Breast Tissue Expander

Beepositive

Hello BEEpositive here!  hello Crew! has anyone had any experience with breast reconstruction starting during breast cancer surgery? I had it started about a month ago now same time as my left breast mastectomy was done. just started having filler done( to expand the breast tissue to prepare for the final breast implant later) each week..feels like something is under my arm all the time a little uncomfortable.

much success to all that everyone is dealing with!!!

Thanks  BEEpositive!

Mariangel43

Expander

Of all the surgeries I have been through, expanders were the worst.  I was in agony when the pectoral muscle was contracting, the pain frequency decreased with time but not the intensity. Anytime I moved my arms, I was in agony. I compared the pain with knife stabbing.  The implant was somewhat painful but not as much as the expanders.  When the nurse filled it, she used anesthetic but it hurt when she move the needle inside the skin.  It was not a positive experience for me but it does not mean it will be the same to you.  You can blame the pectoral muscle and sometimes they move the tissues near the SLN biopsy and that causes pain.  My best wishes to you.

Beepositive

Mariangel43 said:

Expander

Of all the surgeries I have been through, expanders were the worst.  I was in agony when the pectoral muscle was contracting, the pain frequency decreased with time but not the intensity. Anytime I moved my arms, I was in agony. I compared the pain with knife stabbing.  The implant was somewhat painful but not as much as the expanders.  When the nurse filled it, she used anesthetic but it hurt when she move the needle inside the skin.  It was not a positive experience for me but it does not mean it will be the same to you.  You can blame the pectoral muscle and sometimes they move the tissues near the SLN biopsy and that causes pain.  My best wishes to you.

Hello Mariagel43! thanks so much for your story concerning the expanders! at least I know its not just me..the doctor said the expander will feel like something is under your arm ..It hurts mostly when the fillers and the tight feeling. i only have 1 final filler and hopefully the pain will level off some.  I still do not regret getting the plastic surgery started same time that i had the left breast mastectomy about 4 weeks ago.  my final implant will be done months later.  have to go thru my radiation and heal.            hope you are doing ok with your final implant...much success to you!    BEEpositive

Clementine_P

I had expanders

Hi,

I had expanders put in when I had my mastectomies surgery.  I didn't have a bad experience at all.  After the fills my muscles did feel constricting and I always felt like there was something under my arm like you do, but it was not terribly painful for me.  It was just a nuisance.  If you want to know anything specific, please feel free to ask.

Clementine

Beepositive

Clementine_P said:

I had expanders

Hi,

I had expanders put in when I had my mastectomies surgery.  I didn't have a bad experience at all.  After the fills my muscles did feel constricting and I always felt like there was something under my arm like you do, but it was not terribly painful for me.  It was just a nuisance.  If you want to know anything specific, please feel free to ask.

Clementine

Hello Clementine_P,  Thanks so much for your information concerning the breast tissue expanders! I have one more filler next week and then i think the implant will be done about 6 months later. (dr states that normal timeframe) hope you are happy with you implants! I got fitted for a few bras this week and feel great to be able to wear one with support until and I can adjust and remove the insert that comes with it once I get the implant!

Thanks so much for taking time to reply!  contunued success and happiness to you.....I will continue to BEEpositive!!!!! ( I have sooo much to be thankful for)

Clementine_P

Implants

Hi Bee,

Yes, I am happy with my implants.  They are much more comfortable than the expanders.  I found the "swap" surgery to be super easy too.  My chest muscles were really tight and so I still have issues with that today but it is nothing major at all.  I just have to do exercises daily to keep my shoulders from getting stiff and then over time from freezing up.  THis past year I have taken up yoga and now that I am doing it 3x a week have found that it is helping with the chest tightness too.  I was always physically fit but yoga wasn't in my repetoir.  I'm glad to hear that you are being so positive.  

All the best,

Clementine

Beepositive

Clementine_P said:

Implants

Hi Bee,

Yes, I am happy with my implants.  They are much more comfortable than the expanders.  I found the "swap" surgery to be super easy too.  My chest muscles were really tight and so I still have issues with that today but it is nothing major at all.  I just have to do exercises daily to keep my shoulders from getting stiff and then over time from freezing up.  THis past year I have taken up yoga and now that I am doing it 3x a week have found that it is helping with the chest tightness too.  I was always physically fit but yoga wasn't in my repetoir.  I'm glad to hear that you are being so positive.  

All the best,

Clementine

Thanks for the update/info Clementine!  Glad your implants are going okay!   the Dr say this tissue expander should be level off some as the months go by ..Im dealing with it trying to keep movement in my left arm also dealing with swelling from lymph nodes removal ..but think majority of it is due to the expander.

..hey things could be a LOT worse...  Be wishes to you..keep Active!  thats what Im doing..Cancer DOES not have me!! The way i look at it is cancer/removed during surgery is gone and I am working on preventing it from coming back. still have to do radiation but..living my life   BEEPOSITIVE!!

Asantiago

Expander

I just had my surgery March 30, 2017. The area under my armpit is so inflamed, does this ever get better? Please tell me it does!

Beepositive

Hello Asantiago,  Glad to hear your Surgery is completed...I have left breast tissue expander and yes the swelling does get better but it will always feel as if something is under your arm until the expander is replaced with the implant! After about 3 weeks or so after my follow up appoints with both doctors (mastectomy and plastic surgeon ) and they said it was healing as it should I found that a support bra that high under the arm makes it feel a lot better (I went to the Pink store in my area to get fitted etc) I even sleep in it loosely of course dont wont to have anything tight on. my doctor also referred me to the Lymphedema Therapy Clinic which is soooo helpful with arm exercises to help with swelling (i had several lymph nodes removed that caused a lot of my under arm swelling also)   i have completed my filling with the expander and now will be starting my radiation (each filler was very tighting feeling in the area and some pain that Dr gave me some musle relaxer that really helped as i needed them (also Advil helped when it was not so bad toward the end)  always check wiith your Dr BEFORE TAKING ANY MEDICIATIONS !!  (I WAS sleeping on my back a lot with Arm elevated now able to lay on my side that did not have surgery but still have pillow over my chest and on my good side for support... NO THE EXPANDER IS NOT THE MOST COMFORTABLE but i deciced to go this route that was best for me and will deal with this until my final implant....THINGS COULD BE A LOT WORST......BEST OF LUCK AND PRAYERS ON YOUR  RECOVERY..KEEP ASKING YOUR DOCTORS LOTS OF QUESTIONS.... AND CONTINUE TO BEE POSITIVE.

Steph81

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/308730/breast-tissue-expander

10/28/2022 I had a bilateral mastectomy with DIEP flap with reconstruction (expanders put in). The mastectomy it self was very painful as we all know. I had my first saline expansion 3 weeks later after surgery and it has been a painless process since my there is no sensation. I have just completed my 4th expansion and I am at 230 cc’s and my flap is now full with not ripples so I was told that next week my skin will begin to stretch and to be sure to take my muscle relaxer and pain medication before coming in and that it will be uncomfortable/painful for 2 days than it should subside. Depending if you had a DIEP flap or not will determine how uncomfortable/painful it will be. I just have 2 more saline expansions to go so I am super happy, the DIEP flap helped a lot.

cginmi

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1575629#Comment_1575629

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1702186#Comment_1702186

I was just diagnosed and I am now making my surgery decisions. Were you warned not to put expanders in at the time of mastectomy due to radiation damage concerns? Did a plastic surgeon put them in or the general surgeon?