Mastectomy to expanders

Hi @Daisy06,

I haven’t had this surgery yet but am awaiting it. So am just jumping on to see what others say. 
Thanks for posting. 

Hi MamaH

When are you due to have your surgery? Are you having radiotherapy afterwards too?

I am awaiting to be scheduled as I have just received approval from my insurance company. They’re hoping within the next two weeks. They are hoping that surgery will be all I need but can’t guarantee anything as I have lots of small areas of dcis peppered across the breast so they will await the histopathology and advise then. Then reconstruction in 6 months all being well. 

I’ve just got word that my surgery is the 14th of this month. So I’ll let you know how it goes. It’s a relief just to have a date 

Good luck! Let me know how you get on. My op is scheduled for 3rd Oct. I saw the surgeon this morning and he seems to think I’ll have almost a hybrid solution - part implant, part expander - and that it’ll be permanent. Be good if I can get away with one op so I’m keeping fingers crossed. Although the port to fill the expander looks to be outside the body and I’m not sure how I feel about that!

That’s great you have a date! Are you having nipple sparing or are your nipples being removed too? Mine are being removed and I’m a bit upset by that kore than anything to be honest. 
I've never seen one with the port outside the body- but it’ll will be brilliant if you can avoid two surgeries. As I am diabetic my surgeon decided the two step will be easier on my body and healing time. Good luck! 
it’s a shame no one else has replied because I assumed a lot more people would have had this procedure done but maybe not. There’s a lot who have had mastectomy and diep.

Hello. I had a mastectomy and expander implants. Essentially because I’d had two previous op and my consultant was concerned my skin couldn’t take the weight of actual implants. The op was fine, I had two nights in hospital and then home with drains for a week (that felt long).

All heeling fine now. I’m 6 weeks post op and was told that they will probably pump them up at my next appt. Not sure I want that to be honest as having gone from a hh cup to a d/e I think I want smaller than they are now (I’m very over having boobs!). 

the actual expanders feel a little strange - especially when they deflate a little. You can feel the port and they’re a little too heavier than a normal boob. But the concept of it all is brilliant as is the fact that there is still an option of a diep flap etc in future it it’s needed. 

im ready to have them swapped to actual implants now though. I like to sleep on my tummy and the ports stop that  

The port isn’t outside the breast but you can feel it when they deflate. I think that the inflation is done via a needle directly into the port - but I can confirm once I have had that if it’s important to you - let me know

Thank you 

it’s so reassuring to hear from someone who has actually been through it all. I’m petrified. If you don’t mind me asking did you have your nipples removed? Im having mine removed and am toying with reconstruction vs tattooing. Im only 37 and im not sure I want to be nippleless forever! My surgery is Wednesday and on Tuesday im in for a dye test to help the lymph node biospy. How was your pain afterwards? 
Helen

Hello.

pain was fine - managed well in hospital and I took the painkillers as they advised at home and didn’t really have any pain. Worst bit for me was that something gave me insomnia - I don’t know if it was the antibiotics or maybe the fact that the antibiotics wiped out the good bacteria which I think leads to insomnia (and thrush!).

they took both my nipples but I’m intending on having tattoos once the actual implants are in. I think the consultant overlaps skin so it looks like an actual nipple. 

It was genuinely fine. I was back to normal after a couple of weeks - albeit taking things slower and having naps from time to time.