DCIS post-mastectomy radiotherapy with tissue expander

Hi BraveWarriorMum

Welcome to the forum, I'm Daisy53 one of the Community Champions on this forum.  I'm sorry to hear that you were diagnosed with high-grade DCIS.  While I don't have an answer for you I noticed that you haven't had any replies yet so I thought I'd reply to you to welcome you to the forum.  This reply will move you to the top of the discussion.  Hopefully someone will be along shortly with an answer for you.

Best wishes

Daisy53

1.  Daisy53 thanks for your response - I appreciate not many people have had the same experience. I have so far only come across one person who has had radiotherapy on a tissue expander. Which is why it is slightly harder to make an informed decision 

Hi. I faced this predicament and they delayed my radiotherapy whilst I decided and referred me to oncology plastics. They said you could not have implants after radiotherapy. I asked for a tissue expander and they said it would not give a good cosmetic outcome so I went ahead with the radiotherapy because a long life is more important than the way I look. I knew if it came back I’d blame myself for not taking the radiotherapy. 

I’ve seen pics of implants v diep flap after radiotherapy and the implants look terrible compared to the drip flap. 

I have done a lot of research into this and have found the name of a particular implant that is used after radiotherapy which has significantly less chance of capsular contracture. They are called Microthane breast implants. You can also have a gala flex mesh to prevent rippling. Also having implants under the muscle will prevent rippling. 

You can also have cadaver tissue instead of your own if you didn’t want diep flap.