One step implant procedure with Alloderm - Anyone?
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Hi GummyWorm,
I didn't have any lumpiness associated with my Alloderm, per se. Did you have drains? It does take a while for the swelling to go away even if your drains have been removed. I think the main concern would be with a possible infection and these are best treated quickly. Perhaps you should call your PS? They can probably answer your questions or have you come in for a quick check up. Hope this helps.
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Gummyworm, I don't understand enough about your surgical procedure to have any opinion. I would definitely be getting in touch with my ps. Hope you get some information and reassurance soon. My implants were placed underneath the pectoral muscles. I had pain and swelling for the first weeks of recovery. I also had healing problems with the left incision and the right nipple. Wishing you a healthy recovery.
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Thanks for your responses! My implants are below the muscle, but pectoral muscles don't cover the entire implant, which is why the Alloderm is sewn to the muscle. It protects the implant and holds it in place the way breast tissue protects the implant in traditional augmentatiom. At least that is my understanding. Correct me if Alloderm is used differently when you are going from natural breasts to reconstruction with implants.
I did have drains and I have had them out. I really don't think there is an infection, but I will keep an eye on it. I did call the PS office yesterday and spoke to the nurse. She was no help. I will decide today if I think I need to be seen before the weekend. Sometimes it just helps to have reassurance. I may be worrying needlessly. Maybe I shouldn't be comparing the side where Alloderm was used to the side where it wasn't.
Thanks for your help!
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GummyWorm, The procedure you describe with alloderm "one step" is the same we have had. I think swelling and pain is to be expected in the beginning. I remember my PS telling me if any area was "red" to call her immediately. If you feel uncomfortable, insist on speaking to your PS or make an appointment. The personnel at my PS office were useless. I hope you feel better soon.
CaroleH, Great to hear you are happy with your results! I'm OK with my little imperfections too!
Carole, I'm glad you're feeling well! Sunshine and in the 50's sounds good to me!
Okiegal, I saw pictures of Tulsa on the news! New fallen snow looks beautiful and it's good exercise too! I try to get out there and shovel before DH gets the snow blower going! It has been freezing and the ground has been covered with at least 2-3 feet of snow since Christmas. We have icicles hanging from our gutters!
Thanks for posting the website about tattoos! Looks like you may have found someone who can do my tattoos! The woman who designed the tattoos is a permanent makeup artist and is located about 15 minutes away! She is in a very high end medical spa that I would feel uncomfortable in! LOL. Maybe I'll get Botox while I'm there! I'm still apprehensive...part of me wants to get it over with and part of me doesn't want to deal with anymore problems! Ugg! Something I have been thinking about too.
Thinking of upcreek in Florida!
I hope everyone else is doing well! Have a great weekend!
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GummyWorm, I also had problems getting questions answered and being taken seriously by my PS staff. He moved during my healing phase and only had a young (and somewhat clueless) medical assistant after the move. Be persistant if you are worried.
Meg, I've been skipping my regular workout in favor of snow shoveling! The "variety"in exercise is nice, but I'll be glad to see it melt away. This type of weather has really shut things down. The schools have been closed for nine days. I don't envy the teachers, the students or the parents who have had to deal with their children being at home! I hadn't really looked at the other information on the "nipple tattoo" website. I'm excited that you are so close to a very skilled artist. I'd be a little more motivated to get one if I knew of someone so close.
Hope everyone is good.
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Thanks for all your advice. The swelling has gone down some and there are no signs of infection. I don't know if it was the Alloderm fully rehydrating inside my body or not, but it didn't seem like normal surgical swelling. I've done a lot of reading about Alloderm now. It's amazing what it does once it is in your body. (Not to mention what it went through before!)
I will now try to wait patiently for my next appt. in two weeks.
okiegal, I live in Kansas but have a house at Keystone Lake. We have not had nearly as much snow here as you have, but my kids have had three snow days since my surgery! Thankfully, my mom was here to help with them.
I'm curious how you all decided on reconstruction with Alloderm and implants as opposed to TE and exchange to implants. Obviously, one major surgery as opposed to two, but was there anything else? I probably would have made the same decision you did had I already not had implants, but I'm just curious what else weighs in when making that decision.
Thanks again for all your advice!
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Hi GummyWorm, welcome.
I didn't know about the one-step option until told about it by my PS. What I really wanted was a lumpectomy, but the position of the tumor in a small breast made all the doctors I saw recommend a mastectomy. I had a lot of trouble getting answers and appointments before surgery. Communication and follow-up was terrible, I had to wait 3 months before surgery, was in tears a lot. My PS was the clearest and easiest of the lot. I refused tram-flap and lat-flap because I didn't want any chance of losing muscle function. I had read about the Diep but thought it was very rarely done, so wasn't surprised that it wasn't even mentioned. My PS said I would be a good candidate for a newer procedure, the one-step. He said there was a size limit, and since I was a "full B" with almost no droop it would be perfect for me. No lift needed for the other side. I liked the idea, so expanders weren't even discussed.
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DH and I had a great time this weekend with Upcreek and her DH, whose birthday was Sat. They arrived on Fri. afternoon. We had dinner here at our house. I cooked an easy main dish, shrimp with linguini, salad and French bread from a bakery. Our dessert, King Cake, was also from a bakery. It was the filled version with cream cheese and strawberry preserves filling. On Saturday we went to New Orleans, took a riverboat cruise in the afternoon and spent some time wandering around the French Quarter. DH knew there was an event on Sun., a Mardi Gras marathon and half marathon, but he didn't dream the Quarter would be flooded with 20,000 young people in town for the race. They were having a great time and it was kind of fun to see them partying out on the street.
Sat. was a nice day, sunny with temp. in the 60's. Sun. was even nicer, but Upcreek and her DH departed early on Sun. My DH and I played a couples golf tournament at our club and came in 2nd place, thanks to good play of DH.
This whole week is supposed to be lovely with temps up to low 70's. More like our typical Feb. weather. I have a busy week ahead with something planned for every day.
Have a great Monday!
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Carole, we're looking forward to warmer days, including a low seventies day on Thurs. Sounds like you and UpCreek had a lovely visit!
Gummyworm, wow, we're practically neighbors! Hope you are feeling better each day. My mother had immediate implant reconstruction in the mid 80's, so I was familiar with the concept. My PS recommended the same reconstruction method for me, using Alloderm to insure that the implant would not move. He didn't recommend any other reconstruction options, but I had researched them all and felt like a TRAM or Latflap would be too involved. He likes to offer immediate reconstruction using implants as opposed to TE's because he feels like it is a quicker process and that the patients experience less pain and fewer problems. I couldn't agree with him more! I still don't understand why it isn't wildly popular. Perhaps it has to do with size limitations, I was a small "B" before my MX and am only slightly larger now, but very happy with the results. I would make the same choice again.
We celebrated my mother's 78th birthday Sat. night and my sister and I have offered to give a wedding shower for my niece. I'm excited about planning it, but a little confused about all of the "rules". It will probably lean a little more "artsy/casual" than my mother or either of our SILs envision, but my niece will be happieir that way. Hope everyone had a nice weekend. Happy Valentines day!
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Fornutate 1 thanks for the info. I am going to see a PS in march and I am very intersted in the NSM and one step alloderm with implants. I am small and want to go alittle larger but will see what he says. I am more worried about my radiated breast stretching but I have lots of old scar tissue that needs to be removed so I may just end up with a mx after all.
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Hi all, I had a visit with the PS today and want to share a comment. He wanted to take a 2 year photo but didn't have his camera so I'll go again to give him a photo opportunity. He is preparing a presentation to other doctors about the one/step alloderm procedure and apparently considers me a good example. How cool is that? He shared that one reason it isn't wildly popular is because you really have to know what you're doing to get good results. TE's allow for a lot more adjustment, and are easier for the surgeon to get right. He also loves how easy it is on his patients.
Okiegal, I bet you throw one fine party! Carole,what a marvelous weekend.
Sherryc, good luck to you. Hope you get the nipple sparing and the one-step. A thoughtful skilled surgeon can do wonders. If they need to stretch you slowly with tissue expanders because of the radiation it will be OK, just slower. Let us know how it goes.
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Okiegal: Has it stopped snowing? We had a great week of above zero in Florida but saved the best for last by visiting Carole and her DH. Great visit, great food and a wonderful day of experiencing New Orleans with great Louisiana people!
Carole and I discussed that we should all get together. It sure was great for me to talk to someone else that has gone through the same thing.
Back to the grind and the snow today but what a wonderful break.
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UpCreek, we are finished with the extreme winter conditions for now (and hopefully for this season!) It's supposed to be 74 on Thursday. That's at least a seventy degree difference from last week. Talk about moody!
I agree, it would be neat to get together. I don't know how to make that happen. Hey, I could throw a party!?! Ha! Or maybe Carole or Fortunate1 would like to offer? Some place nice and warm for all of the winter refugees. I'll bring a bottle of wine!
Hope you all have a great day.
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Yes! You're all invited. The weather is very changeable but never snowy! Carole might be here in September, a hot month, usually (but not last year).
On the other hand, I'd sure love to see New Orleans.
I would love to see you all!
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Hi Girls:
I havent been on for awhile but wanted to share my final outcome with all of you. I had the immediete reconstruction/nipple sparing surgery done in October with revision to my right breast to try and match the masectomy side. The surgeon was excellent!! My results are fantastic. Of course the numbness is there and the drain sites are still noticable but he did a wonderful job. He used the Alloderm as well. I am going for slight revision next week on my right side to lift my natural breast a bit higher to match the masectomy side.
If anyone has any questions, please let me know.
I am so grateful it is all behind me now!!!
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okay I have to ask the question? Why did I get tissue expanders and have to wait for reconstruction?
Is there a criteria whereby some can get the one step and others can't? I thought I went to a reputable ps and hospital but now I see how many people were given the choice of one step
wow I would of done it as well. I had bilateral last april with TE's, chemo and did not have recon. surgery until this past november. I am now awaiting to get nipples and aerola.
Help me to understand
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Most doctors still do the tissue expanders. The one step is just getting well known and widely used. Also, I am almost certain that since you needed Chemo, that would effect the immediete reconstruction and is another reason why they wait.
Are you happy with the reconstruction now with the exception of needing the nipples?
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Hi all,
Njbhwgirl, perhaps your PS took recommended TE's because he was concerned that you would need radiation in addition to chemo? The scarring from radiation can interfere with the final cosmetic results. As Fortunate1 mentioned previously, PS have more control with expanders and a chance to adjust the final results, so, perhaps it's the surgical technique he has the best results with? Then again, you might not have qualified due to size or other medical reasons. There's quite a bit that goes into it. Alloderm has multiple surgical uses, so that's not what's "new" and I'm sure your PS has used it for other purposes (skin grafts, etc.) Immediate reconstruction isn't "new", but the surgical technique of using Alloderm with immediate implant reconstruction is newer. I'm pleased to hear that it is growing in popularity. Are you happy with your results?
Amadori, glad to hear you are over the most difficult part and doing well! Good to hear from you.
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Njbhwgirl, I think it's most probable that your PS just doesn't do the one step reconstruction....yet. While getting better known, it's still not widely used. Chemo and radiation are done with tissue expanders in place, so chemo especially wouldn't be a factor. Even though I didn't end up having chemo, I was expected to, and no mention was made about it affecting my reconstruction. I think radiation is the one that can really add challenges to reconstruction. My PS said that the implant/alloderm does pretty well with radiation, if necessary. But he was sure happy that I didn't have it.
Amadori, good luck with the lift!
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Hi, everyone. We've had a week of beautiful weather. Mostly sunny and mild temperatures going as high as mid 70's and even up to 80 in New Orleans. We're usually a few degrees cooler here on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain. Our camellia trees in our yard have exploded into bloom. I'll have to take some pictures and see if I can master posting one or two.
DH has our new used truck camper right outside his woodworking shop. He has been busy building shelves and racks for extra storage. Soon we'll be taking a short trip somewhere to try out using the camper for travel. It is teensy compared to our large 5th wheel camper. When we go to Alaska this summer, we'll definitely be packing a limited wardrobe. Plus the bikes will have to stay at home.
I must get some prep work done for filing our federal income tax.
Best of luck to those having surgical procedures.
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Hi Everyone,
Fortunate1, How nice to receive such a complement from your PS!
Okiegal, I think it will be fun to throw the shower! When my nephew got married a while ago I made this (picture below) for fun. It's an iron board dressed with a full apron. The pockets are filled with kitchen utensils and matching oven mits for hands. I purchased the veil and costume jewelry at the party store! LOL! The future bride wore the veil while she opened her gifts! It was fun!
http://i945.photobucket.com/albums/ad293/MOB28/Lady%20Iron%20board/EasterESUIronBoard042.jpg (to view image hold control key and click on link) Took me forever to try to post picture! Grrrr
Carole & Up creek, Sounds like you had a nice visit!
I have an appointment with the OC tomorrow. I don't understand why I have still have appointments every three months? I'm going to try to get an answer tomorrow.
I woke up to seven inches of snow this morning! I haven't seen grass since before Christmas! WE are expecting another storm next week! The plumber is here...our pressure valve broke. While he was fixing the pressure valve the main water valve broke! Can't wait to get the bill!
It's almost time for my bear den watch! The yearling has become attached to the cubs...very cute to watch. When the cubs cry they sound human...when they nurse they make a humming sound that sounds like a car trying to start! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xc5UioHbYts
Take care everyone!
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Love the ironing board!! But why is it the Bride and not the Groom?? LOL!
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i am hearing more and more about Alloderm and just saw this thread. would anyone know if it is possible for someone who has history of rads treatment for Hodgkin's Lymphoma (1994, mantle rads to the chest, higher intensity than for BC rads) to get alloderm? my implants are a nightmare, tons of pain, am starting to consider other options. am not a candidate for DIEP. and I can't face many more surgeries as I had a tough time with the expanders as well. would love to have a one step procedure since my body is worn out. thanks for your help, if you read this and could advise.
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katonine, sorry to hear about your suffering. My surgery was bilateral Mx with immediate reconstruction using alloderm and silicone implants. No expanders. I went into the hospital with two small boobs and came home the next day with two slightly larger boobs. Your situation is more complicated and I think your best source of information is from interested and concerned plastic surgeons.
Good luck to you.
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Hi katonine, sounds like you've been through a lot. Has your PS recommended a solution for you? I agree with Carole. Ask as many questions of as many plastic surgeons as you can. Information is pure gold. Who knows, maybe alloderm and a small implant could help with what I assume must be very unhappy radiated skin and muscle. But it is unknown territory for me.
The best of luck in your search. Maybe you should start a topic with a question about reconstruction complicated by high intensity radiation, to find solutions that others in your situation have found. These boards are massive.
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Katonine: You have been given some sage advice from some great ladies. Sorry to hear of your troubles. Radiation causes many issues.
Meg: Carole and I had a great visit. We were treated royally. New Orleans is a fun city and hope to see it again one day.
Our daughter is home for reading week. It is nice to have her home and she really is doing homework! Only two more months and she will graduate.
Weather has been nice here for this time of year. No blooming trees here.
Hi to all
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Hi Ladies...I just wanted to say THANK YOU to you ALL!!
My surgery is upcoming this Tuesday March 1st (Bilateral MX with use of Alloderm and Silicone Implants) Although I'm very nervous I feel as prepared as I can be and will be happy when I get to the other side of this...I have learned and received so much encouragement from all of you women it's amazing and for that I'm truly grateful...It's a crazy process we've all encountered and I'm in awe of each and every one of you...
Cheers!!
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Hi to all my sisters,
I've been diagnosed in Sept 2010 and i did have chemo before urger, fortunately i responded to the chemo and CT scan in the mid of chemo showed no tumor and lymph nodes. Now i am waiting to finish the rest of chemo and i will have my surgey in April and i need rads too , the problem is that i cant have the rads later than 6-8 weeks after my BMX and reconstruction. If i choose tissue expanders i have only 6-8 weeks to get expanded , and i am not sre if thats enough , so i was sondering about one step procedure with Aloderm and wanted to know your honest opinions, originally I have very small breasts and i want to go to a C cup , i was wondering if thats an option with this procedure , and if over time this will change or deform specially having rads on them?? please help me .
Thanks you all
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Hi Melania, I did not have radiation. When I met with my PS she said the largest I could be was a full B. I was a large C. Unfortunately, I was not a candidate for nipple sparing because my breasts were large and there was too much skin. I chose the "one step" because I did not want additional surgery to exchange the implants. Some have a revision surgery after the "one step" to correct some imperfections...I did not. My best wishes to you.
ValerieG, I will be thinking about you on March 1. Best wishes...keep us updated. (((HUGS)))
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Wow, this is a busy thread again. Meg, the ironing board is so cute!!!!! I may have to steal your idea. Thanks for going to the effort to post the photo.
Melania, cup size is a relative measurement. If you are a small band size, you might be able to get a c cup with the one step. However, if you are a larger band size, a B will be the limit. Your PS can advise you.
Valerie, welcome and good luck! We are here to help you as much as we can!
Katonine, Alloderm helps hold the implant in place. I'm guessing that skin elasticity would be your biggest limitation? It sounds like the one step might be an option, but a consultation with a PS is the only way to really know. Let us know what you find out.
Hope everyone is having a nice weekend.0
