost been a year. I'm waiting for a call for surgery but these things have been insanely painful since they were put in. So painful that I've been taking round the clock pain medication. They do feel like an underwire bra I can't take off! A really painful one. I'm concerned the implants will be no better.

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited July 2021

    Hi Suee7161! We're so sorry to hear that, we know this must have been a difficult year! We hope you're able to get your exchange scheduled soon.

    The Mods

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