Tissue Expanders

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rmh46
rmh46 Member Posts: 7
in Breast Cancer #1

Can someone tell me how long tissue expanders are in place before replacing with implants?

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  • kln
    kln Member Posts: 22
    #2
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    Mine were in four months.  

    Mine were in four months.  

  • rmh46
    rmh46 Member Posts: 7
    #3
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    Painful tissue expanders

    Thanks for the response.. I had a blateral mastectomy 4 weeks ago and they put in expanders immediately. I was never told how long they would stay or how much pain they would inflict. I am seeing my plastic surgeon today to tell him I want them removed. At 60 years old I can't take this kind of pain. 

  • GlowMore
    GlowMore Member Posts: 789 Member
    #4
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    rmh46 said:

    Painful tissue expanders

    Thanks for the response.. I had a blateral mastectomy 4 weeks ago and they put in expanders immediately. I was never told how long they would stay or how much pain they would inflict. I am seeing my plastic surgeon today to tell him I want them removed. At 60 years old I can't take this kind of pain. 

    Prayers for Answers*

    Dont blame you one bit....you have enough to deal with without having more pain and stress....sending prayers for strength and courage.  g

  • rmh46
    rmh46 Member Posts: 7
    #5
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    tissue expanders removed

    Thanks so much for the prayers! I can use all I can get, especially these days. I had uterine cancer 3 years ago, now breast cancer. I just want to get on with my life without all this pain. What I look like is secondary to what I feel like. My husband agrees. I will have enough to deal with when I start follow up treatments. Thanks again

  • jessiesmom1
    jessiesmom1 Member Posts: 915 Member
    #6
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    rmh46 said:

    tissue expanders removed

    Thanks so much for the prayers! I can use all I can get, especially these days. I had uterine cancer 3 years ago, now breast cancer. I just want to get on with my life without all this pain. What I look like is secondary to what I feel like. My husband agrees. I will have enough to deal with when I start follow up treatments. Thanks again

    Tissue Expanders

    I had my tissue expander put in at the time of my right mastectomy. I received an initial fill at that time. My oncologist was pretty clear that he did not want me having any procedures (including fills) done while I was having chemo due to the risk of infection. I didn't even have another fill until 10 months later. My expander was removed and replaced with an implant about a year after it was inserted. It really is unfortunate that you are having so much discomfort that you are willing to undergo another surgery under general anesthesia just to have the expanders removed. Hopefully the reconstructive surgeon can offer some solution to the problem. I think how we feel about ourselves is tightly wound up with how we appear. I wish you the best of luck. Please come back and let us know how you are doing and what you decide to do.

    IRENE

  • Clementine_P
    Clementine_P Member Posts: 518 Member
    #7
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    6 months

    I had mine put in when I had my bilateral mastectomy.  I then had 4 months of chemo and during that time I did get fills.  Once chemo was done about 6 months later I had the surgery to swap them out for my permanent implants.  I'm sorry you are experiencing so much pain.  For me, I only felt tightness when they were filled for a few hours afterward.  I hope that you get a speedy resolution to your situation.

    Clementine

  • rmh46
    rmh46 Member Posts: 7
    #8
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    Tissue Expanders

    My plastic surgeon told me today that during the mastectomy he put air in my expanders and that they had slowly deflated which was what they were supposed to do. He inflated them again (with more air)and I got instant relief. They still hurt but feel much better than before. I also have an infection on the side with the drain still in and where the nodes were removed. More antibiotics. He says that they have to stay in during 7 weeks of radiation then 3-4 weeks of stretching so roughly 3 months before I get implants. Seems like Drs don't give nearly enough information about what to expect after surgery. I thought mine had actually moved but found out today they are sewn in and can't move. I worried for nothing. Frown Go back Monday.

  • camul
    camul Member Posts: 2,537
    #9
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    rmh46 said:

    Tissue Expanders

    My plastic surgeon told me today that during the mastectomy he put air in my expanders and that they had slowly deflated which was what they were supposed to do. He inflated them again (with more air)and I got instant relief. They still hurt but feel much better than before. I also have an infection on the side with the drain still in and where the nodes were removed. More antibiotics. He says that they have to stay in during 7 weeks of radiation then 3-4 weeks of stretching so roughly 3 months before I get implants. Seems like Drs don't give nearly enough information about what to expect after surgery. I thought mine had actually moved but found out today they are sewn in and can't move. I worried for nothing. Frown Go back Monday.

    about 7 months.
    Had to wait for fills as my body reacted to the material it is made out of.

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