expander pushing in ribs

gbarg
gbarg Member Posts: 4
in Breast Cancer #1
I have had a bilateral mastectomy and am in the process of reconstruction.

One expander is filled more than the other but does not appear to show more expansion.

My reconstruction surgeon has said that it is pushing inward on my ribs due to the radiation from a 2004 lumpectomy and the skin on that side does not have the same elasticity.

I am told that when the implants are put in I will have two different sized breasts!

Why can't he compensate for this by either putting something beneath the implant to even things out or perhaps place a larger implant on that side to equalize appearance?? After all, these are being created and thus there must be some creative leeway, right?

Has this happened to anyone else and did your ribs bouce back into their orginal position afterward?

Comments

  • MAJW
    MAJW Member Posts: 2,510 Member
    #2
    No experience.....
    No experience with reconstruction....but these are questions you need to ask your surgeon....if it's any consolation, my breasts look like they belong to two different people! Due to a Lumpectomy and radiation....I actually don't care...been through enough!!!!

    Hopefully others will chime in with some experience and can advise you.....
    Hugs, Nancy
  • gbarg
    gbarg Member Posts: 4
    #3
    MAJW said:

    No experience.....
    No experience with reconstruction....but these are questions you need to ask your surgeon....if it's any consolation, my breasts look like they belong to two different people! Due to a Lumpectomy and radiation....I actually don't care...been through enough!!!!

    Hopefully others will chime in with some experience and can advise you.....
    Hugs, Nancy

    Thanks for the hugs Nancy

    Thanks for the hugs Nancy
  • Kristin N
    Kristin N Member Posts: 1,968 Member
    #4
    MAJW said:

    No experience.....
    No experience with reconstruction....but these are questions you need to ask your surgeon....if it's any consolation, my breasts look like they belong to two different people! Due to a Lumpectomy and radiation....I actually don't care...been through enough!!!!

    Hopefully others will chime in with some experience and can advise you.....
    Hugs, Nancy

    I don't know either as I had
    I don't know either as I had a lumpectomy, but, Nancy is right, ask your plastic surgeon. When is your next appointment with him? Hopefully he can put your mind at ease with your questions.
  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #5
    Kristin N said:

    I don't know either as I had
    I don't know either as I had a lumpectomy, but, Nancy is right, ask your plastic surgeon. When is your next appointment with him? Hopefully he can put your mind at ease with your questions.

    this sounds a bit, odd. Did your Plastic Surgeon
    discuss the fact that you would have 2 different sizes of TE, before your surgery? I
    would have to agree with Nancy, and Kristin. Call PS and get yourself in there, ASAP -- explain your discomfort with the 1 TE, and ask him questions --. What can be done
    to alleviate some of your rib pain, etc.

    Please let us know the outcome.

    Strength, Courage and HOPE for a Cure.

    Vicki Sam
  • Noel
    Noel Member Posts: 3,095 Member
    #6
    VickiSam said:

    this sounds a bit, odd. Did your Plastic Surgeon
    discuss the fact that you would have 2 different sizes of TE, before your surgery? I
    would have to agree with Nancy, and Kristin. Call PS and get yourself in there, ASAP -- explain your discomfort with the 1 TE, and ask him questions --. What can be done
    to alleviate some of your rib pain, etc.

    Please let us know the outcome.

    Strength, Courage and HOPE for a Cure.

    Vicki Sam

    Did you call your plastic
    Did you call your plastic surgeon about this? He should explain this to you and hopefully help you with this pain. Please post an update.


    Hugs, Noel

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