Implant questions

Hi Churchnursey

Welcome to the forum and sorry to hear that you have been diagnosed with breast cancer.  While I haven't got the experience you are looking for I noticed that you haven't had any answers yet so I thought I'd reply to you anyway to welcome you the community.  This reply should put your question to the top of the discussion.

Wishing you the best of luck with your operation whatever you decide to do.

Best wishes

Daisy53

Hello churchnursery

I had a bilateral mastectomy with immediate implant reconstruction back at beginning of Feb. I am slowly recovering as will take some time for implant to settle and recover unfortunately. I have no regrets. I was not able to use my own tissue and fat and as I wanted reconstruction implant was my only option. My plastic surgeon did a fantastic job and I am very happy with the result. I needed nipple reduction as well and I personally cannot see any scars even though I was warned there will likely be one. Scar is underneath the breasts in the fold and the job he did was very neat and tidy and I have no doubt over time the scar will be minimal or non existent. 

Maybe talk to your surgeon to fully understand the procedure and position and effect of scars? Happy to share any other experiences with you if it helps.

best of luck to whatever you decide in the end but for me I have no regrets.

Hi Church nursery 

I had a mastectomy (left breast) with immediate implant reconstruction on 9th March so I am very early in the healing process.

I would not have chosen to have an implant in my life ‘before cancer’ and I am concerned that I may be one of the statistics that rejects the implant but all is good so far. I think if the implant is rejected I would go flat as I wouldn’t want multiple scars or the longer healing time. I was told that my new breast would be smaller than my right but at the moment that isn’t the case due to swelling etc

I had my nipple removed as the cells affected were too close to justify keeping it, so I have an upside down T scar, which from the small bits I can see (most is covered by a non-transparent dressing) appears to be healing well and should look quite neat. I have a nice cleavage still which was my main reason for trying the implant (I like my vest tops and wrap dresses in the summer) so it hasn’t been as much to adjust to as with a simple mastectomy.

if you have any questions that I can answer based on what the past 12 days have been like, let me know.

Hi Nyssa,

thank you so much for sharing this with me, I really do appreciate that. I’m seeing the surgeon tomorrow morning to definitively make the decision and I’m hoping he’ll show me some pictures of how it may look. I know it’s difficult, as everyone so very different. 
I realise it’s very early days, but are they beginning to feel a little more like you, as they settle? I’m worried about them feeling cold to touch and like two alien lumps stuck on my chest ‍♀️

thanks again

Hi Bea_me,

thank you very much for your reply and I’m very sorry that you’re in this position too.

I feel the same as you mentioned - I would never have chosen implants either pre-cancer and I’m also very worried about rejection/ encapsulation. But I think on balance, I’m worried I’ll have longer surgery and recovery from an autologous reconstruction and still have very little cleavage, because of where my cancer is. 
I’m hoping I can have a skin/ nipple sparing mastectomy, as the MRI showed they weren’t involved, but will know more from the surgeon tomorrow. 
Did you have to stay in hospital for long and were you sent home with drains in place? Also, do you know if they put mesh in for support- that sounds like yet another thing to discuss and worry about .

thanks again.

Hi Daisy53, 

thank you so much for your welcome and kind words. I didn’t know this forum existed til yesterday. It’s a great way of being able to speak to and share with others affected by bc directly and I’m very grateful to you for pushing  me up to the top of the discussion. I really hoped for and have started to have some really helpful feedback before my apt tomorrow

Hi Churchnursey 

I only stayed in overnight. I was taken to the theatre at about 11.30am and then as home by 7pm the following day.

I have got one drain in place and will have it in until Friday. I have had to change the container once which was fine. The drain is the most annoying part but it does make sure I am not overdoing anything.

Yes I had mesh put in to support and some of my skin was removed & overlapped when making my skin pocket smaller - it is a much more pert breast than my right but my surgeon did say that I could also have surgery on that side to reduce and match the left, but that it normally takes 6-12 months for it to settle plus we don’t know what further treatment I may need.

it doesn’t feel cold but it does feel different (more firm) than before but I don’t know how much is still swelling and inflammation. I think it takes about 6 weeks before things settle down enough to begin to see what it will be like.

Thank you Bea_me ️,

Ok, that’s really helpful to know. Pert is good, definitely and I’m really pleased to hear it doesn’t feel cold. 
It’s a quick turnaround in and out of hospital then, but that’s a positive.
Yes, the not knowing about further treatment is really hard, as attempting to avoid radiotherapy is a big draw towards the mastectomy option for me and of course there’s no going back from the decision. I wish it were possible to have the sentinel nodes removed before the op- that way, patients would know more about what’s likely ahead and so be prepared if choosing implants, they might need replacing after further treatment.

thank you again and I hope you continue to make a full and speedy recovery.

Thank you Churchnursey 

I hope all goes well at your appointment tomorrow. I went in with a list of questions (including those you have asked) and I had all of them answered in a way I understood. I hope you get the answers you need as well. I came out knowing the risks but not overly worried by it.

Hello - initially they most definitely felt alien so won’t lie . Over the last 6 weeks or so I am adjusting to them. They feel pretty firm is how I would discribed them. I wanted a natural look with little scar and I believe I got pretty close to it. I took before photos :) and they will never look like before but when I look down they look pretty good and close to as natural as possible and with skin and nipple sparing mastectomy I am happy with results. I can see outline of implants of course but the implants were placed under my pectoral muscle with a ‘sling’ underneath holding it all in place. He achieved a good natural look for me. They are not cold to touch at all but most definitely firm as there is very little tissue left unfortunately. I was told unlikely to soften much as there needs to be a balance that implants need to be ‘hard’ enough so it doesn’t cause ripples. I looked at a lot of photos with surgeon beforehand to set me expectations. I will say my expectation was exceeded. I agree each person’s experience may differ and completely understand you asking questions as I was the same thinking OMG what will they look like and will I ever get over having implants. I really hope you get more comfortable with answers given to allow you to make the final decision.