Implant reconstruction after Radiotherapy

5 replies
283 subscribers
646 views

Hello everyone, hope you are all well!

I went for my 1 year check up on Friday. Mammogram and chest X-ray all clear. I was originally due to have a mastectomy with immediate DIEP reconstruction but 2 days before there was a decision made due to Covid that all non essential ops were cancelled so I was immediately taken in for a mastectomy.
My surgeon still has me on her list for DIEP at the end of the year but having come this far I’m not sure I want to go down that road now. She has suggested if I don’t want to have the DIEP, I could have a breast reduction on the other side and an implant. I came home thinking that was a good option until I read it’s not possible after radiotherapy. So just wondered if anyone had had an implant after radiotherapy and if so how did it work out? Thanks ! x

latchbrook over 4 years ago

Hi Bramble22

I can't help with the experience you're after but I noticed that your post hadn't had any replies yet. By replying to you it will 'bump' it back to the top of the discussions list where it'll be more easily seen.

Wishing you all the best

"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"

ronstar over 4 years ago

Hi Bramble22

Firstly, congratulations on the all clear after your first year - feels good, doesn't it.

I am also bumping your post back up, but will say there are people on here who have had reconstruction after radiotherapy. I believe it's a little more difficult as your tissues are stiffer and they need to stretch them but people have had it done with an expander. Some surgeons don't like to use implants before radiotherapy because they can encapsulate and have to be removed, but I'm not sure if that happens after radiotherapy.

Hopefully someone who has had it done will come along soon - if not, feel free to keep bumping this up, or post again - the group gets very busy and posts do get a bit lost sometimes.

Bramble22 over 4 years ago in reply to ronstar

Thanks both for your replies. Hopefully someone will be along at some point having gone through this. Will keep bumping the question every now and then. x

Ltommo88 over 4 years ago

Hi hun, I havnt had it but have mentioned plenty of times that I will be having implants after radiotherapy and no one has said that it wouldn’t be possible. All I’ve heard is that if u have the implants then reconstruction it can mess with the size and shape of the implant and u may need another reconstruction x x sorry can’t help much x x

Bramble22 over 4 years ago in reply to Ltommo88

Thanks for replying Ltommo88 glad no one has said you can’t have the implant after radiotherapy, puts my mind at rest that the option is out there!! x

More from this forum

Implant reconstruction after Radiotherapy