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Pre-pec reconstruction after radiation. Surgeon reccomendations?
I have been having a heck of a time finding a plastic surgeon that's willing to do prepec reconstruction for me because the area was irradiated. I've had subpec expanders in for 1.5 years now, been referred to multiple plastic surgeons only to be turned away due to the radiation. This process has taken months per surgeon,…
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Implants with known autoimmune illness
I originally planned to do a bmx with implants due to lack of tissue but have been nervous upon hearing reports of breast implant illness, especially among people with a personal or family history of autoimmune disease. I have Hashimoto's and Raynaud's and wonder if anyone else has these or other autoimmune diseases and…
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Implant surgery tomorrow. Questions
hello all I am scheduled for my expander removal Tomorrow, and will be getting my implants put in. The implants are going to be silicone. I keep asking my plastic surgeon about Saline, because I hear silicon is bad and can cause many complications, including cancer in the future. Am I being irrational? Should I be…
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3-step Reconstruction
Good evening all. My SIL was diagnosed with IDC in Dec. She is scheduled for mastectomy and SNB next week. She plans to do reconstruction with TE but here’s my concern. Her BS is at one hospital and her PS is at another. That means there will be no TE inserted during her UBX. But 10 days later she goes to another hospital…
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Just diagnosed 2nd primary same breast, 16 years later.
Just received Second diagnosis, same breast after 16 years. DCIS this time, last time Invasive, high grade, clear nodes, Lumpectomy, chemo, radiation in 2006. Will see surgeon in late April 2022. Likely not a candidate for more radiation to left breast. Assuming a mastectomy will be needed, and trying to decide if I should…
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itching under implant
Does anyone else get a lot of itching under/around a silicone implant - one year out? Should I worry about it? How would I know if this thing starts to leak, anyway? Thanks very much!
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BMI during fat graft
sorry I am not familiar with all the technical terms yet but being offered a flap surgery with fat grafting following a mastectomy. The surgeon today was trying to tell me that I was not an ideal candidate because of my BMI 35. I told him that just means I have more fat to give. But he said that it’s a higher risk surgery…
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Not happy with expander size and what about implants!
Hello ladies. I need help!! I currently am not happy with the projection size of my expanders. And I’m afraid when I get my implants I will be unhappy. I currently have 500cc expanders. And on my body they are not large. About a very small C or B. I want a full C. My PS said he would put in 560cc implants. But after…
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Timing of Surgery to Swap Out Tissue Expander
Could someone pleasegive me a feel for what to expect after the Tissue Expander is replaced? I had my last fill at the end of January so I'm ready for the "swap" now. But I have some travel I'd like to complete at the end of April and in May and in June. (The trips will involve a long car trip, a couple flights, a couple…
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BRAVA OR OTHER ENHANCEMENT SYSTEMS,??
Has anyone after lumpectomy and radiation been given one of these pump aided breast dome systems to increase tissue and vascularity and skin stretch and increase breast tissue growth? I am very interested in the Brava system but i believe they were discontinued and are gard to find. I went to a surgeon whose name was…
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Athletics,exercise and rehab after Masctectomy
Hi All! I am recently diagnosed and I am struggling with how to treat this diagnosis. I have met with an MO (medical oncologist) and last week a Plastic surgeon. The MO recommended a lumpectomy with radiation but I told her that I would rather have a BMx for peace of mind and to avoid radiation. She said it's a big surgery…
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PS appointment today. One and done!
I met with my PS today to plan reconstruction. He does not want to remove the existing implant due to rads, and he said it could cause too much tissue damage that may not be repairable. He will do fat grafting to fill it up. He said not enough in the tummy area, so he would have to pull from my tummy and thighs. He's going…
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Best options for Pain Management
Hi, I am scheduled for a PPMX with Diep flap reconstruction in April and have questions about pain management. From all my research it sounds like it could be quite painful and I know some people have been able to get a nerve block which helps for the first couple of days postop for pain management. I’m not sure if that…
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Unusual surgery - Local Axillary flap
I have an unusual situation and am hoping someone has some input for me. Background...in 2005 I had lumpectomy, TAC & radiation due to TNBC. In 2010 I had gastric bypass and lost over 100 pounds. Fast forward to 2020 TNBC again. Chose to have DMX. Had to put off reconstruction because of being on Xeloda for one year. Met…
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Replacing breast implants
I have had textured implants since my double mastectomy 6 and a half years ago. I am concerned because of the recall on textured implants but they have also shifted and there is scar tissue that makes them uncomfortable. I have decided to have them replaced and am trying to decide between plain silicone vs saline. My PS…
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Anyone had omental flap reconstruction?
Hi, I'm considering omental flap reconstruction (a technique by which omentum from the abdominal area is used to reconstruct a breast). Has anyone had this procedure done? If so, I would love to heat from you. I'd love to learn how that experience went for you in terms of hospital stay, recovery at home, pain/scarring, and…
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Squeaking Implant
I had my implants exchanged in November 2021 and 2 months later, started hearing a "squeaking" noise on 1 side. I met with the PA from my P.S. office and am waiting to hear if it is more than the implant rubbing on my chest wall. Curious if anyone has had this? How long did it last? Any advice? TIA
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Lipofilling or Implants?
Good evening, I had a lumpectomy and a second operation to remove further breast tissue last year following a diagnosis of breast cancer. The second operation left my nipple attached to scar tissue so has become unpleasant to look at. My operated breast is also smaller than my other breast. I am dueto have reconstruction…
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Radiation and expanders then implants
Hello ladies! I don’t even know if this is the place i should be! I’m trying to kind of find out some stats on something. So here it goes I will be having radiation on expanders that are under the muscle. My plastic surgeon said we will overfill and max out the expanders so that radiation won’t shrink that side so much. My…
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Nipple reconstruction from inner thigh
hi there, this is what my PS is planning for me around April. I haven't seen him since last year after a few check ups after my DIEP flap. I didn't want to ask him so ahead of time regarding the details. Has anyone had this specific procedure from the inner thigh? is it a day visit in the hospital or is it a stay over?…
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Reconstruction after Radiation in COVID
I had DCIS in 2015 which was treated with lumpectomy and radiation. I was diagnosed with triple negative couple of weeks ago. After few appointments with general surgeon, Oncologist and Plastic surgeon, it looks like double mastectomy is the best route for me due to my history. I am tired of getting stressed out every year…
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weird breast implant tightness
I have had my silicone implants for 2 years and have noticed when I am sick with cold, flu, covid really anything. I feel like my implants are tight or swollen. It's a weird feeling and disappears when I am well again. Has anyone else experienced this? Curious to see if I am the only one
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Skin too stretched out!
Hello I had my final exchange 3 months ago and I am not that pleased. On my cancer side, the skin is very dimply and resembles a deflated balloon! It seems like the skin was almost too stretched out and/or the implant is too small. My surgeon said most would be pleased with the results I got sigh. I do not have a lot of…
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The Itty Bitty Titty Committee
I really should have started this thread two years ago, but I didn't, so I'm starting it today. If you are wanting to stay small-breasted or are just generally thin and want advice on reconstruction from other women in the same boat, this is the place to ask. Hopefully other small-breasted/thin women will chime in to offer…
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Breast Reconstruction with Latissimus Dorsi Flap
My name is Sherry and i'm 58 yrs old. This is my 2nd bout with breast cancer. I had it in 2002 and I had a lumpectomy, chemo and radiation. It came back in December 2021 in the same breast. This time my surgeon said that I would need a mastectomy. I have also seen my plastic surgery. On February 16, 2022, they will be…
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Traveling for mastectomy and reconstruction
I live in Atlanta, and I've heard a lot about the surgeons at St. Charles Surgical Hospital in New Orleans. I'm curious - if you traveled for your reconstruction (whether to New Orleans or elsewhere!), how did you handle travel? When were you able to go home? How did you handle any follow-up care? If you feel like your…
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Center for Restorative Breast Surgery Center
I’m having a difficult time with my post-radiated breast implant incision healing. My incision has been revised twice now. I’m currently recovering from the second one as I write this. My doctor referred to my complications as capsular contracture. He doesn’t think this second incision revision will hold. He mentioned…
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Breast warmer bra inserts for mastectomy patients
Has anyone tried the Brilliantly Warm inserts? They were made by a mastectomy patient to combat the cold feeling some of us get from implants. They look a little pricey, so I was wondering if anyone had tried them. My chest gets a little chilly when I'm in a room any cooler than about 68 degrees.
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Breast recon/implants -Successful Stories after Radiation
I wanted to find out if there were any success stories on this topic/procedure: Recentently I went to a PS . 4.5 years ago I had a lumpectomy, chemo and radiation. Although, my radiated breast is pretty much the same size, I have always wanted to get the fullness back in my breasts after having kids..etc... I'd always…
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Fat grafting after going flat?
I had BMX with immediate silicone implant reconstruction in October. I had figured I'd go back to my natural D cup, so my implants are each 535cc. They actually look great, but....they're heavy and feel weird. They seem sooo much bigger and in the way than my natural breasts were. I am extremely active (although not so…