I had a mast with imm recon using LD Flap method and also a tissue expander 6 weeks ago. I actually thought I was having an implant but it seem there was a breakdown in communication with my surgeon.
I was happy with the cosmetic result following surgery although the recon boob was a tad flatter than the other, and I am small-chested anyway (34A), but today I went in to see my consultant and he decided to inflate my expander by 70ml meaning that it is noticeably larger than the other breast. I understand this needs to be done so that when a permanent implant is put in, it sits better, but is this necessary given that I have such small breasts (don;t want them to be bigger) which are pert and don;t droop?
I just want my recon boob to match my other one. Does anyone have similar experiences of tissue expanders with small breasts?
My situation is not quite the same but I thought worth sharing a few thoughts.
I had bilateral mx and immed recon with expander implants only (i.e. not LD flap). My natural size was 34B and I just wanted keep the same size. My surgeon was forever stressing I could have a larger size to the point I felt uncomfortable with him - it seemed he was judging my body and not favourably. Anyway, the implants were expanded with 400ml each at the time of surgery. The resulting tightness was close to unbearable and the result MUCH bigger than I wanted. I got fobbed off with " give it time to settle down" etc. and to some extent things have but it is uncomfortable and I feel self conscious in anything other than baggy shapeless clothes - not that my fitted blouses etc would fit anyway. I have 4 months to wait before appointment to talk about op to put in permanent implants and fear I will be over stretched beyond repair by then. Sorry that sounds like a rant. That’s all the negative stuff out.
I think the idea of over expanding is to stretch the skin and muscle so there will be a more natural “droop” to help match the other side. Do you have another appt booked to find out how long it is planned to keep you over expanded?
Hi Cassie and Misha
I’m new to chat rooms but your messages struck chords with me so I decided to give it a go!
I had a mastectomy and immediate recon with an implant at the end of Feb but because of various complications (allergic reaction and then the port got lost(!) and had to be repostioned under general anaesthetic) my surgeon has only just started the inflation process. As Misha says, because the implant is higher than the other breast the plan is to over-inflate it (he’s going to put more solution in next week) and then deflate it so that it droops and softens. Maybe its my age (64) but I have to say that I found being blown up like a bicycle tyre quite a surreal experience and I haven’t felt very comfortable about it. Perhaps it’s also because it’s a man doing something so intimate - would I feel different if it was woman surgeon? I’m also small -34A - and like Misha I’ve felt that my body is being unfavourably judged. Previously I’d felt that I was reasonably well proportioned and quite pleased that my BMI was spot on and that I’m still the size I was when I was 20 but my confidence has plummeted after my surgeon keeps commenting about me being thin.
I feel bad about grumbling because I know I was really lucky you have been offered immediate recon and the nurse keeps reassuring me that I’ll be pleased with the final result. I guess its just the PROCESS I’m struggling with. I suppose it’s also because it’s dragged on over so many months that it feels hard to move on.
Thanks for posting. Knowing others are feeling the same is a comfort though of course I wish no one had to go through this c**p. Like you my confidence has reached new depths. I was always in good health before bc, energetic, non smoker, moderate drinker, took some exercise but not sporty but it all counts for nothing noe.
I mentioned to the bcn that I felt uncomfortable with the surgeon always offering a larger breast size and she said he was only doing it as some patients would see this as a bonus - but I’ve clearly said I don’t yet he persists and it’s hard not to feel even more of a freak.
There are several threads on the go at the moment where people are having reconstruction difficulties. It is so hard to get all the pros and cons to make the recon decision when there’s all the pressure of the diagnosis and other treatments to consider too. Thinking back, I didn’t really appreciate how long it would all take and how I would feel. I am angry that the expanders seem to have been an unnecessary stage for me. They were fully inflated from day one and no adjustments have been made but I still have to have surgery under general to have them replaced - why I couldn’t have permanent implants from the start has never been adequately explained.
I just can’t face asking for an earlier appointment with the consultant, but I booked an appointment with my GP to talk about a few things hopefully in a less judgmental way.
Misha please don’t let your PS fob you off with less than an explanation you understand and, and, and, your agreement that doing that is what you want. His offering you larger breasts because somebody else might want them is absurd. He must listen to you. You have a right to know why he is doing what he is doing, and for your response to that to be heard. And acted on. There may be a good reason why he is doing what he is doing, but he has not yet communicated that to you.
My PS told me that with an expander, if you overfill and then remove some fluid to create a droop, the problem is that the stretched skin subsequently shrinks back to the size of the implant anyway, so, at least for me, a matching droop with expander then implant was not achievable - and I am not especially droopy, just as you might expect at 54.
So I would be interested to know if that happens, because that remark of his was a bit of a surprise to me as so many women on here have said about the overexpansion to create the droopiness.