RE16's Breast Reconstruction (Implant) Experience

Breast Reconstruction (Implant)

It took me 2 years to make the decision to have reconstruction, the catalyst that brought me there however is rather humorous. Picture yourself showing in the grocery store with you cart filled with food when suddenly you feel something is amiss, you look down and low and behold our prothesis has flipped and the point is now on the inside touching your skin and the flat side is facing outward.....OH MY! I ended up deciding to go with the simpler reconstruction operation to have an expander put in with an implant to follow. The operation to have the expander put in place (under the chest muscle) was pretty routine, it took 6 weeks to fully recover and yes you are sore afterwards. I would then go in every other week to have fluid placed in the expander until the desired fullness to match remaining breast was reached. After each expansion the skin does become tight and some what uncomfortable but all in all it is not too bad. Once the expanding process was complete I went in to have the implant repalce the expander. Again it was much like having the expander in with the same recoup time and soreness. I was pleased to have a fake breast (no nipple) when I was in a bra but not pleased with the no bra results. Whenever I would lay down the darned thing would roll towards my underarm, not attractive nor comfortable. I lived with this for two years because I was tired of operations and unsure if it could be fixed. Finally after two years and the suggestion from my oncologist that I may want to complete the process by having the nipple done I decided to get off my tushy and find out if there was hope for a breast that did not roam when I laid down! I happily found out that yes in deed there was (it is referred to as securing the pocket.) It seem there is a super tape that is sutured into the area that is causing the issues and wahlah no more roaming breast! When having the nipple done you have to choose between very natural looking tattoos (my sister had them and they looked very realistic) or a skin graft that is 3D with an actual lifted nipple created from your own skin. I choose the skin graft figuring I might as well get as close to real as possible. In some cases there are issues with the skin graft not taking, happily that did not occur in my case. In the end I must say I am very happy with my results, so although it took over 3 years to finish it all it was way worth it.

Went as Expected:

Agree

Minimal Recovery:

Agree

Minimal Side Effects:

Agree

Minimal Impact to Daily Life:

Neutral/NA