breast reconstruction gone wrong

n01kar
n01kar Member Posts: 26
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
was diagnosed with dcis 6 yrs ago, had a radical mastecomy and opted for immediate reconstruction using the expander/breast implant method in NY. 6 yrs later, the cancer returned to the other breast. This time , it was stage 2. Had another masectomy, opted for reconstruction in florida. On March 9th, i had 2 new implants placed into my breast cavities. After seeing the results, i am not happy. They are different in sizes,shape and texture. Has any one had this problem and did they go back into the operating room to have it rectified.

Comments

  • padee6339
    padee6339 Member Posts: 763
    Hi n01kar -
    Welcome to this site full of wonderful pink warriors! I cannot answer your questions, I had a lumpectomy, but just wanted to say hi and for you to wait a few minutes - I am sure the responses to your questions will be arriving soon. These ladies can steer you in the right direction for help, offer guidance and sometimes laugh and cry with you.

    I wish you all the best getting this problem solved and let us know the outcome!

    Hugs -
    Pat
  • Different Ballgame
    Different Ballgame Member Posts: 868
    Not All Plastic Surgeons Are Equally Skilled
    You can consider the following:

    1. Your plastic surgeon can correct the problem by doing another surgery - called a revision.
    2. Seek the opinion of 2nd plastic surgeon
    3. Compare both plastic surgeons'schooling bios, and background. Ask to talk to some of their patients. Then decide which one you want to do the next surgery.

    It is definitely a fact - not all plastic surgeons are equally skilled, especially in the area of breast reconstruction.

    Lots of Hugs,
    Janelle
  • Ritzy
    Ritzy Member Posts: 4,381 Member
    padee6339 said:

    Hi n01kar -
    Welcome to this site full of wonderful pink warriors! I cannot answer your questions, I had a lumpectomy, but just wanted to say hi and for you to wait a few minutes - I am sure the responses to your questions will be arriving soon. These ladies can steer you in the right direction for help, offer guidance and sometimes laugh and cry with you.

    I wish you all the best getting this problem solved and let us know the outcome!

    Hugs -
    Pat

    Just want to say that I am
    Just want to say that I am sorry. I had a lumpectomy, so, I can't answer you either. Wishing you good luck and hoping you get this resolved.

    Sue :)
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member

    Not All Plastic Surgeons Are Equally Skilled
    You can consider the following:

    1. Your plastic surgeon can correct the problem by doing another surgery - called a revision.
    2. Seek the opinion of 2nd plastic surgeon
    3. Compare both plastic surgeons'schooling bios, and background. Ask to talk to some of their patients. Then decide which one you want to do the next surgery.

    It is definitely a fact - not all plastic surgeons are equally skilled, especially in the area of breast reconstruction.

    Lots of Hugs,
    Janelle

    I am sorry about this.
    I am sorry about this. Wishing you good luck! Hoping others will share with you their experience.
  • Kat11
    Kat11 Member Posts: 1,931 Member
    DianeBC said:

    I am sorry about this.
    I am sorry about this. Wishing you good luck! Hoping others will share with you their experience.

    I have a young friend ( 32 )
    I have a young friend ( 32 ) this happened to 3 years ago now. Her surgeon refused to fix her said nothing could be done. I saw her breast and they were not only uneven but the shape was lumpy and ripples. She found herself a surgeon in New Orleans who said this can be fixed. it's a long way to go for surgery being she is from Chicago. It's a two part surgery, the second part will be done in a major hospital here in Chicago. I guess you just have to do what ever it is to make yourself feel good and don't take no for an answer. Good Luck
  • Angie2U
    Angie2U Member Posts: 2,991
    Kat11 said:

    I have a young friend ( 32 )
    I have a young friend ( 32 ) this happened to 3 years ago now. Her surgeon refused to fix her said nothing could be done. I saw her breast and they were not only uneven but the shape was lumpy and ripples. She found herself a surgeon in New Orleans who said this can be fixed. it's a long way to go for surgery being she is from Chicago. It's a two part surgery, the second part will be done in a major hospital here in Chicago. I guess you just have to do what ever it is to make yourself feel good and don't take no for an answer. Good Luck

    Let us know what your PS
    Let us know what your PS decides to do for you. Hoping that you will be happy with any new surgery's that you might have. Wishing you good luck!


    Hugs, Angie
  • Ladydi6365
    Ladydi6365 Member Posts: 26
    Did you speak w your plastic Surgeon?
    Did you speak w your PS and let him know that you are not happy? I too am in Florida and recently had reconstruction... well still having it. The expanders are in and I am in the process of tissue expansion. If I was not happy w the results I would make sure he fixed it. That is your right. What kind of implants? Were they Silicone or Saline? It does make a difference. I am sorry you are going thru cancer again that is why I opted for the BLM so I would not have to go thru it years later like my mom did.
    Good luck w your decision I would tell him...just my opinion
    Diana
  • n01kar
    n01kar Member Posts: 26

    Did you speak w your plastic Surgeon?
    Did you speak w your PS and let him know that you are not happy? I too am in Florida and recently had reconstruction... well still having it. The expanders are in and I am in the process of tissue expansion. If I was not happy w the results I would make sure he fixed it. That is your right. What kind of implants? Were they Silicone or Saline? It does make a difference. I am sorry you are going thru cancer again that is why I opted for the BLM so I would not have to go thru it years later like my mom did.
    Good luck w your decision I would tell him...just my opinion
    Diana

    surgery
    Thanks for all the info/posts. Last tuesday, i had a comlete physical from my md, she noticed that the right implant seemed much harder than the left Later on this week, thursday to be exact, noticed some bruising on the right reconstucted breast.

    This morning, saw the plastic surgeon, only to have him remove 100cc of blood around the breast mound. We are going back into surgery wednesday am, to have to implant removed, have the area irrigated, and a new implannt with a drain placed. He does not know why the implant/excess blood in the area occured.( he seems to think that the excess blood is the reason the breast mound looks larger than the other, but i am not buying that theory some how)

    We used saline implants
    karlene
  • n01kar
    n01kar Member Posts: 26

    Did you speak w your plastic Surgeon?
    Did you speak w your PS and let him know that you are not happy? I too am in Florida and recently had reconstruction... well still having it. The expanders are in and I am in the process of tissue expansion. If I was not happy w the results I would make sure he fixed it. That is your right. What kind of implants? Were they Silicone or Saline? It does make a difference. I am sorry you are going thru cancer again that is why I opted for the BLM so I would not have to go thru it years later like my mom did.
    Good luck w your decision I would tell him...just my opinion
    Diana

    surgery
    Thanks for all the info/posts. Last tuesday, i had a comlete physical from my md, she noticed that the right implant seemed much harder than the left Later on this week, thursday to be exact, noticed some bruising on the right reconstucted breast.

    This morning, saw the plastic surgeon, only to have him remove 100cc of blood around the breast mound. We are going back into surgery wednesday am, to have to implant removed, have the area irrigated, and a new implannt with a drain placed. He does not know why the implant/excess blood in the area occured.( he seems to think that the excess blood is the reason the breast mound looks larger than the other, but i am not buying that theory some how)

    We used saline implants
    karlene
  • e_hope
    e_hope Member Posts: 370
    that stinks
    so sorry to hear you are going through all of this. That sucks, with all this at the end of the day we at least want to look the best we can. I would definitely have it fixed. i don't have saline implants, I have silicone bilateral implants, but I was told by my plastic surgeon that saline will tend to show more rippling ....

    hope your second surgery goes better.. good luck