Can anyone share experiences of the operation to replace expander implants with permanent silicon implants? I’m interested in time in hospital, recovery time, is it back to square one with exercises etc.? I had bilateral mx with immediate recon with expanders and now have been told I won’t need chemo or rads so the surgery can be planned.
Would appreciate any thoughts.
Thanks
Misha
Hi Misha,
I can’t answer this from personal experience, but I visit another site and one of the ladies on there has just had her surgery to replace the expanders and is doing very well. She had 1 drain in after the op as they had to do a pocket adjustment but it was only in for a day. She is back home and hasn’t needed any pain killers and I think has only booked 2 weeks off work.
Hope this helps.
Cathy x
Hi Misha
What a fantastic question! Unfortunately I can’t help but would love to know the answer. I had a bi-lateral mastectomy in April and expecting to have my permanent implants done in September. So far my consultant won’t answer any questions about the implants until he’s ready to do the surgery.
Do we have to wear sports bras again… Not that I’m out of mine yet!
Will it still feel like I’m wearing a rucksack full of bricks.
Loads of questions but no answers… that seems like the norm for BC operations because what I can gather from all threads each operation is individual depending on what type of mastectomy you had originally or who your consultant is.
Sarah
Hello!
I had my fist mast July 05 then the prophylactic mast on the healthy side with expanders fitted to both May 06. I was expanded over a number of weeks then had my exchange surgery Dec 06. I stayed in over night and didn’t have any drains! I was signed off work for 6 weeks and recovered well although I went to the nurse a couple of times as I was worried about the wounds but all was well. My advice is to take it easy and not rush back to work ~ you need time to heal. As for exercises I would take the advice of your BC nurse ~ cant say I did anything much, just was careful not to strain myself. Bras were my main worry! so ask before your op and DON’T do what I did and call in at M&S on the way home ~ barely 18 hrs after op! naughty me [I think I was still under the Anesthetic!!]
Take care and good luck.
Rosemary
bumping up as it may help
HI Misha …I had my expander implant swapped in january 08 on the right side as it was only one breast my ps gave me an uplift and implant on the other side as I am 52 and a bit droopy after a lot of weight loss when first dx with BC … I have yet to have a nipple was in Hospital a few days cuple of drains in obviously and I must admit they were uncomfortable but not pain well obviously immediately after the op they are achey and do feel like they move around but I suppose they settle in time …apart from one wout nip they look pretty good and I can wear lowish tops !! If you didnt know me I look like I have a fine pert pair …I was 34c b4 op and still am .I go to seae PS on 1 july and he will then advise completing the nipple …You are aware they are there but he has done an amazing job and they do settle in with time .I was signed off work for 6 weeks but went back after 3 … I also bought this breast band on the recomendation of my PS just to keep them stable when I went to bed as apparently they sometimes move up I have rubbed oil into them daily which helps with the scarring which I must admait is almost invisible jut a bit pink and this also kkeps them supple and prevents capsular contracture …but your PS will tell you all this mine is a legend … I love him he is only small I am 5 ft 9 but he is gorg lol
He has taken before during and no doubt there will be after pics !!! any way I have digressed slightly !!!
Hopes this helps and good luck if i can help any just ask …Maz xxxxx
I’m due to have my expanders changed for permanant implants in Aug this year, i had a full matectomy on the right side and a skin sparing mastectomy to the left. Rads were to the right. My right sides has always been a little higher than the left and over time my left one has dopped and twisted and my right one has twisted and moved to under my arm area. I have been told that my right side will always be higher and that i may have to get used to wearing a prostesis for the rest of my life. I am determined to make this work and have been using crape bandages on a night to try and move the expander down.
Mazaroo, you mention a breast band… What is it and where do i get one from. The only thing that my plastic surgeon has told me to do is to rub cream in with a downward movement. She’s so negative that my implants won’t work and blames the rads for it being so high, even though i have a picture taken a month before the rads even started.
Anyone hve any suggestions to what i can do? I am rubbing in gallons of cream and using bio-iol and don’t forget my bandages…
Karen
Hi Karen the breast band is like an elastic bandage with velcro on the ends you wrap it over your boobs and its stops the inplant from moving up ,my PS gave me the mail order address …I cant think where I have put the details but I will have a look for you and post it on here …if no luck am seeing plastic surgeon on tuesday so will ask him then ,
Maz xxxx
Hi Karen have located the website … there are different kinds and sizes I had the 3 inch breast wrap but you may find one that may suit you better the company is called Eurosurgical … web addy is www.esshop.co.uk
Hope this helps it really worked for me ,
Mazxx
Thankyou maz, i have one ordered now. It sounds easier to deal with as at the moment i’m trying to wrap myself up with bandages to try and move it back down. So far it looks like it has moved down a little.
Once again thankyou. i’ll let you know how i get on
Cheers
Karen x
Glad to be of help …they arequite tigjht and do hold them down …my PS told me to wear them in bed but sometimes I wore tjhem in the day if my boobs felt high up
Hope it works 4u xxx
Mazzy P XXXXX
Hi Misha
I had my bilateral mastectomy in August last year, and had my implant switch in March this year…
The actual surgery was a lot easier than August, mainly because I don’t have much feeling in that area anyway. I wasn’t told to do my exercises again, but I did them anyway…
The surgery itself was brilliant, the scars are very neat and tidy and if I was happy with the size I would say they were perfect. Unfortuantely I was a 38E pre-surgery and am now only a 38B/C, so I’m hoping that something else can be done. I feel wonky and unhappy in my own body…
xxx