TE/Implant OVER pectoral Can exercise, comfortable &NO RIPPLES!
Comments
-
Saw the PS today; will do a nipple-sparing prepectoral with TE and then implants 3-6 months after that. He said he would consider fat grafting at a later date if I need it, but that I don't have much fat to spare. (I wish he could travel back in time to tell my 20-something self that.) He wasn't restrictive about which bras I use, saying that I should choose what works best for me and what feels good, although underwire will probably not be good. I asked him about travel this summer since one of our kids is working in Bolivia and wants me to visit - he said to play it by ear. Would any of you have felt well enough for overseas travel 6 weeks post-mastectomy? Also, I am not super confident that the nipples are going to flourish post-mastectomy since I have a vascular condition that affects my chest, but we're going to go for it anyway. How long do drains typically stay in? I am not squeamish at all, but I just watched a video on how to care for your Jackson-Pratt drains and yikes...
0 -
SavageGirl, I'm in Carlsbad too and have Wilde, Torrey and Shimizu. My PS is Arya. That's great you will get implants in July. We are practically neighbors!
Rebekah
0 -
sorry to say, I moved my DS to college 6 weeks post mx and I was still not lifting more than 5 pounds. Plus. You are not going someplace with the same standards of medical care.
0 -
ReadyAbout - It's really hard to know how you'll do. Everyone is very different. I'm sure it has to do with general health and age and complications, too.
I only had two drains and they were removed six days after surgery. It seems like a lot of people have them for around two weeks, some for as many as three or four.
I started PT a week after surgery. I think that really helped me. I had pretty good ROM within a few weeks and felt pretty good. However - I developed an infection that landed me in the hospital at five weeks post surgery.
Personally, I don't think I'd have felt comfortable traveling overseas for a while. Pushing yourself a little to get back to life is good. Knowing your limits and letting yourself heal is important as well.
0 -
ReadyAbout, I had drains for seven weeks following my initial surgery - no way I would have wanted to travel anywhere with those evil things, let alone overseas.
Also, if you think you may have trouble saving the nipples due to circulation issues I would strongly encourage you to reconsider. I went for nipple-sparing and had to go back in to have part of the right side removed and ended up with a very rare infection which was the impetus of all future issues for me. If I had to do it over again I would not have gone down that road. Easy for me to say after the fact, I realize, and I know you didn't really ask for an opinion - just wanted to share my hindsight.
0 -
I’m four weeks out from bi mastectomy surgery. When I scheduled I told them I would need to travel to Spokane two weeks after surgery to see my daughter’s last Ballet festival. I went! My roomie and travel partner carried my bag and made me ask for help lifting. I simple said,” I’ve recently had some surgery and I’m not allowed to lift.”
I didn’t do nipple sparing. A friend told me she had to go back in because of some dead skin so I didn’t want to chance not seeing my daughter. I figured I could tattoo them later and I wouldn’t have any sensation if they were spared. I only had two nodes removed. Drains out at Ten days. A tip a friend gave me was not to get the drains wet at all in the shower. I had a small belt with pockets that the friend made me for the drain balls. It looks kinda like a fanny pack. I was up walking the next day. She told me, “ You’re not sick, you’re healing!” I didn’t use much pain medication. Over the counter worked fine for my discomfort. I did take probiotics to help with the required antibiotics.
I got arm compression sleeves just in case and used them for the flight. I’ve been back and forth to LA on a small plane last week and have driven to San Diego for an appointment for my daughter the week before. We are headed to Tucson Wednesday night for a campus tour Thursday.
Maybe I’m crazy, but I surrounded myself with people who believe I can do things. When someone would start to tell me why I couldn’t or how they couldn’t... I would politely stop them and ask for their support. If complications happened or happen in the future I’ll create s new plan.
I give myself time to be sad, but focus on being blessed.
0 -
My PS said he'd give me a 75% chance of saving my nipples due to my age, sag, use of steroids for another disease, etc. In recovery he was very concerned and wanted to use nitro paste on them but my BP was too low to safely do that.
Well, my nipples did just great! No paste needed, no problems encountered. 100% success.
ReadyAbout, has your PS given you any prognostications concerning your nips? And as for the drains...it's not so bad when it's happening to you. The nurses take care of them until discharge and by then you will probably be comfortable with them.
0 -
ReadyAbout--I also did a nipple- and skin sparing pre-pec BMX--and took a two-week business trip overseas exactly 7 weeks after my surgery with no issue. I had no problem wheeling my carry-on bag around (I travel light!) but did ask for help putting it into the overhead compartment. My recovery after surgery was extremely smooth, despite needing to keep the drains in for two weeks (which were more of a nuisance than pain for me.) Caveats: the country I was traveling to has an excellent health care system, and I had the names of breast specialists on hand, lest I needed them. I also speak the local language. Also, my PS felt comfortable giving me antibiotics to take with me--we agreed that I would not take them lest I saw something problematic, and he agreed, per pix that I would send back to him. (In other words, I had all my ducks in a row!) Fortunately, I had no issues, so I didn't need to call the local specialists nor send pix back to the PS.
If you really need to go, I would, if I were you: 1) purchase travel insurance, with health opt out clause (assuming you can get it, since cancer would be a pre-existing condition); 2) track down the names and contact info for the top local specialists/hospitals ahead of time; 3) bring a dose of antibiotics as insurance, and set up a deal similar to the one I had with my PS--assuming s/he even thinks that such a trip is possible. But if you don't have to go, then I would defer the trip. In my case, I had two conference to attend, back-to-back, which I could not reschedule.
0 -
ReadyAbout --
I had four drains in, and two were removed after six days and the other two after another week (on the 13th day post-surgery). The drains were very easy to care for but were the most uncomfortable part of the whole process for me because you have to sleep only on your back as long as they are in, and also my surgeon would not let me take a shower until they were out.
My surgeon just cleared me to fly internationally on May 23rd, which will be exactly six weeks and one day post-surgery. However, I have been fortunate not to have any complications, and I also do not have TEs in because I went direct-to-implant.
I normally only do carry-ons but just this once I will check everything except a small laptop bag so I won't have to lift or carry anything heavy.
Good luck to you!
0 -
Hello to all of the new women who joined the thread lately Shades5blue, Shadie, VegGal and LisaK12. I started this thread to share information, and be a helpful resource for women choosing to do cutting edge Prepectoral Implant Reconstruction, so it good to meet all of you. Let me know if your PS is not on the list.
Macb04
0 -
I just counted over 50 Plastic Surgeon's who do Prepectoral Implant Reconstruction in the US
0 -
macb04 - you can add my plastic surgeon, Dan Hatef, in Nashville, TN to the list of PS who do prepectoral. Thanks!
0 -
Hi ReadyAbout, just added your PS, thanks for his name. Now there are 2 for Nashville.
0 -
I am trying to line things up for my surgery in a couple of weeks. How long is the downtime for prepectoral? How long before you could drive? Do I need to buy one of those wedge pillow things for sleeping and hanging out in bed? I've heard it is uncomfortable to sit up for very long, so you're basically leaning back in the bed or on the couch for a few weeks, but this is from friends who had traditional reconstruction, not prepectoral. Just about everyone I've talked to found the drains to be the worst part of the whole crazy rodeo. Thanks in advance!
0 -
please add Dr tiwari and kocak to your list, columbus ohio. mwbreast.com thank you
0 -
Ready, the drains really are the most annoying thing about surgery. I was going to be direct to implant but have pre-pec TE in place now. Mainly because I may go a tad bit bigger.. why not lol.. and with direct to implant I would have been possibly smaller. I had 3 fills at 120cc each a week apart (starting 4 weeks after NS mastectomy) plus what was put in during surgery. I was "topped off" as I say prior to even starting chemo. Fills are super easy. No discomfort for me anyway. Driving once off meds and it's comfortable for you. What surprised me the most was how 'OK' I look even with TE in. I am bigger but can still wear my same clothes as before and you would never know by looking at me. Most people would think I'm done with surgery. That was a nice bonus for me anyway. So far i am more than 100% satisfied with this part of the journey. Everyone is different with their experience and I wish you the best!
0 -
Readyabout I don't think you need any special pillows I know I didn't. Maybe I just say it was your friends that we're behind the muscle. This surgery is much quicker recovery. I was able to drive in a few days just want your off pain meds. good luck to you!
0 -
So I had my exchange surgery about a week and a half ago, and over the past several days, I have experienced a numbness--kind of like an asleep sensation--in one of the breasts, which seems to be "spreading." Initially, I thought I may have done something--perhaps moved oddly, or carried too much on one side--to cause a tight sensation, and now I feel like it is asleep and spreading. I am hardly aware of the other implant.
Has anyone else had this sensation? For some reason, I thought this was more common in sub-pec surgery.
I am seeing my surgeon tomorrow for my post-op visit, and will talk to him, but was curious about the experience of others.
0 -
ReadyAbout --
I did not bother buying a wedge pillow and am glad I didn't because I didn't need one -- I slept propped up on three pillows with one additional pillow on each side of me to rest my arms on. Everyone is different that way though. I did not find it difficult to get up out of bed and had no problems using my arms.
I had some trouble getting comfortable to sleep the first night home, but after that it got easier. I did not find it uncomfortable to sit up in bed or on the sofa and spent a lot of time reading and watching movies in between naps, chatting on the phone, playing board games, etc.
Five days after being discharged I drove myself to the salon to get my hair washed and blow-dried because I was not allowed to shower while the drains were in. I probably could have driven sooner than that but didn't feel the need to.
I was up and walking around in the hospital the day after the surgery. I would say plan to take it easy for the first 2-3 weeks, but I have been enjoying going out to eat once in a while, or grocery shopping, to a movie, etc. just to get out of the house. Once the drains were out I felt like being more active. I still have a little bit of swelling on one side but not too much.
My surgeon has cleared me to fly internationally six weeks after my surgery.
Good luck -- I think prepectoral has been relatively easy to recover from so hope your experience is manageable as well.
0 -
Hi DebAL, glad you joined us, and I have but your PS's names on the list. Hope you are doing well.
0 -
I'm almost a week out from my DMX, axillary node dissection, and TEs subcutaneous (on top of muscle). Still in some pain, with 2 of 4 drains remaining. Please add Dr. Mark Deutsch, Perimeter Plastic Surgeons, to your list. I am sure there are others in Atlanta who do this, but he did mine. Thanks.
0 -
Hi Ladies,
I like to peek my head into the forums and provide an update every so often. I am now almost 1 year out from my double mastectomy - May 17th, 2017. I am a two time survivor - being initially diagnosed in 2014 (lumpectomy, radiation) with a recurrence in 2017, which led to a double mastectomy last May and fat grafting last November. I had a skin sparing, nipple sparing, direct to implant over the muscle double mastectomy - AFTER radiation. My breasts are pretty close to the way they were - in fact the non radiated one appears and feels almost completely normal. I have full feeling in both breasts, full erectile function in the non radiated one, and 'semi' erectile function in the radiated one (she's a little sleepy, but far from dead!). I had no issues with healing. My heart goes out to all of you who have issues with healing and every one of us who has dealt with this horrid condition, but there are success stories and for most of us there will be light at the end of the tunnel. Too many of us who heal just go on with our lives and stop posting...
I am so enjoying this May compared to last year. Even though I have to admit that during my recovery I spent priceless time with my mother and I am so thankful for that time. (there are blessings even in the darkness). This too shall pass ladies... hang in there - I am seeing the sunshine on the other side and enjoying it. Love and Light....
0 -
What a lovely, caring inspirational post that was Sunrise fish. Thank you for sharing. Its wonderful you are happy with your results! I am still in the reconstruction process, had to switch PS to get what I want but am definitely now heading in the right direction.
So good of you to chime in with words of encouragement. I know lots of women face setbacks and revisions. It's good hear positive outcmes.
0 -
Great to hear about excellent results, even in the setting of rads causing possible difficulties. Its good you have had such sucess with your surgery, although I am sorry it is a second time to go through this misery.
Your story gives women who have had rads damage hope that they can still have a good reconstruction outcome
0 -
bump
0 -
does anyone know of plastic surgeon in Wisconsin who does pre pec implants
0 -
I really appreciate the women who have posted about their positive experiences! It helps make the upcoming surgery not seem so overwhelming. I know it won't be a walk in the park, but just hearing from women who are on the other side of the experience is comforting.
0 -
Hi RoJo,
I hope someone responds soon with a PS for Wisconsin who does Prepectoral. I figure there must be someone.
0 -
Hi RoJo,
Actually I just looked it up and found a PS practice in Appleton and Oshkosh Wisconsin called Fox Valley Plastic Surgery, Dr. David Janssen and Dr. William Doubek, that has a video taking about doing Prepectoral Implant Reconstruction. Look them up. I will also add them to the list.
Macb04
0 -
thank you
0
