Breast recon/implants -Successful Stories after Radiation
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Okay, I did the BMX with immediate TEs, to change out exactly three months later. My radiated side was nine years prior...the PS was a bit concerned. All fared well, except the PS will not do the nipple recon. Went from a 36 A to a 36 C, am fairly happy. I too like the braless no strap feeling, and am still contemplating the 3Ds. I think my story is somewhat a success?
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Hi ARt123 I will tell you that more stories of failures are posted in this forum because people are unhappy and feel alone in their crisis. the positive stories seldom hit because those folks have gone on with their lives. so I had radiation 3 years ago and with a 2nd breast cancer in 2013 I had to choose bmx with reconstruction. I did not have enough fat for flap and also wanted traditional implants. Some Docs say no, others say yes. I had to leav my state and find the surgeons that had the skills to give me a nipple sparring surgery and do implant recon, so I had to go to Rochester mn/mayo clinic. It was not convenient at all, but in my state of Iowa I would have been a trainwreck. Find the best Docs and tell them what she wants. Their is always greater risk after radiation but now they do the tissue expanders with the radiation as it works better for the skin/muscle stretching. Find a surgical team with the top cutting edge skills, its all about the Docs. They did not have the skills in my hometown, so they would tell me no, But I have discovered it was because They could not do it, Not that it couldn't be done. Good luck and keep researching and asking questions, don't just go along with whatever the Doc says and always get a second opinion.
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so what did you do? I want to have this done too. I revisit the idea every time mammogram day rolls around. My lump/rads side has so flattened and deflated. Such a small dcis shouldnt have cause this big a change. I did have a hematoma and required a second surgery but they didnt remove more tissue, just stopped bleeding and removed clot. Im 51 now and on verge of remarrying so worrying about my body image.
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i have even more tissue lost than originally thought. I found my records copies of what was done. Im extremely flattened now mid to upper breat on lumpectomy rt side. There cant possibly still be any radiation swelling left. I have a consult, 5yrs since the last one, next this Wednesday. Im very optimistic this time as much has changed in 5yrs i feel. I will be praying for a full one cup size bigger to restore what was lost as well as whatever needed to lefty to make comparable and a luft to prevent the diabetic skin infections i sometimes get under the sagging breasts. Im also pyrsuing a panniculectomy or if possible tummy tuck if muscle repair is in order after 3 preg.and 2 c-sections. Im hoping this whole next 6 to 9 months will be a real transformation that i need and deserve.
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well todays consult hit me HARD. This 40ish male dr said sll he could do was reduce my good breast to match my bad lumpectomy shrunken dented size breast. Why the hell would i want that? Its been slmost 10 yrs. I had great skin healing 4 yrs ago with heart surgery even. I am so very deflated. I womaned up and set up consults with thedr who told me i could have surgery s few yrs down the road and also 2 others. I was really robbed of options at the lumpectomy rads stage. It was just a small DCIS and i dont t believe rads was necessary. Ive seen MANY they never did rads. Yet i was told dr will do this and this and gave me no other options nor told me rads could prevent future recon.
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Hi BlueWillowskys,
This thread has been sorta dead but I'm always looking for threads that are pertinent to me/my body.
I had lumpectomy/chemo/rads R side 2005. Lived life then BC again L side 2018. UGH.
BMX 2018, PS did not do direct to implant because she said I wasn't a candidate despite my being a saggy (full when young) C cup.
I moved between chemo and rads. New state, new doctors.
I did fine with L side while doing rads. Had to totally deflate R side due to Rads beam. Then developed infection R side and had to have
expander removed while had L side implant done.
PS suggested latt flap for better healing on R side. Had that done 12/2019.
More healing. Liked my new PS but felt I needed a PS who was better versed with 'complicated' cases.
My new PS suggested HBOT before and after new expander for better tissue health/healing.
Did the HBOT before new expander and have 2 more HBOT post-expander.
PS will start expanding me on Dec. 2nd. So far healing from this last surgery has been the easiest so far. Maybe because of the HBOT?
My L side has capsule contracture so I expect that to be exchanged when I get the expander exchanged to implant.
So, while I'm not exactly yet a success story I do expect to be one. I hated losing my R nipple/areola (have L but no feeling) I'm feeling positive.
Sometimes changing horses mid-race does work?
Oh, and, the latt flap was easy. I was in good shape before physically so recovery was easy IMO. Big scar but good mobility.
My latest BC journey 2 (almost 3) years later is still on-going.
Jaybird ~
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I am new to this community. I was reading your post and was wondering how you feel about your lat flap surgery after several years? Do you experience any chronic back pain or pain of another sort? Are you still happy that you did this type of surgery?
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In Nov 2021 I had a double mastectomy and currently have tissue expanders. In Dec I had an axillary dissection and LYMPHA. Radiation is to begin soon but not scheduled yet. My I initial visit to the PS, I felt that my only option was DIEP due to radiation and increased risks of complications. Just thinking about DIEP triggers anxious thoughts and I've heard that there can be success with implants post radiation. I'm working with my occupational therapist and have made my choice known to my team of doctors. My question is what can be done preventatively to help reduce complications?
Are there creams/lotions, vitamins, exercises, etc. that can be done to give the best possible circumstances to have positive outcomes after radiation? What has anyone found that worked well or wasted time or money?
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I too have concerns in this area. I had DCIS in 2014 which was treated with lumpectomy and radiation. I was diagnosed with IDC December 2021. My general surgeon says double mastectomy is the best route for me due to my history. However, she's concerned I won't be a candidate for implants due to my previous radiation. Therefore I will be meeting with a surgeon capable of doing either implants or tissue transfer from my belly. While a tummy tuck seems nice, I'm scared about the additional surgery time and down time associated with that surgery. However, a failed implant would be bad too.
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cinnkat,
I had a tummy tuck, breast augmentation, and lipo in 11/2020 before my cancer dx. I'd love to have the opportunity to do a tummy tuck for reconstruction. The down time for a tummy tuck is a lot. However, the downside to implants will keep you in approximately the same timeframe for lifting grocery bags, cleaning, etc.
Cons - a tummy tuck hurts. A LOT. Worst pain I've experienced in comparison to c-sections, hysterectomy, ACL surgery. I wondered why I thought getting a tummy tuck was a good idea throughout the entire healing process. The drains are worse than from a mastectomy. There is at least one on each side. You will have to keep them longer. It is more difficult to drain them through the pain. You must consistently drain throughout the day more than with a mastectomy. The whole healing process is pretty much brutal. Get the right PS to do a tummy tuck. I've seen lots of reconstruction photos where women have scars high above the bikini line. I don't know why a doctor needs to cut high when women want a bikini on again. women typically do not get scars that high with a tummy tuck that does not involve reconstruction. My scar line is covered by my bikinis. Get a PS who is going to throw in liposuction at the same time if you are looking to get rid of any excess weight in that area. Mine did it for free during surgery. It enhances that prior-baby look. And the PS can add the fat to your breast to fluff it up to match the other one. Yes, the lipo hurts too.
Pros - Wearing jeans without a muffin top from the tummy. So very SWEET. The flat tummy in shirts is a dream I thought I'd only see again in photos before having kids. If you have muscle damage from pregnancy it gets fixed. That tummy is rock hard again! I'd do it all over again to have the jeans & t shirt experience like I do now. You get to send the bill to your health insurance company.
My PS is doing my reconstruction with lipo to add fat to my breast. I am hopeful he will find a way to let me increase my breast size on both sides during reconstruction.
The "mom" tummy/boobs and I did not agree on how I wanted to look after having kids. So glad I did the tummy tuck. So WORTH it!
Hope this helps you answer some of your questions. Best of luck to you finding exactly what you want for reconstruction.
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Thank you for your information. It’s nice to get an idea of what others went through. Although we are all very different, it gives comfort to have a little knowledge
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I had expanders placed at the time of my original BMX. With an exchange to implants 6 months later. Two years later I had a recurrence that required chemo, ALND surgery, rads, etc. My BS was able to complete the ALND surgery with out touching my implants. The subsequent radiation had made that side 'higher & tighter', but no other problems.
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Im getting my bilateral mastectomy done next month. Im worried about the possible fat reabsorbtion into the body with the DIEP Flap. Did you hear anything about statistics for that? I have looked but think my question is a bit too specific for the internet. I talked with my plastic surgeon but we talked about so much. I didnt think to ask that. The current plan for me is bilateral mastectomy with expanders, radiation, then reconstruction involving implants with the DIEP flap. I think. I think i have that out of order somehow. Can anyone educate me on this?
I have a lot of the same worries. I am a 36 DDD and going to what little skin and belly fat I have. I was told that if I were to get implants at the time of mastectomy that it would look botched after radiation. reconstruction and implants would have to come after. Im just worried the body will reabsorb the fat (whenever I lose weight), and Ill be stuck with implants only - and therefore a botched looking chest. Its hard to think of myself as smaller than I am now. Im having major, major anxiety about all of this. Im super nervous about how I will look and how I'll feel about it. That and the pain. I am such a wimp. I have been told by many to ask for the chest nerve block to help with the pain. This is supposed to numb the chest area for 3 days. Yesss. Im worried about AFTER the 3 days and it wears off. Any insight? Any tips? Thanks for reading what is now my autobiography it seems and possibly answering my million and 40259yp923485yo84 questions!
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Mmm - there are lots of posts by members who have a mastectomy with expanders placed & filled BEFORE radiation. From what I've read, that allow the skin to accept implants after radiation is finished.
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My radiation was in 2015. In 2022 I found out brca2. Just had my surgery February 2024. Half way on expanders but my radiation breast us not filling on bottom and is high in chest and up under arm pit. Has anyone had this and ended up with a good reconstruction. PS said radiation side will always be high.
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I think these ladies had radiation years ago and are looking for information on doing reconstruction on radiated breast. I am also looking for this information. My lumpectomy and radiation was 8 years ago. I am in the mist of reconstruction with expanders . Did you find any information on expanders in radiated breast from past treatment
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I am 12 weeks out from my exchange. Had radiation in 2015. Found out Brca2 in 2022, so did the hysterectomy 2023 and mamo/mri screening til i could get a mastectomy. My radiation side was full of fibrosis, did not expand well. I could only expand to a b cup. The surgeon repaired the damage in the exchange surgery removed fibrosis tissue and place cadiver tissue. My reconstruction looks great. Now myself debate is nipples or not. I would call this successful. )
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