One step implant procedure with Alloderm - Anyone?
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Fortunate1, I am so sorry you're upset, but I'm glad your OC is on top of this. I hope you have your sonogram soon so you will have peace of mind! Sending ((((BIG HUGS))))
Creative, Sorry to hear you lost your implant. I sometimes think of having revision surgery and then I think of all that can go wrong. I just hoping I never have a reoccurrence and that my implants last a long time. I wish you the best of luck.
Robynkk, Welcome to our group. I did not have nipple sparing. I was a large C before bmx...I am now a large B. I was told by my PS that I could not be larger than a B because of the "one step". Good luck to you on Thursday. Let us know how you are. ((hugs))
PB22, My natural breasts were not perfect...my right one was a little larger. I plan to get nipple tattoos one day, but I'm glad I waited. My breasts have dropped over the past year. I wonder if I had tattoos sooner where they would be now! I think it's a good idea to wait for everything to settle. I like the idea of laser hair removal for your underarms!
Tashrox, Is the tighter side cc? My friend has cc and describes her breast as tight and higher. Good luck with your appointment.
Hope everyone has a good night. You are all in my thought and prayers. Hoping for good updates!
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NewBride, Welcome Back! I've thought of you often. I totally understand you needing a break. So happy to hear you are doing well! Happy Anniversary to you and your DH!
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I met with the PS today and I go in on October 7th for my revision. I feel allot better after meeting with him. It should be pretty easy he is going to tighten up one pocket and loosen the other a little. Hopefully all goes well. It will be a 2 1/2 to 3 hour surgery versus the 5 1/2 hours for my original surgery.
MEG9 - you asked if the tigher one was cc, I am not sure I know what that means.
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Hi everyone. I'm not new to bc.org but new to your thread here. I'm meeting with a plastic surgeon next week to discuss PBM and I'm curious and interested in the one-step with Alloderm. Any advice/ questions to ask the surgeon/ comments on your own experience would be so appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Kelly
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- Tashrox, Happy to hear you had a good visit with the PS. I will be thinking of you and wish you the best with your revisions. Keep us posted. CC is capsular contracture. It occurs when scar tissue around the implant hardens and begins to squeeze the implant. It can cause hardening of the breast tissue, rippling in the skin of the breast, and changes in the shape of the breast. It may also be painful. Surgery is sometimes needed to remove the scar tissue or replace the implant when capsular contracture develops. (WebMD)
Welcome Kelly, When I visited the PS and she explained the "one step." She said bmx and reconstruction would be done at the same time. No fills...no additional surgery to exchange implants. My breast size would be a large B. She would use alloderm...silicone gel implants came with a 10 year warranty. She also said there would be an indent in the north pole.
After the "one step" I learned that the pec muscle was cut and alloderm was attached to make a sling for the implant. I also learned that a nerve to my arm was severed during mx. With the "one step" the nipple area is flat...many have revision surgery to fix imperfections.
For pain some are prescribed a muscle relaxer. I wish I knew about that. After a few weeks my PS said to massage my breast to avoid CC. Ask your PS about that. The "one step" was the right choice for me. My breasts are not perfect, but I am happy to have them. I had a tremble in my left arm for many months, but it is gone now. I was lucky not to have any complications. Best of luck to you. Feel free to ask any questions.
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My app with PS on Oct 8th and I am wondering where will incision be: around nipple or under the breast? Is there is any difference in healing or cosmetic result between two incisions?
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Thanks so much for your reply Meg. Does the cut into the pec muscle interfere with exercise? Have you been told to steer away from certain activities?
Thanks again, Kelly
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BRCA1, I was not a candidate for nipple sparing. My scar is horizontally across the center of my breast across where my nipple was. My scars are 6" long. Ally, who came to our board, had nipple sparing and her scar was around her nipple. Others here have had nipple sparing and will describe their scar.
After bxm, I had moist, yellow, medicated strips that covered the scars on my breast and around the drain hole. They were changed every other day. Gauze covered the strips and my bra held the gauze in place. I had no problems healing. After a few weeks my PS gave me Mederma cream to apply to the scars which I believed helped. Some use Coco Butter. My PS also suggested to take Sin Ecch (Arnica) the day before surgery and continue the day after surgery. I did not take it because I was concerned if I would have an adverse reaction. Some women have taken it with positive results. Ask your PS about it.
Kelly, I walk 3 miles 5 times a week, lift 5-8lbs weights and use medium exercise bands. I avoid pec muscle exercises. I felt tightness...squeezing my implants so I did not continue. Maybe someone who has been working chest muscles will explain how they feel. I think it was Carole's PS who said some chest exercises would move the implants to the sides. When exerting the chest muscles, your breasts move. For example, if I were to place the palms of my hands on top of my desk and push down, my breast would rise up! It's not a problem, just some getting used to.
From the beginning, I started a binder with all my test results, etc. to bring with me to all my appointments. Sometimes I had reports that the OC did not have. Also good to have if you're going for second opinions.
The sun is shining and it's warm again...80's. I hope you all have a good day!
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I did have nipple sparing and my doctor also gave me a lift. He said that I had drooping ( a nice way to say they sagged) and if he just put in an implant it would look like a ball in a sock
My incision goes from one side to the other in the middle and he went above the nipple aeriola and just pulled it all up. So I have a line in the middle starting where my foob starts by my armpit and then it does straight over my nipple and then straight to my cleavage side, so a half moon over my nipple. I used some strips that are like the Maderma but it looks like a bandaid and you can get it wet and shower in it. In a swimsuit you can see my scars but I know that they will fade over time. They are flat but still pink. I was okay with the insicion to get a lift. I also did not have cancer, my surgery was prophlactic. Sorry for rambling hope this helps.0 -
I had nipple sparing unilateral mx. Since I had a lumpectomy with incision just around the areola, BS used the same incision for mx. It's healing nicely...about 5 inches from areola to armpit. Very faint scar.
Exercise: I do yoga, hiking, swim conditioning 2x week, treadmill and weights 2x week. I have stopped doing weights that work my pecs because I think it makes the submuscular implants move to the side. I exercise 6 days a week...and I alternate the activity. Yoga is about 2 days a week at most (I limit it due to the pec workout it gives with downward dog & plank).
I don't think there is any interference from incision with pec muscles....mine are pretty strong. Some PS cut a sensory nerve during this surgery to reduce enervation to the muscle to decrease tone. My PS did not and does not do this.
I was barely an A when I got diagnosed--I have to admit I would have liked having normal breast size but that is the way I was born. At age 51& after breast feeding two kids I was pretty much serving pancakes every day! Now I have large B...it was a bit strange at first. I guess if a woman had large breasts and went down to B it would be a similar experience of strangeness. It's been three months and I like my new breasts alot now. I look like a normal woman, who would have thought I would say that after mastectomy?
For those of you who are facing this surgery, it is unexpected, hard to grasp emotionally, a challenge to get through, but you will do it. Peace to all.....
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Fortunate, fingers crossed that you get positive news.
NewBride, it's wonderful to hear from you. I have thought about you during your absence and hoped everything was going well. Glad you're back.
I'm hoping that everything goes well for Robyn today as she undergoes surgery and recon.
We're in Holland, MI, for a week. Yesterday we went to the Gerald Ford Museum in Grand Rapids. Very interesting. I learned a lot and came out with a different view of Gerald Ford, who had many admirable qualities. We also visited the Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park, which is featuring glass sculpture by Dale Chihuly. Really beautiful to see. There were also sculptures by artists from all over the country who are participating in an art show and contest.
Today started out with rain and wind. The rain has stopped but the wind continues to gust outside. We're enjoying a quiet day at the rv park.
Hi to everyone. Hope you're all having a good day.
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Warm Greetings to everyone!
We are anxiously awaiting fall here in Phoenix. Still have the 3-digit temps, but soon it will be lovely. My daughters are home from college for the weekend and it was so nice to have family dinner tonight.
I am about three months post unilateral right MX and feeling more normal than ever. Recently I am sore on the lateral side of my right breast. I suspect it is scar tissue, but not sure. I will see my PS on Oct 29 so I am going to monitor the pain level. It started out mild and I would say that now it is mild +1. It only hurts if I touch it or lie on my side.
Otherwise all is well. I have been working about 25 hrs a week and doing some sort of physical activity 6 days a week.
Thinking of Robyn today....Hope all is well with everyone!
K
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hi ladies,
i wanted to give an update i was the girl losing my mind over the 2 weeks post opp and was wondering if they will ever look normal....well good news week 3 is complete im off pain pills except sometimes in the morning bc i wake up stiff BUT they are looking good! nice round and not bruised or swollen! im able to shower without being scared and things are doing much better! one question though....my armpit is very strange to me and feels very differnet to shave?? is this normal? i know the shape of my breasts are differnet now but hte indent of where i shave my armpit seems awkward? just wondering if this is normal....but otherwise healing well....onto chemo in two week, dreading it but eager to get my four doses over the next 12 weeks done with...will be finished just before the new year ! hope you are all havign a great weekend!
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Jennifer, the receding armpit is very common. I think everyone experiences it. A year plus a month out from surgery, I can shave my armpit with no problem. At first the armpits were hollowed out. Glad you're doing better and feeling positive about the treatment ahead. One of our members, NewBride, used cold caps during her chemo and didn't lose her hair. You might PM her about it for the details.
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My incisions are about 3 to 3 1/2 in. long, extending from outer edge of aureole toward the side.
Meg's memory is accurate. My PS cautioned that doing exercises that work the pecs can cause the implants to move sideways. I don't do any exercises to strengthen my pecs. I use 10, 15, and 20 lb. hand weights and walk an hour several days a week. At home I have a universal workout machine and I do lat pulls and leg exercises on it. I play golf as often as three times a week but usually ride in a cart.
Happy Sunday to all.
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Hello Everyone, I have read most of the posts in this thread to learn as much as I can before surgery and now 3 weeks after surgery. The surgery went well, but now I am told I need to have chemo. Will this effect the implants in any way? The onc. says it wont harm the implants, but i trust you ladies more
I am having a hard time catching my breath, I feel like there is something holding my chest down not allowing a full breath, is this "normal"? And when I am up and moving around too long I feel a numbing/tingling sensation in my breast. Asked the PS about it and he said it was the nerve endings, what do you think?Thanks!
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Basia: I did not have chemo (so sorry you will need this and hope you will breeze through) so I can't answer. As far as tingling, yes, I had lots of sensations in my breasts. I think it's the implants stretching the muscles. Did you have your sensory nerves cut? Some PS do that, mine did not--I think this is done to relax the pec muscles.
Time heals everything, it's true. I am over three months out and for the first time I am more relaxed (mentally) with everything. I think the tightness is part of the healing. I did not have a bilateral, so perhaps the tightness is increased in this situation.
And I love your comment about trusting these ladies more....I'm right there with you. The women on this thread and other areas of this forum have been SO helpful to me!
Carolehalston thanks for reinforcing this message about not exercising the pecs. I think this is true. I have completely stopped doing anything that causes them to "flex". I do shoulder, bicep, tricep and lat exercises, but no pec lifting. I have not asked my PS about this, but it makes sense to me.
Question: I am having some pain (with pressure only) on my mx side. It is a soreness right at the lateral aspect of the breast where it joins my chest/side. I suspect it is some healing/scar tissue with the alloderm and my muscle. Has anyone experienced this? I don't feel it with movement, only if I lie on my side or if I touch the area.
Thanks and Blessings to all!
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Speech529: I had the same thing with soreness at the top of my ribs on one side. It only hurt when I laid on that side or would touch it. I almost thought my ribs were bruised. I had that about 3 months out. I am 5 months out and it is gone. I hope that helps.
Basia: I had the tingling also about 2 weeks out. I don't remember how long it lasted but I do not have it anymore. I think it was just the nerves healing, my PS said that was very normal.
I hope everyone has a good day.
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Ladies:
I am back with some more questions. I have had 3 opinions now and am so confused. Two PS said they can not save my nipple because the scar is completly around the nipple (one from lumpectomy and one from breast augemation). One doctor, who does the one step procedure swears he can save my nipple but the two other PS say no way due to lack of blood supply. Who do I listen to? Does anyone have the same situation. Is it better to lose nipple now than later?
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Tashrox: thanks for the information. I do think it's part of the healing process. In the meantime, I am stretching and massaging.
Amadori That is confusing. I had 4 inch incision at the top of my areola and to the side from the lumpectomy. The mx was three weeks later so perhaps my BS knew that the blood supply would not be compromised. Did you ask the PS who can save the nipple what will happen if the nipple eventually is not viable? That might be a discussion that could help you make a decision.
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Hello Everyone,
Jpmercy, Good to hear you are heeling well and feeling better about your foobs! I recognized a change in my armpits the first time I went to shave. I believe the area is swollen and the muscles, fat and skin are all a little bit rearranged. Over time it will get better. Sorry you have to go through chemo. Happy you will be finished before the New Year! Then you can really celebrate 2011 with this behind you! I will be thinking of you. ((Hugs))
Carole, You really lift 20lb weights! You are my hero! I'll PM you the meatloaf recipe.
Basia, Sorry you have to do Chemo. I did not have Chemo, but I have not read that chemo affects implants. The numb/tingling is normal. There is still a lot of healing going on and it will take time. The pressure on your chest could be the weight of the implants that you are not used to yet or tightness from your pec muscles, but you should get checked out by your dr. I did not have any difficulty breathing. Occasionally, I still get phantom nipple pain.
Speech, I like your new avatar! I think during the first 6 months I continued to feel some kind of sensation or occasional sharp pain. My bra sometimes makes my rip cage feel sore at the end of the day. I still have difficulty sleeping. I feel the weight of the implants when I sleep making me uncomfortable. During the busy day I don't feel anything, but when I'm resting I notice everything. Healing takes time and getting used to the "new normal" takes time too!
Amadori, I wish I was a candidate for nipple sparing. Unfortunately, I don't have an answer to your question. There is a nipple sparing forum; maybe one of the ladies there experienced your dilemma. JulieL who used to come here had hyperbaric treatments to increase the blood supply to her scar that was not healing.
Hope everyone has a good day! Raining and cold today... 60's
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Meg thanks....that photo was taken two weeks ago while hiking Humphrey's Peak in Flagstaff, AZ. We hiked from 9600 ft to 12,600ft at the summit. Getting to the summit marked the final step in my healing. It took me 5 hours to hike 4.5 miles up the mountain trail.0
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BASIA- We wrote to eachother a while back, i had my BMX on Sept 3rd and i have exactly the same tingling and things going on and im a little over three weeks out. just off hte pain pills now and back to work full time....it looks at though you and i had the SAME news after final pathology! i was HER2+ with 2mm invasion and my dr was not comfortable with nothing since the HER2+ so im doing the exact same regimine as you and year of herceptin i go back to the oncologist on friday for a final schedule is this what happened to you after surgery ? we will be going through it all at the same time so please keep in touch i know you have little ones and i have my 8 months old at home such a whirlwind i just want it over with!!
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Hey. Me again. Cautiously celebrating my 1 year mammmoversary. Normal mammogram. YAY! MRI is still pending but I'm hopeful all will be well.
Basia, I did 4 rounds of Taxotere and Cytoxan after a nipple sparing 1Step MX. There was no damage to the implant that I am aware of. Hopefully my MRI results will show that as well. I did feel hardening in the areas where I had scar tissue from the MX. I am now almost 4 months post chemo and those areas are softening up again. I don't feel I sustained any permanent damage from my chemo.
Amadori, I chose my PS because he was willing to do a nipple sparing 1Step. After surgery there was some doubt as to whether I would be able to keep my nipple due to lack of blood supply. It took months to heal but it is okay now. Had that not worked out, the nipple would have been taken in a later minor surgery.
Meg, You are going to be so proud of me. I saved a bear and a cub by informing my neighbors about improper storage of garbage in bear country. They now have a locking dumpster on their property and no dumpster diving bears to relocate/destroy.
Thats all for now. I'm off for my walk. Hope everyone is having a good day. Be back later.
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NewBride,
Could you say more about how your nipple looked as it healed, and what activities you did or didn't do during that period? My right nipple, the side that had radiation in 2008, is a purplish black after a skin and nipple sparing double mastectomy on the 16th. I'm wondering if I'm going to lose it, or if it will just peel after a while, or what. If I do lose it, I'm wondering when the surgery would take place and how hard the recovery might be. I'm currently very happy to have my energy back, and will be returning to work next Monday. I'm eager to resume yoga and biking, the latter especially as it's my mode of transportation to work. Any advice for the sad-nippled?
Thanks,
d
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Hi all,
Fortunate1, I would be mad/upset too! I'm sorry to hear you have to deal with anything like this again. Keep us posted, I'm sure your Onc is just being very thorough.
NewBride, it's nice to hear that you are doing well! Glad to have you back. Good job with the bear intervention!
Speech, nice picture!
I don't remember who asked about the tingling, but I had lots of tingling and zinging type pains early on (healing nerves.) Most of them disappeared, but I also developed a strange, ongoing "pins and needles" sensation that reached from my head to my toes! I finally went to a pain specialist and was given a prescription for Neurontin. I was told that it would most likely resolve at about 12 to 18 months post op. The Neurontin helped, but I quit taking it because of side effects. I'm happy to report that I am much better (16 months post op.) I still have some slight sensations occasionally, but they are very mild.
My trip to L.A. was satisfying if exhausting. I'm glad to have missed the CA heatwave!
Have a good day everyone.
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Devorah, I resumed work as a stagehand within weeks of my MX. It is pretty hard physical work but nipple care didn't interfere. My nipple turned purple for the most part and black along the incision line across the bottom of the areola. The term for the black stuff is eschar. It is the same thing that happens to burn victims. It has to heal from the inside out. This meant twice daily cleaning with Hibiclens, generous application of Silvadene creme and covering with a sterile dressing for months as it healed. Also periodic mini appointments with the PS to debride little bits of necrotic skin when necessary. I wore a bra to work over the bandage with no problem. The only things that my PS didn't want me to do were swimming and camping. Too much available bacteria for a wound like that.
After the first two weeks, when my PS said, "It looks like it's not going to make it.", I begged him for another week and immediately went back on supplements that I had given up prior to surgery because of their blood thinning/circulation increasing tendencies, including aspirin. This was NOT at his suggestion. I told him afterward. Anyway that seemed to help. The nipple began it's slow comeback and keeps improving in appearance even now. There are other things that can help circulation also. JulieL used a hyperbaric chamber and I think it was Carolehalston who had a Rx for a topical creme that encouraged extra circulation.
My only real complaint it that my "high beam" doesn't work anymore so I put a bandaid over the other one if I'm going around braless. My PS will be doing a nipple reduction to create symmetry at the same time he places my implant for symmetry.
As to the surgery and recovery in the event that the nipple does not survive, I understand that it is an outpatient type of thing and recovery is no major deal. Hard to say for sure because it didn't happen to me or anyone else that I know of on these boards. I guess you could take that as a good sign.
Okiegal, Sorry I missed you in California. It would have been worth the trip to L.A. just to meet you in person. Sounds like you were pretty busy on your vacation though. Maybe next time.
Carolehalston, I've been following your vacation travelogue this summer. So cool that you got together with upcreek. Now that I don't have a doctor appt. every week I am planning some trips of my own. I really miss traveling. I plan to go camping in the Phoenix, AZ area in Nov. if the temps go down enough.
Gotta go. Housework approaching the guilt inducing stage. Better get it done. Back later.
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Fortunate1: Sorry about having fear again. Get the ultrasound done soon. It may be nothing at all.
Carole: Enjoy reading about your travels. We saw three moose this weekend just over the border. Do I need to tell you what state they were in (it is hunting season).
We had a beautiful drive on Sunday on our annual brunch to a Lodge in the U.S. The leaves were spectacular. We hiked before the brunch which was a good thing.
Back to biking home from work. It feels good and gives me time to decompress. Took a promotion at work. Wish I was less driven....
Hi to all the newcomers. Good to hear from you NewBride. Happy Anniversary.
Hi to Okiegal and Meg. Where is Ally?
Going to see our daughter tomorrow at University. It is her 21st bd. Then off to Cape Cod/Boston for four days. Will check in when we get back.
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Hi Ladies,
newbride wow, i had no idea the black stuff had a name and burn survivors deal with it too! I had it but I did not go to the dr about it. I just figured it was healing and used Hibibclens and a sterile bandage. I did not put silvadene on it but that sounds like a good idea.
My doc was very cautious about gettting wet so no baths, hottubs or swimming until she cleared me. My nipple healed beautifully. I am so grateful.
fortunate1 how are you? Sending caring thoughts and (((hugs))) your way.
Take care everyone. MegaPeace to you! K
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Hi Ladies
I took the plunge and posted some photos on TimTam's site under my id: speech529. The thread is "Uni MX one-step w/immediate recon". Now it's out there. Yikes.
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