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Permanent implants replace expanders

chas707
chas707 CSN Member Posts: 30
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hi all, I had a bilateral in Feb this year with immediate reconstruction. Expanders were put in, the expansion process took about 4-5 months and at times were very painful. The expanders were not natural lookin at all and very hard and uncomfortable. For any of you going thru what I did and are awaiting your permanent implants, it is well worth it!! The procedure lasted only a couple of hours, minimal pain, most dicomfort was from anest. I had this done Fri and am only slightly sore, and they look wonderful!! I am so happy of the results, they dont look anything like the expanders, they look and feel so natural!! I cant wait until my steristrips come off so I can see the whole outcome. I know there have been some horror stories on here about this procedure so I wanted to share my very positive experience and hope it gives some of you hope. My email is chas707@bellsouth.net if anyone wants to talk about it. Take care all.
Love and Prayers,
Chastity
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Comments

  • nasa2537
    nasa2537 CSN Member Posts: 311
    #2
    So glad to hear that things have worked out well for you! Enjoy the rest of your weekend. God bless, Cyndi
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  • nasa2537
    nasa2537 CSN Member Posts: 311
    #3
    So glad to hear that things have worked out well for you! Enjoy the rest of your weekend. God bless, Cyndi
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  • nasa2537
    nasa2537 CSN Member Posts: 311
    #4
    So glad to hear that things have worked out well for you! Enjoy the rest of your weekend. God bless, Cyndi
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  • jsco
    jsco CSN Member Posts: 16
    #5
    Dear chastity,
    Thanks for sharing that experience for me it was perfect timing. I had a bilateral mast. 3 weeks ago. While the pain is getting better. The pressure and discomfort is terrible I feel like I'm living in a harness. Why did you get a bilateral. I opted for mine. it was a big desicion.
    Julie
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  • chas707
    chas707 CSN Member Posts: 30
    #6
    jsco said:

    Dear chastity,
    Thanks for sharing that experience for me it was perfect timing. I had a bilateral mast. 3 weeks ago. While the pain is getting better. The pressure and discomfort is terrible I feel like I'm living in a harness. Why did you get a bilateral. I opted for mine. it was a big desicion.
    Julie

    Hey Julie, I opted for mine also, I had a very aggresive cancer, her2neu-3 and hormone responsive negative. Although it was invasive there were no lymphnodes involved, praise the Lord!! I was so lucky. Due to my age - 27 at time, I was at really high risk for it coming back in same breast or the other, so I decided to be safer and remove both. Good luck with everything, and just know it gets better.
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  • iris48
    iris48 CSN Member Posts: 92
    #7
    Hi Chastity,
    I am so excited I am finally getting these expanders out. (Been in since 8/21/01....ouch!) I finally found a great surgeon and she has for the first time made me feel like a real person that has to live in this body. I talk to anesth. and doc tomorrow for pre-op stuff. Usually, I do not have bad effects from anesth. so hoping the discomfort pain part is minimal like you mentioned. Please keep a good thought as my implants are going in this Thurs. If I feel ok after surgery, I'll look forward to e-mailing. Thanks.
    Iris
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  • chas707
    chas707 CSN Member Posts: 30
    #8
    iris48 said:

    Hi Chastity,
    I am so excited I am finally getting these expanders out. (Been in since 8/21/01....ouch!) I finally found a great surgeon and she has for the first time made me feel like a real person that has to live in this body. I talk to anesth. and doc tomorrow for pre-op stuff. Usually, I do not have bad effects from anesth. so hoping the discomfort pain part is minimal like you mentioned. Please keep a good thought as my implants are going in this Thurs. If I feel ok after surgery, I'll look forward to e-mailing. Thanks.
    Iris

    Good luck Iris, I will be thinking of you Thurs, it will be a peice of cake!! Just remember, just because you feel fine and in no pain, you cant go out and run a marathon, take it easy the first few days and dont overdo it.
    Chas
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  • prayerangel
    prayerangel CSN Member Posts: 147
    #9
    jsco said:

    Dear chastity,
    Thanks for sharing that experience for me it was perfect timing. I had a bilateral mast. 3 weeks ago. While the pain is getting better. The pressure and discomfort is terrible I feel like I'm living in a harness. Why did you get a bilateral. I opted for mine. it was a big desicion.
    Julie

    I had my expander implants and my bilateral in late August. I found that it took 2 mos. for the "breast plate" feeling to go away. I taught my plastic surgeon something. Numbing cream for the ports under your arm. He didn't even know about it until I gave him the sample I had from my porta cathe from chemo. I'm happy to know they will look similiar.
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  • jpreston
    jpreston CSN Member Posts: 2
    #10
    Hi, Chastity,
    I am delighted to hear of your success. I just had an expander put in two weeks ago and my first "Pump Up' yesterday. I don't know what to expect. I feel like I am getting one half of the story from my plastic surgeon. I'm very sore today. Does it get better after a pump up before you get another?
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