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Implant reconstruction after radiation
I have a recurrence of DCIS in my right breast. In 2017 I had a lumpectomy and radiation. I now need to have a mastectomy and I’m hoping to have an implant reconstruction, rather than the DIEP flap. Most of the conversations I’ve found on the success of an implant reconstruction years after having radiation are pretty old.…
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Implant Reconstruction AFTER Radiation
I have a unique history when it comes to reconstruction. I had saline implants prior to diagnosis and my breast surgeon asked if she could re-implant them when she did my double mastectomy. I then had chemo, followed by radiation. Fast forward 5 years later, and I decided to go for reconstruction. The "old" implants would…
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Explant Surgery-
Hi- I had breast cancer and bilateral mastectomies 13 years ago and immediate reconstruction using silicone implants. I’m having the implants removed and plan to go flat. The surgeon I saw said that he could only partially remove the capsule since I have no breast tissue. Everything I read says it’s best to have the full…
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Tips for Bilateral Mastectomy with Immediate Tissue Expander AND Implant Exchange
My Breast Cancer Journey from the perspective of a physician/patient/wife/mom of 3 boys and 1 pup: Dec 2022- First screening mammogram (Age 45, no risk factors) found over a 5 cm area of microcalcifications of left breast near nipple, which then led to 4 additional mammograms and ultrasound biopsy. Biopsy showed DCIS, high…
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MY MOTHER INLAW HAS STAGE 2 HORMONAL BREAST CANCER
Good evening everyone; I live in Turkiye and my mother inlove has stage 2 hormonal breast cancer. She took chemo, surgical operation then radiotherapy but after all of this, cancer cells again reveal at the same breast (left). By the way she has an implant after surgical operation. Currently she begins to take 2'nd chemo…
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How many reconstructive surgeries are too many?
I've had a setback with my reconstruction and I'm not sure what I want to do. I had a mastectomy on the right side in November 2022 and had a tissue expander placed, which was swapped for an implant in October 2023 after I healed from radiation. I had mild discomfort from the implant even after recovery and wasn't super…
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Delayed direct to Implant re-construction
Hi Everyone, My sister had double mastectomy in Jan. Her surgeon didn't recommend immediate re-construction. She is now thinking about direct to Implant re-construction. Please share your experience about direct to Implant re-construction. Thanks 😊
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Implant infection after 10 months
Hello all. I am currently in the hospital after having emergency surgery on my left breast. I am 10 months post-reconstruction. Everything was going fine, then my breast that had the cancer turns bright red, hot and swollen. My doctor replaced my implant with a new one and cleaned everything well. We are waiting to see if…
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New Implants - Not Satisfied
Hi. I had my exchange from expanders to implants 1 week ago. I can honestly say that I was happier with the look of my expanders. There is little to no projection with my implants and I have my post-op appointment tomorrow. I've done what research I know to do, but is anyone else in the same boat? I know there was a huge…
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implants uncomfortable? And questions about saving my natural nipple
Hi, I'm scheduled for left sided mastectomy in one week. I've had mixed messages about whether I can save my nipple. I'm a 38D with grade 1 ptosis and was told it might not look good if I try to save it but that it's okay from a cancer standpoint to keep it. I've heard about the natural nipple looking weird or getting…
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Is symmetry possible with SMX + perky remaining breast?
Hi! I have searched the forum, but couldn't find any posts that were exactly my question. I have been dx with DCIS. As a fun bonus, I probably have body dysmorphia and I am really worried that if I end up at all 'disfigured' in my appearance, I will become significantly depressed. So, my main concern with this diagnosis is…
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Medicaid Application/Renewal Survivorship Anxiety
I am a 39-year-old cancer survivor, and due to my BRCA mutation, extensive family history, and the fact that my cancer was triple negative, my oncologist has me under observation for the foreseeable future. I originally lived in Wisconsin, but moved to Texas in early 2019. I was transferred from the Wisconsin Well Woman…
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Questions and any advice for straight to implant reconstruction?
Looking for advice and suggestions on how to be best prepared for my surgery and any other questions I should consider for my PS. Two weeks ago I had a lumpectomy bilateral reduction. Love my new breasts. Sadly, the left reduction tissue was chock full of DCIS. The more you know… right? I get to heal for a couple of months…
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Re: explanting and going flat
Hello! I am 5 years out from my mastectomy and reconstruction and I want to remove my implants. I don't like the feeling of them in my body to put it simply. I am a tall thin person and don't qualify for any fat transfer but I do have a decent amount of skin (32C) over my implants and have been reading about the goldilocks…
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TEs. A Beginner's Primer
Hi. If you've found this thread, you are probably interested in information, tips and help. We'll all do our best to help. We'll post links to several other threads that may be of help as well. But many of us realized that we were scaring Newbies on the TE Trouble Board and that there should be an information Board…
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Which implant is better?
Hi there, I was diagnosed in 2019 on right side, mastectomy was one and then implant was placed( silicon, mentor textured). After few weeks of implant placed I have some pressure and puffiness on side where implant was placed but I was told that it will go way as I heal and I took it positive and it has reduced as well. I…
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Direct to implant, plastic surgeons only want to do prepectoral
Met with 2 plastic surgeons in my area and both said 'under the muscle' implants for reconstruction are a thing of the past and modern doctors only do prepectoral implants now with ADMs (allograft to create the pocket). The reason being that under the muscle implants can cause animation deformity when flexing the muscle.…
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Plastic Surgeon in Maine Recommendations for Treatment of Capsular Contracture
Hi all. I had bilateral mastectomies in 2008 after a diagnosis of bilateral BC. I had implant reconstruction with a successful outcome. However, in the past couple of months, I have noticed capsular contraction on one side. Since my surgery, we have moved to Maine and I need to find a plastic surgeon who is an expert in…
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MSK Plastic Surgeons
Hi! Newly diagnosed with DCIS in my right breast. It is in my entire breast and my breast cancer surgeon who is at MSK said i need a mastectomy. She has recommended plastic surgeons within the hospital but none of them have any before and after photos I can find. Also, i can't make more then 1 apportionment at a time to…
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Implants...does your "foobs" get itchy!!!
I've had my current set of implants....mentor silicone implants for 3 1/2 years now...and there are times I feel like I want to claw my chest off...this is mostly in the evening....I haven't been to the PS in 1 1/2 years (or is it 2 1/2 years) and have no plans to make an appt for him to just look at them and say yup, they…
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Breast implants impacting sleep?
Apologies if this is already somewhere on this forum, but I could not find it. I was recently diagnosed and I'm trying to determine if I will get 2 lumpectomies or a mastectomy with reconstruction. I sleep on my stomach and I am wondering if implants will negatively impact this, i.e., will I feel them as foreign objects,…
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Breast implants
Is anyone happy with their breast implants? I have expanders currently. Need to decide on what to do. Is there such a thing as fat transfer? Please advise.
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Anyone had implants after radiation?
So I just saw my PS for the first time and her PA told me that they don’t recommend doing implants if I have radiation even after having radiation because it can cause capsular contracture etc.. and I’m an A cup and very badly want to be bigger like a C.. so diep flap won’t give me the size I want (I don’t think) I only…
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Itchy chest wall 2 yrs after reconstruction
I had double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction after previous DCIS lumpectomy and recurrent cancer in both breasts. I wanted my original C cup, but ended up with D cups (go big or go home surgical approach?). The extra weight is not fun, and the chest wall itching started after year one. What helps me the most is…
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BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101
DISCLAIMER! I am not a physician or medical professional. The information provided is my own personal opinion. You must discuss every aspect of your reconstruction with your plastic surgeon. PLEASE NOTE: New information!! Allergan now has a very easy chart to follow to help you see how sizing works in relationship between…
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Bra after reconstruction, 5 years out
Hello! I haven't posted on here in ages but wanted to reach out to ask if anyone else if having issues feeling comfortable with their foobs in a bra. I have over the muscle, direct to implant reconstruction and they are pretty small, measure out to a 32c. I have a very lean chest and almost zero body fat on my chest. So…
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Implant removal
I had breast augmentation implant surgery done many years ago. Ten years ago I had a lumpectomy followed by radiation. I now have capsular contracture with the radiated breast. I know the implant needs to be removed and I'm trying to decide to have only the removal or a mastectomy as a preventative measure. Does anyone…
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implants when you have to have radiation
I had a mastectomy one month ago with expander placed at time of surgery. I have not needed to take any pain meds post surgery- I have a pretty high tolerance to pain- but the expander is terribly uncomfortable and aesthetically doesn't look anything like a breast, very tight and constricting under my armpit—I think maybe…
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Question for those who have implant reconstruction
Anyone with implants stop seeing their PS after their final post-op appointment? I have a scheduled appointment in September, but would like to stop seeing him. He is a great doctor, but unless I have an issue, I don't see the value in any more visits. I feel super ugly and would rather not have anyone, even a doctor, look…
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Diep vs Implants after partial mastectomy and mammoplasty
Hi there, I was diagnosed with metaplastic TNBC in my R breast in Dec 2021 at the age of 32. I have since undergone 8 rounds of dense chemotherapy, a partial mastectomy and mammoplasty, radiation therapy and 6 rounds of capecitabine chemo pills. I had a scare at my recent mammogram which required a stereotactic biopsy. My…