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Breast Reconstruction

Talk with others facing decisions about whether or not to have breast reconstruction, and if so, what type and when.

Sub pectoral tissue expanders
HI all i finally opted for bilateral mastectomy which was done on 3/20. The flap perfusion was not great in the affected breast so plastic surgeon decided to place TE's below the muscle. It day 4 and i in so much pain still from the surgery have to take pain meds round the clock. Anyone have a similar experience? does the…
What’s your follow up care plan with implant reconstruction?
I had a follow up visit with my PS PA today and will have my last post surgery visit in three weeks. I asked if I needed any follow up care with the PS after that last appointment. She said yes, they would want to see me yearly. Is that what others do? I was surprised I need to be seen by the PS yearly, since I will have…
Weight gain immediately after exchange surgery
I am obese, and I have lymphedema and lipidema, so it is probably just me, but I gained 10 pounds in three days after my exchange surgery. I know it is water retention, maybe from the medications? I was up and walking hours after my surgery, which went well. I walk around my house and have been virtually pain free on…
DIEP "tight" abdomen
I see people talking about having to walk hunched over for a period of time after DIEP flap surgery due to the tightness. I am wondering if having lost substantial weight before hand (with TONS of loose skin) would help avoid this? I am up to 92 lbs lost and I am hoping that will be a benefit in this one area!! Finding…
Successful Reconstruction After Losing TE's to Infection?
So I had a double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction with TE's at the very beginning of January. My incisions were not healing due to some necrotic tissue on both sides and possible infection, so the TE's were removed on Feb. 1st and the incisions revised. I have since learned that reconstruction with TE's has a…
Insurance Companies Set To End Coverage for DIEP Flap Surgery
Read more about what you can do to help stop this.
Prosthetics Prior to Reconstruction - Insurance?
I had a DMX on Jan 4th with TE's. Earlier this week, I lost both TE's to necrotic wound edges and possible infections, so it will be 6 months before we can even attempt to begin reconstruction again. I'm not flat...I'm concave at this point! My question is, I know insurance will pay for prosthetics or reconstruction, but…
Single MX and matching natural breast
Hi! I have single MX surgery coming up on 2/9. I think I was still shell shocked when I met with my plastic surgeon, so I can't remember what he said about how he'll augment my natural breast to match the reconstructed side. I am an A cup. Can anyone tell me what is likely going to be done to kinda beef it up to match? I'm…
Am I crazy to consider a DIEP this far out?
My bilateral mastectomy was in 2010 when I was 44. Not skin or nipple sparing - wouldn't want to have "spared" any of the breast with the worse problems, that's for sure. Back then, I was adamant I did not want to discuss reconstruction because I was so afraid of dying and I did not want to miss an extra minute with my…
Not sure what I want to do. Ideas?
I had a BMX with direct to implant reconstruction in October 2021. Implants were the only option for reconstruction at the time because I wanted to save my skin, and COVID meant I couldn't get a DIEP - no hospital bed available, and I didn't really have enough fat anyway. Then pathology found a tumor in one of the sentinel…
LDF
My story is long, I will try to make it short. I was diagnosed in 2006, had lumpectomy, chemo, and radiation on my right breast. The surgeon did a botch job that has made my breast a mess. January 2021, diagnosed with 2nd cancer (same side, same type), had a bilateral mastectomy with expanders and implants, plus chemo. The…
Breast Reconstruction Surgeon Recommendation in Los Angeles
Hi everyone, I had a breast reconstruction with under the muscle silicon implants 10 years ago. My left implant looks deformed and shifted to almost under the armpit. I also feel, on and off, a shooting/stabbing pain in that area (it's not the heart) that partially numbs my left arm. I think this might be caused by the…
Diep versus implant
I am recently recovered from 4 rounds of chemotherapy after a double mastectomy, on endocrine therapy, and scheduled for a DIEP mid January. I find I am dreading it. I originally wanted to do it because I liked the idea of using my own tissue, not having to worry about replacement implants, etc. That's still why I like it…
Told to quite endocrine therapy for Diep
My surgeon told me that I needed to go off letrozole for two weeks before and two weeks after my DIEP. I had a hormone positive tumor though and am not very comfortable with that. I was told it was because letrozole increases your chances of blood clots. Is that the standard protocol?
Same surgeon for mastectomy and reconstruction?
Hi everyone, last week had been one of the hardest weeks after the week of the diagnosis so far. I have finished neoadjuvant chemo on the 7th of January (TCHP) and this week had surgery consultancy with different cancer centers. Needless to say I am so confused and hoping maybe your experience might help me make a…
Hybrid diep/implants
Does anyone have experience with this surgery?
Underarm Tightness After Swap/Fat Grafting
I had my swap and fat grafting last Monday. Fat grafting was done from the front of my underarms. It’s becoming increasingly more painful to lift one of my arms. It feels like the muscle/tendon at the front of the armpit is super tight. (It’s bringing me back to how I felt after the BMX). It is still swollen from the fat…
Positive experience with implants?
Hey everyone, I was just diagnosed for the second time and am really struggling with my limited reconstruction options. The first time around I only had a lumpectomy but this time I am doing a mastectomy (unilateral). I am not a great candidate for DIEP Flap surgery due to limited abdominal tissue (I could do TUG, from the…
Philadelphia plastic surgery
I’m researching plastic surgeons in the Philadelphia area that are trained in the exchange of older implants and also are skilled with fat grafting. Would appreciate any recommendations. Thank you.
Implants and reconstruction I need advice
Ok so I had my exchange consultation with my plastic surgeon today. I'm small frame but a tad over weight at 5'4" 170 I currently have 500cc expanders UM. I am getting 595cc Implants. But the projection is likely smaller than my expanders. My plastic surgeon said he can’t put anything any larger in I just feel defeated I…
Going flat after reconstruction
Hi all. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020. Had a bilateral mastectomy and immediate reconstruction. Tissue expander removal and reconstruction in February 2021. I have had a revision already, feb 2022. Since the first surgery i have had pain so bad sometimes it takes my breathe away. I was an avid runner and…
Bump over TE
Hi everyone. I had a DMX about two months ago and had my final fill last week. Day after the fill I noticed two pimple like bumps (sort of looked like in grown hairs) next to each other and when you touch it it feels hard (almost like plastic). Saw the nurse today and she thinks it's likely the expander but wants an…
Nipple sparing double mastectomy
I had my surgery in 2019. I was very lucky. No chemo or radiation. I was on Tamoxifen until October. Then my Oncologist switched me to another estrogen blocker. Most recently my nipples have become very sore and sensitive? Is this typical? Usually they are numb and uncomfortable. I thought maybe it is a side effect of the…
Breast Reconstruction at USC?
Afte 9 years and 9 surgeries, City of Hope has kicked me to the curb! I have yet another reconstruction complication, and they don’t have any qualified surgeons left at COH. Two of their very experienced surgeons have left in past year…don’t know what’s going on there! So need a 10th surgery, they gave me one…
Prepectoral implants, going back to sub muscular?
Had 7 surgeries, 2013-2014, many complications. Had sub muscular implants. After years of problems and pain, PS talked me into going prepectoral in 2020…what a nightmare! 2 more surgeries in 2020, and other complication.They are not supported, even though he used Alloderm, they are uncomfortable…sagging terrible although I…
Lymphoma from implants
Has anyone had one of the recalled breast implants and not been notified by dr. that they have one of those implants?
Ruptured Implant
Hello All! It has been awhile since being here. Had BC back in 2008 and had surgery and BIL/MX and immediate reconstruction in1-2009 .Opted for silicone implants as at that time did not have enough to do anything else from tummy etc. Was very thin and with a leaky gut to add to the equation !!! I had a recent MRI as it…
Plastic surgeon recommendations in southwest Florida
Plastic surgeon recommendations in southwest Florida
DIEP flap and mastopexy questions
Hello to all of you - firstly, I wish you the very best in your struggle, and secondly, THANK YOU for sharing your insight and experience. I'm new to the "club" - right breast mastectomy done June 17th 2022 and sitting with these awful tissue expanders while I figure out next steps for my Frankenboob. Very ugly and…
Anyone have experience with cupping massage?
I had my BMX in November and my exchange in April. I recently started going in for myofascial release to relieve some of the tightness in my pecs and now my therapist has started using cupping too. Cupping is where they place small glass cups on your skin and then use a suction device to suction the skin under the cups.…

Breast Reconstruction

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