Hi there
I am due to have a risk-reducing double MX during the summer. As I apparently don’t have enough fat and tissue on my tummy (which I don’t agree with!) or on my back, I have been offered Permacol which I understand is a very new procedure whereby treated pigskin is used under my own skin as a ‘pouch’ for the implants.
Has anyone else had this done? I am keen to find out as much as I can about the procedure. I know that pigskin has been used for a good few years in hernia ops but I can find very little research about it being used in breat reconstruction. Having said that, I am confident that I would not have been offered it had it not been thoroughly tested and researched.
I am also having expander implants which will be injected with saline on a weekly basis.
I am hoping to be back at work in three months - does that seem realistic? I had nearly five months off last year following my DX and am just settling back into full-time working.
I have a 20 month old baby, and have been told that I must not lift him for 6 weeks after the op or I risk my new boobs “bursting open”!!
Thanks, hope to hear from someone/anyone!!!
She xx
Hi She
I typed a reply to you last night and lost it and was too tired to do it again. So I’ll type this somewhere else and copy it back!
I had bilat mx and recon in Dec 09, 5 months ago. I had Becker expander implants which were expanded only twice. I’ve still got the ports - I’m going back to see my surgeon in a month or so, and will hopefully plan the next stage of nipples and removing the ports. My nipples were removed and I had a reduction too.
I’m very pleased with the results - the scars are doing well and there’s a bit of a droop. I’m a lot older than you at 51, and my breasts were still pretty good but beginning to go a bit south, and they were too big. So there was an upside to the crappy cancer problem. One mx was essential and the other risk reducing and in many ways I think it’s been easier to cope with having 2 looking and feeling the same, albeit different.
Anyway, I can’t comment on the Permacol but as you say, it wouldn’t be offered if there were any risk. My implants are tucked under the pectoral muscle at the top - about quarter/third of the implant - and then he used a dermal flap - just a thicker layer of the breast skin really. I didn’t want to use my back muscle, and like you, didn’t have enough tummy to make even one boob. I was prepared to eat, but he said no!
I’m sure you’ll be ok to work after 3 months, but perhaps not full time. I started back after about 7 weeks, but only 2 short days a week, in the office, and built it up. I don’t work full time anyway.
I agree about the lifting, you need to be careful because of the stitches - internal and external - but you’ll be able to build it up gradually. You’ll be doing your exercises straight away which will help your strength. I walked as soon as I could and trundled up and down the corridor regularly - it really helped me feel better after the anaesthetics. I think it’s very unlikely your stitches would burst unless you did something really silly! You’ll be able to listen to your body, and take it step by step.
I prepared with a really good diet - 7 or so fruit/veg, limited alcohol, organic where possible, low dairy etc. And I was quite fit. I’m sure it helped with my recovery.
Lots of luck, and I’m happy to help if I can.
River
hello she!
just bumping and wishing you all the best for this op. as you know i had bilateral expanders in nov 09. i’m pleased with my result, but can honestly say the recovery took longer than i expected. i think it would have been ok if i had not had a busy toddler to pick up, bath etc… i was able to pick him up after about four weeks without it feeling painful. take all the help you can get is my advice. can’t help with the pig skin…!!!
much love, and hope you and your little bundle of joy are well xxx
River, thanks so much for your reply - that’s really useful to know. I think I will definitely make an effort to improve my diet beforehand (can’t promise as much for my white wine intake however!!). I have re-joined my local gym, so have been trying to take some exercise as well to try and get myself as fit and healthy for the op as possible.
I think my surgeon is hoping to spare most of my skin and also to keep my nipples too (I don’t mean she’s keeping them, I mean I am!). Just waiting for the envelope through the door with the date on it now. I really appreciate your posting.
Redcell, lovely to hear from you (and thanks for the message too) I think looking after my little boy is definitely going to be the hardest part of the recovery, but he is the main reason I am doing this, so I know I will get lots of strength from him. Keep in touch hun.
Shenagh xx