I was wondering whether any of you who had the type of reconstruction with implants under the muscle have the same problem as me… namely, twitching breasts.
I had bilateral skin-sparing mastectomies for DCIS nearly 4 years ago, and was given permanent, fillable expander implants. Since then I’ve had a couple of nip and tuck ops to try to improve symmetry etc, with limited success (I’m told I have a “thin skin environment”).
I think I’m learning to cope with the fact that my breasts will never be smooth and symmetrical, but I’m having such a hard time coping with the twitching of the muscles. It makes me so self conscious and I think I will never be able to wear anything but the loosest tops for the rest of my life. The slightest movement of my arms pulls on the muscles and makes my breasts jump all over the place… left, right, up, down. My breasts seem to be in constant motion. Sometimes I can see the funny side but other times, for example when straphanging on the tube and I can see someone watching in fascination as my tits dance, then it does get me down! Plus, the dragging, pinching and squeezing of the muscles is very uncomfortable.
And I was just wondering whether it’s just me, because I see other people talking about implant size, shape, hardness etc but nobody ever mentions this. Does anyone else have this problem, and if so… how on earth do you hide it?
I’ve never honestly heard of that before, but I am sure there will be someone out there who will have. My implants ache alot and I get even now numbness around certain parts of them after 3 years, but I must admit never twitching. What has your Plastic Surgeon said. Surely they must be able to do something to correct this. It must feel really odd and uncomfortable for you.
Hi
I had a left Mastx with a lat dorsi recon with implants in both sides to even things up. Ever since (op last April) my recon contracts/jumps when I use my lats and sometimes spontaneously. It’s very embarrasing and quite uncomfortable. I spoke to my surgeon and she said that nothing could be done as she disected the nerve (whatever that means?). She was quite short with me so I didn.t say anything more, there’s no way I could wear a tight top and like you I’m so self conscious of it.
Your’re not alone
Teapot, I wanted a lat dorsi but was told I didn’t have enough fat to work with so just had the implants placed under the chest muscles. My surgeon says it’s quite usual for under-muscle implants to twitch and nothing can be done. I’m perplexed… if it’s normal and usual for this to happen, why isn’t the problem discussed all the time on this and other forums? The other thing is that when I am using my arms and the muscles over the implants are contracting, it throws up a horrid mass of baggy skin and wrinkles over and above the implants, so it’s high necklines for me as well as loose tops!
You are right, Julie, it does feel odd and uncomfortable. To be honest it’s quite uncomfortable even in situations where the twitching isn’t an issue… these things are just so in the way all the time, even though I asked for the smalles size as my naturals were small. They’re so rigid and immobile (apart from when I’m using my arms and they’re twitching and dragging!) For example, lying on my side in bed is now uncomfortable as my breasts don’t move and squeeze together like naturals… so when lying on my side, in order to “clear” the upper implant I have to have my upper arm lifed up in front of my face or down in front of my thighs/stomach instead of what seems like a natural position of folded in front of my chest.
Honestly, I’ve always been proud of my high pain and discomfort threshold but these things are really testing me. I sometimes wonder if I’d have been better off going completely flat and implantless and just having nipple reconstruction.
Hi there. I know what you mean about the twitching, but it wasn’t until my nurse SAW it occur that they helped…well, somewhat. She prescribed a drug called Ativan. It is a depressant, so doesn’t always make you feel sharp (so I only take it when the twitching is bad), but it definitely calms down the contractions!
Hi - I had bilateral preventive mastectomies with LD flap / implant reconstruction a bit over 2 years ago …and had twitching similar to what has been described here. Quite funny as a party trick, but a nuisance in everyday life!
In Feb of this year I had surgery specifically to dissect the LD nerves (scars in armpit) and this sorted the problem, at least for a short time. Unfortunately the twitching on the right seemed to return a month or so later, and I have just had ‘another go’ at dissection a couple of weeks back. The surgeon seemed to think the nerve had healed itself after being cut, and so this time remove a section to prevent it happening again! Anyway, so far all seem well, though early days as yet.
So - some clinics recognise that this twitching is (a) quite distressing and (b) something that they can do something about. Even if you’ve been told that the nerve was dissected at your original operation (I was), my own experience is that sometimes the nerves seem to heal and so ‘another go’ is worthwhile. I wasn’t offered medication, but clearly this seems to also be an effective option, and matbe worth a try in the first instance
My assumption is that, like me, you do not have a Plastic Surgeon involved in your surgery/reconstructive surgery. A Plastic surgeon would have split the thoracodorsal nerve and also done some work on the tendon thereby preventing this in the first place. I have had 3 separate opinions on this. My breast surgeon doesn’t do it that way so the result is what we all seem to have and the only solution is more surgery which is what I am now going to have to have as the spasms are debilitating.
Please, please, anyone contemplating an LD flap - this is not uncommon. Get a PS involved and get your breast surgeon to take heed that “a plastic surgeon would not have done it this way” as I was told.
I’d also add that if there is any other option than LD flap then consider it because unless you have a PS doing it there is LIKELY to be less concern about the final aesthetics.