Breast Implants Saline or Silacone

meena1 said:

i was wondering the same
i was wondering the same thing, i also have to have my expanders removed. my doc said he would put in silicone, he did not give me choice. Also, are you have the surgery where they take muscle from your back? I had radiation and my doctor said that it may not work. I am so confused

debragood1 said:

Silicone
Hi Dlr102369:

I took a class in reconstruction at Memorial Sloan Kettering before meeting with my plastic surgeon. I decided on silicone because it may be a bit softer than the silicone and also because saline can apparently cause rippling which doesn't happen with silicone. Apparently, the "gummy bear" implants are the best. They're made of a cohesive silicone gel and are supposedly the most advanced implant to date. They come in a teardrop shape (which is more natural). I also asked my doctor to let me feel both types at my last appt. and I prefer the way the gummy bear implants feel. I haven't had the exchange surgery because I have to wait until 8 weeks after chemo.

just my 2 cents. Good luck with whichever type you choose.

Deb

meena1 said:

Deb, thank you for the info.
Deb, thank you for the info. My doc said that he would be using silicone, i will ask him about the gummy bear implant

dlr102369 said:

Thank you all so very much.
Thank you all so very much. I was leaning towards the silicone but I was a little hesitant because I also have multiple sclerosis an autoimune disorder and I know there was a lot of talk about silicone and autoimune....

Girls I will be SOOOO glad to get these rocks off for sure!!! They are like a weapon!

I was trying to wait until Nov. to have my surgery but he doesn't want to wait that long. I am training for a triathlon Sep. 12th kind of my way of saying this is not going to defeat me although sometimes ugh I sure do feel like it, and then in October I am turning 40 and will celebrate 20 years of marriage..... But looks like I will be having surgery the week after my race. I guess I will be glad to get through the next hurdle then have to talk about nipple reconstruction.....

Thank you all so much for your imput! I sure do appreciate your honesty.

Debbie

GreeneyedGirl said:

Saline for me~~
~~mostly due to a couple reasons...I had a lat flap (back muscle) procedure so the implant would be covered by a muscle under the skin, so no worries about any rippling or what have you...and I felt more at ease with saline in my body "just in case" of a rupture or leak or what have you. Only one breast is/was effected so I look amazingly balanced and happy with my final results.
I wish you the best in your decision.

VickiSam said:

What the difference between tissue expanders and
Flaps ?? I only ask, because I will be hand a double mac'tmy within the next 3 weeks?


Thanks for any input.


Vicki9

dlr102369 said:

Vicki- Well the flaps were
Vicki- Well the flaps were not an option for me b/c I did not have enough tissue to create breasts so I went with the bilateral mastectomy with the expanders placed under the muscle. The do the mastectomy and place the expanders at the same time then after the incision heals about 4-6 weeks they start expanding by injecting saline through your skin in your breast into a port on the expander. Each week I went and little by little the skin stretched so now I am able to take out the expanders and have implants put in. The expanders are basically used to stretch the skin. My friend was able to have the flaps and I believe was in the hopsital a week. You use your own tissue to create your breasts.

Here is my blog I started when I was diagnosed I put some pictures and stories about each day from diagnosis.

http://mybcajourney.blogspot.com/

Hope this is helpful!
Debbie

bfbear said:

My foobs...
I had my dbl. mastectomy in May and they put silicone implants in at the same time -- no expanders.

The skin was stretched out enough, because I was actually going to a smaller size, but the muscle had to stretch from ground zero. The "foobs" were very tight and uncomfortable for a long time, but lately they have started to feel less so. To my husband they feel great --very natural (I'm glad he's happy, I guess...). To others, in clothes, they look great. To me they're still numb and pretty weird. Weird because with the muscles on the top, I can make them "dance" one at a time with a little pec-control...great as a party gag...kind of disconcerting when it happens and I'm not trying to make them move!!

So all things considered,they're fine. Remember: it's reconstruction, not enhancement.

I am still struggling with whether or not to do the nipple reconstruction/tatoo thing.

Hugs,
Debi