Tissue expanders can also be inserted immediately after a mastectomy or later. Do not use a heating pad or hot or cold compress on them. I am trying to wean off the pain pills a little at time, but the swelling and inflammation are still present due to the complications during surgery. It's normal to see some staining on the gauze pad for 24 to 48 hours (1 to 2 days) after surgery. When traveling a long distance by car, pad your seat belt if it falls right over your tissue expander. Depending on your skin and type of reconstruction, 3D tattooing may be your only option for nipple and areola reconstruction. Please avoid strenuous upper arm/chest muscle exercises for 6 weeks after surgery.
So you may be wondering, why would I go through this horrendous process again if my cancer was removed during the first mastectomy? These adjustments can include breast lift, breast reduction and breast augmentation in an effort to achieve better symmetry. Over time, your body will absorb the mesh. Pat your incisions dry with a clean towel. In these moments of pain, despair and sadness, I try to look forward to the new stronger me that is waiting on the other side. Your first follow-up visit will be 1 to 2 weeks after your surgery. Imagine someone took a straw inserted into your chest and began sucking. But tissue expanders aren't as complicated as they might seem. Usually I try to take it only at night to maybe help me sleep. It will not need to be removed. Please limit lifting to nothing greater than 10 lbs. Radiation-induced fibrosis: mechanisms and implications for therapy. One way that we make tissue expanders more comfortable is by using a product called AlloDerm® Tissue Matrix.
Tissue expanders can be used for single and double mastectomies. What You Need To Know About Tissue Expanders. This will minimize the risk of a seroma developing, and postoperative infection. The drain operates by vacuum. Signs of Infection Call your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any signs of infection during tissue expansion, including: Fever Chills Increased redness, swelling, pain, or tenderness in the breast A pus-like discharge Crusting around the filling port Summary If you opt for breast reconstruction post-mastectomy, tissue expanders are used to help prepare the chest wall and skin for the implants. After 14 days you may remove the Surgical Bra and wear a "sports" type bra that will provide support and maintain the placement of the tissue expander. Deflation and Rupture: You should be aware that breast implants may wear out over time and deflate or rupture. I had a catheter for two days and even my bladder had forgotten how to work.
This will keep the incision from widening. New implants are placed into the pocket and usually one small drainage tube is placed into each breast and removed the following week. The surgery is typically performed by a plastic surgeon. They'll use a small needle. Four weeks after surgery, Dr. Maguire will begin inflating the expander. Contact Our Lone Tree Breast Reconstruction Surgeons. There are 2 ways to place your tissue expander: -. Does anyone have any tips for dealing with the discomfort of the expanders and for getting a much needed full night's sleep. Avoid sleeping on your stomach during the first four weeks. A skin graft is when tissue is moved from one part of your body to another part during a surgery. This procedure is most often done 2 to 4 months after the permanent implant is placed. You may have drains in place after the surgery.
I had my expandersn put in on May 8th. Please bring the card recording the drainage amounts to the office for each appointment. I had my tissue expander exchange surgery about four months ago, and I'm happy to report that my rib pain is so much better! When they opened my chest back up, they found that a spot under the port flap had begun to bleed after they closed me up. It keeps me from sleeping well and when I do have to get up in the morning I'm afraid to move. Post-Breast Surgery Boutiques Medications Tissue expander pain can be controlled by prescription medications and other strategies.
Replace the gauze every day to make sure it's always clean. However, after the tissue expanders were filled, I found the stretching of my skin to be painful. Tissue expanders can be placed during your mastectomy or years after your surgery. Careful surgical planning and technique can minimize but not always prevent such results. When I went home after surgery, I felt pretty groggy, but I felt almost no pain whatsoever. At present, it is unclear whether capsular contracture is caused by infection or hypertrophic scar formation.
Pain & Swelling: While in the hospital, your pain will be monitored very carefully. In both immediate and delayed forms of breast reconstruction, this first stage is termed Tissue Expansion. Today's silicone implants do not deflate and the gel is usually retained within the capsule or implant pocket. It made life on the couch for days on end much easier. If you have any questions or concerns please contact the office 318-442-5800 during business hours (8 AM-5 PM) and ask to speak with Dr. Maguire. Under wire bras should be avoided for the first 3-6 months. Early ambulation is strongly encouraged. If you are also having radiation treatments, radiation fibrosis may cause pain around your tissue expanders as well.
For perspective my surgeon has only had one other similar case in over 2o years of experience. After 21 days please wear a bra for a minimum 12 hours a day to maintain the shape and position of the implants. At those moments they are merely bulky and uncomfortable. I know many of you are pushing for "Dolly Partons", but I think I'll stick with my pre-cancer size.
You are not alone, and we are all here to help and support each other. Aim it at your upper back or your arm. AlloDerm® also permits more saline solution to be placed into the expander at the initial surgery, allowing a patient to be several months down the road in terms of expansion, which ultimately translates into fewer needed expansions. Do not take Motrin/Ibuprofen or Aspirin products for 1 week after surgery. My chest still has very little feeling from the mastectomy, so I didn't really feel anything when the expanders were being inflated.
Two were under the chest muscles and one was on top of the muscle near the hematoma site. The real implants are MUCh more comfortable and feel really natural after a year or so. One advantage of using an implant to reconstruct the breast is that the only incisions required are those used during the mastectomy portion of the procedure. This will reduce the amount swelling to the chest wall. The desire to scratch my skin for relief was uncontrollable. This life-threatening condition is characterized by symptoms such as sudden fever, vomiting, diarrhea, fainting, dizziness, and/or sunburn-like rash. This is the only time it is permissible to be out of the surgical bra. We prefer that you wear the surgical bra provided day and night (except to shower) for the first 4-6 weeks. We felt experienced, going through the motions. Try sleeping a little more elevated with an extra pillow. Together, you can work out a plan that includes both in-office and at-home procedures and exercise to minimize pain and enhance mobility. Wash with warm water and gentle, fragrance-free soap. There are incision pains on and under my breasts, a 5" scar across my back, and incisions where three drain tubes come out on the front of my body over my rib cage in three different places.