Size difference following recon?

Hi ladies,

My ld recon with expander implant is now just over 5 months old.
I am concerned as it is a bigger size than my natural boob.
I dont want my nat boob messing with, so am wondering what they will suggest when i have my appointment next week with consultant.
I was told that he may liposuction excess fat at the side, but fear it will still be slightly larger. If they opt to take some saline out, wont that make the breast ripple?
At the moment I put a piece of material over and under my nat boob to even things up (also to cover up nipple!)
I would be disappointed if i had to do that permanently tho.
Any experiences, or advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Rosie x

Hi rosebud I would be very interested to know what your consultant said after your last appointment. I had my first ‘top up’ today into the expander implant (which is permanent)and I am a bit worried about how it is going to turn out. The saline seems to have settled very high up and not behind the scar or below the scar which is where it definitely needs to be filled out. It makes me a very strange shape and the top of the fake boob is noticeably bigger than my real one. Under that I am as good as flat - which is depressing to say the least. Does the saline settle over a few days? I would hate to think I am going to end up with a bigger boob just under my chin Jordan style! Like you though, I really don’t want my natural boob tinkered with. I am a bit annoyed I have an expander anyway,as I simply wanted a straightforward implant to replace the tissue removed. I’m sure it would have looked better that way. (seemed a simple request to me)
If anyone else has had the expander ‘expanded’ can you tell me how it looks afterwards please?
Thanks Val x

Hi Both

I will watch this thread with interest too, just had my 2nd & possible final top up of saline laast Thursday & I too feel that the top of my Recon stands out too much, as this gets more noticeable & painful as day wears on not sure if just swollen re increase in size & weight as they put 60mls in. I feel as if this should be spread out lower down especially as I have a slight dent in the middle(had an infection in this area)
I have physio next Monday so was going to check with her to see if this normal, will let you know how I get on.

Susan

Hi girls,

I,m a bit further on than both of you. I had two top ups of 50mls saline over two weeks. The second time i also found it very tight, but was assured by bc nurse that it would settle, and it seemed to.
My implant is also a permanent expander vallee, and i also thought i would wake up with just a normal teardrop shaped implant. Anyway last week the consultant agreed it was bigger than nat boob, so aspirated 50mls. (The boob shape has always been quite ‘round’ top and bottom).
The result in removing the saline - the boob has dropped more in line with other one, but now i to have a bit of a ripple effect going on near the cleavage - great! This consultant thinks my options are, moving implant over towards centre, still liposuctioning at side, but also maybe lipofil for riple.

I am seeing my own consultant again next week, so will let you know how i get on.
Rosie x

Hi Rosebud, that is interesting that the boob dropped more in line with the original after having some saline removed. That is supposedly what is to happen with mine eventually. My implant is very rounded top and bottom and flat in the middle - does the middle fill out after all? Also I see you are having liposuction to the side - you haven’t developed a spare wodge of fat to the side have you by any chance? I ask because I have and it hangs over my bra in a most becoming manner!!!
Sorry for all the questions but it’s always nice to hear what it’s really like rather than what the surgeon feels you should know.
Thanks
Val x

Hi Val & Rosie

Not sure if we have had same Recon, I had MX & LD flap Recon. My physio did scare me a bit a few weeks ago saying if I did too much the implant behind my muscle may move, spoke to my BC Consultant who stated this will not happen as she had ensured it was securely in place.
As I had a LD recon there is a lump at the side but I was clearly advised that although this will go down it will always be there as this is where muscle was brought around to the front, not sure if yours is due to the same op.

I am glad to hear that it may settle down but if not i have option to take some of the saline out.

Day by day is the only way I deal with it all.

Susan

Hi Susan,

I had MX and permanent expander implant. Unfortunately I couldn’t have LD as there wasn’t enough spare round the back but I think that would have been better than just the straight implant. I’d rather hoped that after a day the saline would settle further down the breast but clearly it doesn’t want to. I’m a bit depressed looking at it today to be honest as I just can’t see it ever resembling a breast again. It is like an oblong with the bottom of the implant lower than my real breast and the top higher and much fuller. The middle is flat and scarred, truly not a pretty sight!!! I knew it wouldn’t be the same as my old breast but maybe I was too unrealistic in hoping it might at least look like a breast. The ‘fatty wodge’ at the side has just appeared out of nowhere. I’ll have to wait until 6th May when I have the second ‘top up’ and see what the surgeon says. Ho hum! It’s on days like this when I wish I had never joined!
Val x

I had a saline implant following an unsuccessful silicone implant put in when I had my mastectomy 5 years ago. The shape is now OK but,like yours, is a bit flat. Also, it’s higher than my other one. When I asked the surgeon if I could have the implant side made more droopy to match my real one, he suggested taking a tuck in the real one instead! He is also going to give me a nipple. I’m due to go to hospital next week for my “nip and tuck” so let’s see.

Don’t give up. Always ask the surgeon what else he can do.

All the very best,

Thanks, do let me know how it looks afterwards and if you are pleased with it. I think my surgeon already realises that I am disappointed with my recon so far.
Good luck, I hope it all goes well
Val x

Hi Val,

Good to hear from you. I will post the results of my progress and would love to know how yours turns out.

Love,

Hi ladies,

Been to see my consultant today. As i said, since having 50mls saline aspirated i now have a bit of a ripple effect, and the new boob is slightly bigger that nat one (altho it has dropped since aspiration). His suggestions were - changing implant for a smaller one and also to a silicone one. Liposuctioning at the side, and with the fat he takes out, putting that into the ripple bit to smooth it out.

He did say he could lift my nat boob, but i declined this offer!
He then said he could cut the nerve under arm, which would allow the boob to drop a bit more.

Of course i am now on his waiting list again as he says it is unlikely to be done before the summer, shame!

Hope this info helps,(Susan, hope yours has settled down now) and anyone who has already had this done, would love to hear from you.

Rosie x

It is all this bother that irritates me. Who on earth would want more surgery? I certainly wouldn’t want another implant put in.I have got more than enough scarring since they got hold of me! My implant is saline inside with a silicone outer wall so hopefully I won’t get the ripple effect. I have to say my breast does feel more breast like now - it is squidgy rather than rock hard but nonetheless an odd shape. I must wait until 6th May though before I can see the surgeon.
Thanks though for letting us know how it went - the fact that the boob has dropped a bit is promising. At least it must look more natural that way.
Val

Just to report that I had my new nipple done and a tuck into the infra mammary fold on the other side. Hope it will all be OK once I have the dressings removed.

Hi Tilly,

Was this just done on day surgery? I think you are brave to have a tuck in the normal side - I’m very nervous about interfering with the good side. When do you get your dressings removed? Good luck I really hope that you are pleased with the result and do let us know how it goes.
regards
Val x

Hi All,

Sorry it’s been so long since my last post. Yes, I had day surgery and it was fine. The nipple is great but my natural boob is still a bit lower and fuller than the other. I’m seeing the surgeon soon and hope he can do something. The scrline under my natural boob is very sore and it hurts to wear a bra. Luckily, I’m small si can manage for now.